RCEDA 8.5x11 Report d3

HOUSING

What We Do. 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 the Housing Authority of the County of Riverside (HACR). The HACR receives

federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to administer the voucher program. 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. Rental units must meet minimum standards of health and safety. A housing subsidy is paid to the landlord directly by the HACR 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.

In fiscal year 2017-2018 the HACR:

• Added 770 new voucher participants to the HCV Program during FY 17/18 • 183 new VASH Participants, 45 new FUP families/foster care youths • Provided $73,882,503 in payments to 3,028 landlords in Riverside County • Housed 19,427 people in the HCV Program during FY 17/18

• Assisted 3600 senior and/or disabled individuals in the HCV Program during FY 17/18. • 12 families graduated from the Family Self-Sufficiency Program. (All families no longer require rental assistance. Two graduates purchased homes of their own) • Earned the HUD Rating of “High Performer for the 16 th consecutive year through the Section Eight Management Assessment Program (SEMAP).

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