Eligibility for Public Housing
Eligibility for the Public Housing Program is detailed in THA’s Admissions and Continued Occupancy Plan (ACOP). The eligibility criteria for the Public Housing Program from the ACOP is summarized on this page. Click on the links below to take you to the section you would like to view:
Please Note: The following information does not encompass all of the eligibility requirements for the program. All details of the Public Housing Program can be found in Chapter 3 of the ACOP.
THA is using MTW flexibility to use different income targeting requirements. THA will ensure that 75 percent of families are at very low income upon entry (50% AMI or below).
Income Limits
The Department of Housing and Urban Development sets income limits to determine who is eligible for housing programs. Being outside the income limit does not automatically disqualify you; please contact us to learn more about eligibility.
Types of Low-Income Families
- Low-income family: A family whose annual income does not exceed 80 percent of the median income for the area, adjusted for family size.
- Very low-income family: A family whose annual income does not exceed 50 percent of the median income for the area, adjusted for family size.
- Extremely low-income family: A family whose annual income does not exceed 30 percent of the median income for the area, adjusted for family size.
HUD may establish income ceilings higher or lower than 30, 50, or 80 percent of the median income for an area if HUD finds that such variations are necessary because of unusually high or low family incomes.
HUD is required by law to set income limits that determine the eligibility of applicants for HUD’s assisted housing programs, including the public housing program. The income limits are published annually and are based on HUD estimates of median family income in a particular area or county, with adjustments for family size.
Using Income Limits for Eligibility
Income limits are used for eligibility only at admission. Eligibility is established by comparing a family’s annual income with HUD’s published income limits. To be income-eligible, a family must be a low-income family.
Using Income Limits for Targeting
At least 40 percent of the families admitted to the PHA’s public housing program during a PHA fiscal year from the PHA waiting list must be extremely low-income families. This is called the “basic targeting requirement.”
If admissions of extremely low-income families to the PHA’s housing choice voucher program during a PHA fiscal year exceed the 75 percent minimum targeting requirement for that program, such excess shall be credited against the PHA’s public housing basic targeting requirement for the same fiscal year.
The fiscal year credit for housing choice voucher program admissions that exceed the minimum voucher program targeting requirement must not exceed the lower of:
- Ten percent of public housing waiting list admissions during the PHA fiscal year
- Ten percent of waiting list admission to the PHA’s housing choice voucher program during the PHA fiscal year
- The number of qualifying low-income families who commence occupancy during the fiscal year of public housing units located in census tracts with a poverty rate of 30 percent or more. For this purpose, qualifying low-income family means a low-income family other than an extremely low-income family.
Citizenship or Eligible Immigration Status
Housing assistance is available only to individuals who are U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals (herein referred to as citizens and nationals), or noncitizens that have eligible immigration status. At least one family member must be a citizen, national, or noncitizen with eligible immigration status in order for the family to qualify for any level of assistance.
All applicant families must be notified of the requirement to submit evidence of their citizenship status when they apply. Where feasible, and in accordance with the PHA’s Limited English Proficiency Plan, the notice must be in a language that is understood by the individual if the individual is not proficient in English.
Declaration
HUD requires each family member to declare whether the individual is a citizen, a national, or an eligible noncitizen, except those members who elect not to contend that they have eligible immigration status. Those who elect not to contend their status are considered to be ineligible noncitizens. For citizens, nationals and eligible noncitizens the declaration must be signed personally by the head, spouse, co-head, and any other family member 18 or older, and by a parent or guardian for minors. The family must identify in writing any family members who elect not to contend their immigration status (see Ineligible Noncitizens below). No declaration is required for live-in aides, foster children, or foster adults.
U.S. Citizens and Nationals
In general, citizens and nationals are required to submit only a signed declaration that claims their status. However, HUD regulations permit the PHA to request additional documentation of their status, such as a passport.
THA Policy
Family members who declare citizenship or national status will not be required to provide additional documentation unless the PHA receives information indicating that an individual’s declaration may not be accurate.
Eligible Noncitizens
In addition to providing a signed declaration, those declaring eligible noncitizen status must sign a verification consent form and cooperate with PHA efforts to verify their immigration status. The documentation required for establishing eligible noncitizen status varies depending upon factors such as the date the person entered the U.S., the conditions under which eligible immigration status has been granted, the person’s age, and the date on which the family began receiving HUD-funded assistance.
Lawful residents of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau, together known as the Freely Associated States, or FAS, are eligible for housing assistance under section 141 of the Compacts of Free Association between the U.S. Government and the Governments of the FAS [Public Law 106-504].
Ineligible Noncitizens
Those noncitizens who do not wish to contend their immigration status are required to have their names listed on a non-contending family members listing, signed by the head, spouse, or co-head (regardless of citizenship status), indicating their ineligible immigration status. The PHA is not required to verify a family member’s ineligible status and is not required to report an individual’s unlawful presence in the U.S. to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Providing housing assistance to noncitizen students is prohibited. This prohibition extends to the noncitizen spouse of a noncitizen student as well as to minor children who accompany or follow to join the noncitizen student. Such prohibition does not extend to the citizen spouse of a noncitizen student or to the children of the citizen spouse and noncitizen student. Such a family is eligible for prorated assistance as a mixed family.
Ineligible Families
A PHA may elect to provide assistance to a family before the verification of the eligibility of the individual or one family member. Otherwise, no individual or family may be assisted prior to the affirmative establishment by the PHA that the individual or at least one family member is eligible.
THA Policy
The PHA will not provide assistance to a family before the verification of at least one family member as a citizen, national, or eligible noncitizen.
When a PHA determines that an applicant family does not include any citizens, nationals, or eligible noncitizens, following the verification process, the family will be sent a written notice within 10 business days of the determination.
The notice will explain the reasons for the denial of assistance and will advise the family of its right to request an appeal to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), or to request an informal hearing with the PHA. The informal hearing with the PHA may be requested in lieu of the USCIS appeal, or at the conclusion of the USCIS appeal process.
The notice must also inform the applicant family that assistance may not be delayed until the conclusion of the USCIS appeal process, but that it may be delayed pending the completion of the informal hearing process.
Timeframe for Determination of Citizenship Status
For new occupants joining the resident family the PHA must verify status at the first interim or regular reexamination following the person’s occupancy, whichever comes first.
If an individual qualifies for a time extension for the submission of required documents, the PHA must grant such an extension for no more than 30 days.
Each family member is required to submit evidence of eligible status only one time during continuous occupancy.
THA Policy
The PHA will verify the status of applicants at the time other eligibility factors are determined.
Social Security Numbers
The applicant and all members of the applicant’s household must disclose the complete and accurate social security number (SSN) assigned to each household member, and the documentation necessary to verify each SSN. A detailed discussion of acceptable documentation is provided in Chapter 7.
Note: These requirements do not apply to noncitizens who do not contend eligible immigration status.
In addition, each participant who has not previously disclosed an SSN, has previously disclosed an SSN that HUD or the SSA determined was invalid, or has been issued a new SSN must submit their complete and accurate SSN and the documentation required to verify the SSN at the time of the next interim or annual reexamination or recertification. Participants age 62 or older as of January 31, 2010, whose determination of eligibility was begun before January 31, 2010, are exempt from this requirement and remain exempt even if they move to a new assisted unit.
The PHA must deny assistance to an applicant family if they do not meet the SSN disclosure and documentation requirements.
Denial of Admission
Overview
A family that does not meet the eligibility criteria discussed in Parts I and II, must be denied admission.
In addition, HUD requires or permits the PHA to deny admission based on certain types of current or past behaviors of family members as discussed in this part. The PHA’s authority in this area is limited by the Violence against Women Reauthorization Act of 2005 (VAWA), which expressly prohibits the denial of admission to an otherwise qualified applicant on the basis that the applicant is or has been the victim of domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking.
This part covers the following topics:
- Required denial of admission
- Other permitted reasons for denial of admission
- Screening
- Criteria for deciding to deny admission
- Prohibition against denial of admission to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking
- Notice of eligibility or denial
Required Denial of Admission
PHAs are required to establish standards that prohibit admission of an applicant to the public housing program if they have engaged in certain criminal activity or if the PHA has reasonable cause to believe that a household member’s current use or pattern of use of illegal drugs, or current abuse or pattern of abuse of alcohol may threaten the health, safety, or right to peaceful enjoyment of the premises by other residents.
Where the statute requires that the PHA prohibit admission for a prescribed period of time after some disqualifying behavior or event, the PHA may choose to continue that prohibition for a longer period of time.
HUD requires the PHA to deny assistance in the following cases:
- Any member of the household has been evicted from federally-assisted housing in the last 3 years for drug-related criminal activity. HUD permits but does not require the PHA to admit an otherwise-eligible family if the household member has completed a PHA-approved drug rehabilitation program or the circumstances which led to eviction no longer exist (e.g. the person involved in the criminal activity no longer lives in the household).
THA Policy
The PHA will admit an otherwise-eligible family who was evicted from federally-assisted housing within the past 5 years for drug-related criminal activity, if the PHA is able to verify that the household member who engaged in the criminal activity has completed a supervised drug rehabilitation program approved by the PHA, or the person who was involved in the drug-related criminal activity committed the crime is no longer living in the household and that person can provide proof of another residence.
- The PHA determines that any household member is currently engaged in the use of illegal drugs. “Drug” means a controlled substance as defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act [21 U.S.C. 802]. “Currently engaged in the illegal use of a drug” means a person has engaged in the behavior recently enough to justify a reasonable belief that there is continuing illegal drug use by a household member.
THA Policy
“Currently engaged in” is defined as any use of illegal drugs during the previous twelve months.
Please Note: Marijuana is a federally controlled substance and THA prohibits admission to its housing programs for any household with a member who the THA determines is illegally using a controlled substance. THA has the option to deny assistance or terminate specific marijuana users rather than the entire household for both applicant and existing tenants when appropriate. THA has discretion to determine, on a case-by-case basis, the appropriateness of program termination of existing residents for the use of medical marijuana.
- The PHA has reasonable cause to believe that any household member’s current use or pattern of use of illegal drugs, or current abuse or pattern of abuse of alcohol, may threaten the health, safety, or right to peaceful enjoyment of the premises by other residents.
THA Policy
In determining reasonable cause, the PHA will consider all credible evidence, including but not limited to, any record of convictions, arrests, or evictions of household members related to the use of illegal drugs or the abuse of alcohol. A conviction will be given more weight than an arrest. The PHA will also consider evidence from treatment providers or community-based organizations providing services to household members.
- Any household member has ever been convicted of drug-related criminal activity for the production or manufacture of methamphetamine on the premises of federally assisted housing.
THA Policy
THA will deny assistance to any household that has ever been convicted of drug-related activity for the production or manufacture of methamphetamine.
THA will deny assistance to any household that has a household member who is subject to a registration requirement under a state sex offender registration program.
Other Permitted Reasons for Denial of Admission
HUD permits, but does not require the PHA to deny admission for the reasons discussed in this section.
Criminal Activity
Under the Public Housing Assessment System (PHAS), PHAs that have adopted policies, implemented procedures and can document that they successfully screen out and deny admission to certain applicants with unfavorable criminal histories receive points.
The PHA is responsible for screening family behavior and suitability for tenancy. In doing so, the PHA may consider an applicant’s history of criminal activity involving crimes of physical violence to persons or property and other criminal acts which would adversely affect the health, safety or welfare of other tenants.
THA Policy
If any household member is currently engaged in, or has engaged in any of the following criminal activities, within the past five years, the family will be denied admission:
- Drug-related criminal activity, defined by HUD as the illegal manufacture, sale, distribution, or use of a drug, or the possession of a drug with intent to manufacture, sell, distribute or use the drug.
- Violent criminal activity, defined by HUD as any criminal activity that has as one of its elements the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force substantial enough to cause, or be reasonably likely to cause, serious bodily injury or property damage.
- Criminal activity that may threaten the health, safety, or welfare of other tenants.
- Criminal activity that may threaten the health or safety of PHA staff, contractors, subcontractors, or agents.
- Criminal sexual conduct, including but not limited to sexual assault, incest, open and gross lewdness, or child abuse.
Evidence of criminal activity includes, but is not limited to, any record of convictions, arrests, or evictions for suspected drug-related or violent criminal activity of household members within the past 5 years. A conviction for such activity will be given more weight than an arrest or an eviction.
THA Policy
THA reserves the right to deny assistance to households who have committed serious crimes more than 5 years ago. Examples of serious crimes include but are not limited to: homicide, pattern of criminal activity, felony assault, arson, or any other crimes that could threaten the health, safety or right to peaceful enjoyment of other persons in the immediate vicinity.
In making its decision to deny assistance, the PHA will consider the factors discussed in later sections detailing denial and termination. Upon consideration of such factors, the PHA may, on a case-by-case basis, decide not to deny assistance.
Previous Behavior
HUD authorizes the PHA to deny admission based on relevant information pertaining to the family’s previous behavior and suitability for tenancy.
In the event of the receipt of unfavorable information with respect to an applicant, the PHA must consider the time, nature, and extent of the applicant’s conduct (including the seriousness of the offense). As discussed in Section 3-III.F, the PHA may also need to consider whether the cause of the unfavorable information may be that the applicant is the victim of domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking.
THA Policy
The PHA will deny admission to an applicant family if the PHA determines that the family:
- Has a pattern of unsuitable past performance in meeting financial obligations, including rent within the past five years;
- Has a pattern of disturbance of neighbors, destruction of property, or living or housekeeping habits at prior residences within the past five years which may adversely affect the health, safety, or welfare of other tenants;
- Has a pattern of eviction from housing or termination from residential programs within the past five years (considering relevant circumstances);
- Owes rent or other amounts to this or any other PHA or owner in connection with any assisted housing program;
- Misrepresented or does not provide complete information related to eligibility, including income, award of preferences for admission, expenses, family composition or rent;
- Has committed fraud, bribery, or any other corrupt or criminal act in connection with any federal housing program; or
- Has engaged in or threatened violent or abusive behavior toward PHA personnel or anyone acting on behalf of the housing authority.
“Abusive or violent behavior” includes verbal as well as physical abuse or violence. Use of racial epithets, or other language, written or oral, that is customarily used to intimidate may be considered abusive or violent behavior.
“Threatening” refers to oral or written threats or physical gestures that communicate intent to abuse or commit violence.
In making its decision to deny admission, the PHA will consider the factors discussed in later sections detailing denial and termination. Upon consideration of such factors, the PHA may, on a case-by-case basis, decide not to deny admission.
The PHA will consider the existence of mitigating factors, such as loss of employment or other financial difficulties, before denying admission to an applicant based on the failure to meet prior financial obligations.
Screening for Eligibility
PHAs are authorized to obtain criminal conviction records from law enforcement agencies to screen applicants for admission to the public housing program. This authority assists the PHA in complying with HUD requirements and PHA policies to deny assistance to applicants who are engaging in or have engaged in certain criminal activities. In order to obtain access to the records the PHA must require every applicant family to submit a consent form signed by each adult household member.
The PHA may not pass along to the applicant the costs of a criminal records check.
THA Policy
The PHA will perform criminal background checks through local law enforcement for all household members over the age of 16.
If the results of the criminal background check indicate there may have been past criminal activity, but the results are inconclusive, the PHA will request information from an external screening company.
PHAs are required to perform criminal background checks necessary to determine whether any household member is subject to a registration requirement under a state sex offender program in the state where the housing is located, as well as in any other state where a household member is known to have resided.
If the PHA proposes to deny admission based on a criminal record or on lifetime sex offender registration information, the PHA must notify the household of the proposed action and must provide the subject of the record and the applicant a copy of the record and an opportunity to dispute the accuracy and relevance of the information prior to a denial of admission.
Obtaining Information from Drug Treatment Facilities
HUD authorizes PHAs to request and obtain information from drug abuse treatment facilities concerning applicants. Specifically, the PHA may require each applicant to submit for all household members who are at least 18 years of age, and for each family head, spouse, or cohead regardless of age, one or more consent forms signed by such household members that requests any drug abuse treatment facility to inform the PHA whether the drug abuse treatment facility has reasonable cause to believe that the household member is currently engaging in illegal drug use.
“Drug abuse treatment facility” means an entity that holds itself out as providing, and provides, diagnosis, treatment, or referral for treatment with respect to the illegal drug use, and is either an identified unit within a general care facility, or an entity other than a general medical care facility.
“Currently engaging in illegal use of a drug” means illegal use of a drug that occurred recently enough to justify a reasonable belief that there is continuing illegal drug use by a household member.
Any consent form used for the purpose of obtaining information from a drug abuse treatment facility to determine whether a household member is currently engaging in illegal drug use must expire automatically after the PHA has made a final decision to either approve or deny the admission of such person.
Any charges incurred by the PHA for information provided from a drug abuse treatment facility may not be passed on to the applicant or tenant.
If the PHA chooses to obtain such information from drug abuse treatment facilities, it must adopt and implement one of the two following policies:
- Policy A: The PHA must submit a request for information to a drug abuse treatment facility for all families before they are admitted. The request must be submitted for each proposed household member who is at least 18 years of age, and for each family head, spouse, or cohead regardless of age.
- Policy B: The PHA must submit a request for information only for certain household members, whose criminal record indicates prior arrests or conviction for any criminal activity that may be a basis for denial of admission or whose prior tenancy records indicate that the proposed household member engaged in destruction of property or violent activity against another person, or they interfered with the right of peaceful enjoyment of the premises of other residents.
If the PHA chooses to obtain such information, it must abide by the HUD requirements for records management and confidentiality.
THA Policy
The PHA will obtain information from drug abuse treatment facilities to determine whether any applicant family’s household members are currently engaging in illegal drug activity only when:
- The PHA has determined that the family will be denied admission based on a family member’s drug-related criminal activity; and
- The family claims that the culpable family member has successfully completed a supervised drug or alcohol rehabilitation program.
Screening for Suitability as a Tenant
The PHA is responsible for the screening and selection of families to occupy public housing units. The PHA may consider all relevant information. Screening is important to public housing communities and program integrity, and to ensure that assisted housing is provided to those families that will adhere to lease obligations.
THA Policy
The PHA will consider the family’s history with respect to the following factors:
- Payment of rent and utilities;
- Caring for a unit and premises;
- Respecting the rights of other residents to the peaceful enjoyment of their housing;
- Criminal activity that is a threat to the health, safety, or property of others;
- Behavior of all household members as related to the grounds for denial as detailed in previous sections regarding denial; and
- Compliance with any other essential conditions of tenancy.
Resources Used to Check Applicant Suitability
PHAs have a variety of resources available to them for determination of the suitability of applicants. Generally, PHAs should reject applicants who have recent behavior that would warrant lease termination for a public housing resident.
THA Policy
In order to determine the suitability of applicants the PHA will examine applicant history for the past five years. Such background checks will include:
- Past Performance in Meeting Financial Obligations, Especially Rent.
- PHA and landlord references for the past five years, gathering information about past performance meeting rental obligations such as rent payment record, late payment record, whether the PHA/landlord ever began or completed lease termination for non-payment, and whether utilities were ever disconnected in the unit. PHAs and landlords will be asked if they would rent to the applicant family again.
- Utility company references covering the monthly amount of utilities, late payment, disconnection, return of a utility deposit and whether the applicant can get utilities turned on in his/her name. (Use of this inquiry will be reserved for applicants applying for units where there are tenant-paid utilities.)
- If an applicant has no rental payment history the PHA will check court records of eviction actions and other financial judgments, and credit reports. A lack of credit history will not disqualify someone from becoming a public housing resident, but a poor credit rating may.
- Applicants with no rental payment history will also be asked to provide the PHA with personal references. The references will be requested to complete a verification of the applicant’s ability to pay rent if no other documentation of ability to meet financial obligations is available. The applicant will also be required to complete a checklist documenting their ability to meet financial obligations.
- If previous landlords or the utility company do not respond to requests from the PHA, the applicant may provide other documentation that demonstrates their ability to meet financial obligations (e.g. rent receipts, cancelled checks, etc.)
- Disturbances of Neighbors, Destruction of Property or Living or Housekeeping Habits at Prior Residences that May Adversely Affect Health, Safety, or Welfare of Other Tenants, or Cause Damage to the Unit or the Development.
- PHA and landlord references for the past five years, gathering information on whether the applicant kept a unit clean, safe and sanitary; whether they violated health or safety codes; whether any damage was done by the applicant to a current or previous unit or the development, and, if so, how much the repair of the damage cost; whether the applicant’s housekeeping caused insect or rodent infestation; and whether the neighbors complained about the applicant or whether the police were ever called because of disturbances.
- Police and court records within the past five years will be used to check for any evidence of disturbance of neighbors or destruction of property that might have resulted in arrest or conviction.
- A personal reference will be requested to complete a verification of the applicant’s ability to care for the unit and avoid disturbing neighbors if no other documentation is available. In these cases, the applicant will also be required to complete a checklist documenting their ability to care for the unit and to avoid disturbing neighbors.
- Home visits may be used to determine the applicant’s ability to care for the unit.
Criteria for Deciding to Deny Admission
Evidence
THA Policy
The PHA will use the concept of the preponderance of the evidence as the standard for making all admission decisions.
“Preponderance of the evidence” is defined as evidence which is of greater weight or more convincing than the evidence which is offered in opposition to it; that is, evidence which as a whole shows that the fact sought to be proved is more probable than not. Preponderance of the evidence may not be determined by the number of witnesses, but by the greater weight of all evidence.
Consideration of Circumstances
HUD authorizes the PHA to consider all relevant circumstances when deciding whether to deny admission based on a family’s past history except in the situations for which denial of admission is mandated.
In the event the PHA receives unfavorable information with respect to an applicant, consideration must be given to the time, nature, and extent of the applicant’s conduct (including the seriousness of the offense). In a manner consistent with its policies, PHAs may give consideration to factors which might indicate a reasonable probability of favorable future conduct.
THA Policy
The PHA will consider the following factors prior to making its decision:
- The seriousness of the case, especially with respect to how it would affect other residents.
- The effects that denial of admission may have on other members of the family who were not involved in the action or failure.
- The extent of participation or culpability of individual family members, including whether the culpable family member is a minor or a person with disabilities, or a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking.
- The length of time since the violation occurred, the family’s recent history and the likelihood of favorable conduct in the future.
- Evidence of the applicant family’s participation in or willingness to participate in social service or other appropriate counseling service programs.
In the case of drug or alcohol abuse, whether the culpable household member is participating in or has successfully completed a supervised drug or alcohol rehabilitation program or has otherwise been rehabilitated successfully
The PHA will require the applicant to submit evidence of the household member’s current participation in or successful completion of a supervised drug or alcohol rehabilitation program, or evidence of otherwise having been rehabilitated successfully.
Removal of a Family Member’s Name from the Application
HUD permits PHAs to impose as a condition of admission, a requirement that family members who participated in or were culpable for an action or failure to act which warrants denial of admission, to not reside in the unit.
THA Policy
As a condition of receiving assistance, a family may agree to remove the culpable family member from the application. In such instances, the head of household must certify that the family member will not be permitted to visit or to stay as a guest in the public housing unit.
After admission to the program, the family must present evidence of the former family member’s current address upon PHA request.
Reasonable Accommodation
If the family includes a person with disabilities, the PHA’s decision concerning denial of admission is subject to consideration of reasonable accommodation.
THA Policy
If the family indicates that the behavior of a family member with a disability is the reason for the proposed denial of admission, the PHA will determine whether the behavior is related to the disability. If so, upon the family’s request, the PHA will determine whether alternative measures are appropriate as a reasonable accommodation. The PHA will only consider accommodations that can reasonably be expected to address the behavior that is the basis of the proposed denial of admission. See Chapter 2 in the ACOP for a discussion of reasonable accommodation.
Prohibition Against Denial of Assistance to Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Salking
The Violence against Women Act of 2005 (VAWA) and the HUD regulation prohibit PHAs from denying admission to an otherwise qualified applicant on the basis that the applicant is or has been a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking.
Definitions of key terms used in VAWA are provided in section 16-VII of the ACOP, where general VAWA requirements and policies pertaining to notification, documentation, and confidentiality are also located.
Notification
THA Policy
The PHA acknowledges that a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking may have an unfavorable history (e.g., a poor credit history, a record of previous damage to an apartment, a prior arrest record) that would warrant denial under the PHA’s policies. Therefore, if the PHA makes a determination to deny admission to an applicant family, the PHA will include in its notice of denial information about the protection against denial provided by VAWA in accordance with section 16-VII.C of this ACOP and will request that an applicant wishing to claim this protection notify the PHA within 10 business days.
Documentation
Victim Documentation
If an applicant claims the protection against denial of admission that VAWA provides to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking, the PHA will request in writing that the applicant provide documentation supporting the claim in accordance with section 16-VII.D of the ACOP.
Perpetrator Documentation
If the perpetrator of the abuse is a member of the applicant family, the applicant must provide additional documentation consisting of one of the following:
- A signed statement (1) requesting that the perpetrator be removed from the application and (2) certifying that the perpetrator will not be permitted to visit or to stay as a guest in the public housing unit.
- Documentation that the perpetrator has successfully completed, or is successfully undergoing, rehabilitation or treatment. The documentation must be signed by an employee or agent of a domestic violence service provider or by a medical or other knowledgeable professional from whom the perpetrator has sought or is receiving assistance in addressing the abuse. The signer must attest under penalty of perjury to his or her belief that the rehabilitation was successfully completed or is progressing successfully. The victim and perpetrator must also sign or attest to the documentation.
Notice of Eligibility or Denial
The PHA will notify an applicant family of its final determination of eligibility.
THA Policy
If a PHA uses a criminal record or sex offender registration information obtained under 24 CFR 5, Subpart J, as the basis of a denial, a copy of the record must precede the notice to deny, with an opportunity for the applicant to dispute the accuracy and relevance of the information before the PHA can move to deny the application. In addition, a copy of the record must be provided to the subject of the record.
If, based on a criminal record or sex offender registration information an applicant family appears to be ineligible, the PHA will notify the family in writing of the proposed denial and provide a copy of the record to the applicant and to the subject of the record. The family will be given 10 business days to dispute the accuracy and relevance of the information. If the family does not contact the PHA to dispute the information within that 10 day period, the PHA will proceed with issuing the notice of denial of admission. A family that does not exercise their right to dispute the accuracy of the information prior to issuance of the official denial letter will still be given the opportunity to do so as part of the informal hearing process.
Notice requirements related to denying admission to noncitizens are contained in the previous section regarding required denial of admission.
Notice policies related to denying admission to applicants who may be victims of domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking are contained in the previous section detailing prohibition against denial of assistance to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.