Housing Choice Voucher Program The Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCV) is the federal government's major program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Since housing assistance is provided on behalf of the family or individual, participants are able to find their own housing, including single-family homes, townhouses and apartments. The participant is free to choose any housing that meets the requirements of the program and is not limited to units located in subsidized housing projects. Housing choice vouchers are administered locally by public housing agencies (PHAs). The PHAs receive federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to administer the voucher program. LMHA administers the HCV program in Lucas, Wood and most of Fulton counties in the state of Ohio and Monroe County, Michigan. A family that is issued a housing voucher is responsible for finding a suitable housing unit of the family's choice where the owner agrees to rent under the program. This unit may include the family's present residence. Rental units must meet minimum standards of health and safety, as determined by LMHA. A housing subsidy is paid to the landlord directly by LMHA on behalf of the participating family. The family then pays the difference between the actual rent charged by the landlord and the amount subsidized by the program. Under certain circumstances, if authorized by LMHA, a family may use its voucher to purchase a modest home. Roles - the tenant, the landlord, the housing agency and HUD Once a LMHA approves an eligible family's housing unit, the family and the landlord sign a lease and, at the same time, the landlord and LMHA sign a housing assistance payments contract that runs for the same term as the lease. This means that everyone -- tenant, landlord and LMHA -- has obligations and responsibilities under the voucher program. Tenant's Obligations: When a family selects a housing unit, and LMHA approves the unit and lease, the family signs a lease with the landlord for at least one year. The tenant may be required to pay a security deposit to the landlord. After the first year the landlord may initiate a new lease or allow the family to remain in the unit on a month-to-month lease. When the family is settled in a new home, the family is expected to comply with the lease and the program requirements, pay its share of rent on time, maintain the unit in good condition and notify LMHA of any changes in income or family composition. Landlord's Obligations: The role of the landlord in the voucher program is to provide decent, safe, and sanitary housing to a tenant at a reasonable rent. The dwelling unit must pass the program's housing quality standards and be maintained up to those standards as long as the owner receives housing assistance payments. In addition, the landlord is expected to provide the services agreed to as part of the lease signed with the tenant and the contract signed with LMHA. Housing Authority's Obligations: LMHA administers the voucher program locally. LMHA provides a family with the housing assistance that enables the family to seek out suitable housing and LMHA enters into a contract with the landlord to provide housing assistance payments on behalf of the family. If the landlord fails to meet the owner's obligations under the lease, LMHA has the right to terminate assistance payments. LMHA must reexamine the family's income and composition at least annually and must inspect each unit at least annually to ensure that it meets minimum housing quality standards.   The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides LMHA with Allowance for Tenant-Furnished Utilities Schedules for the purpose of calculating rent. The current schedules are effective 03-01-08. The schedules are formulated by the following types of housing units: One, two, three-story sheets are used for duplexes and multifamily housing with three or less stories. High/Rise sheet is used for buildings with four or more stories Side by side are for those units that are all on one story.