STATEWIDE SECTION 8 VOUCHER PROGRAM Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan Effective April 26, 2021 Version 2021 - 1 SECTION 8 HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER ADMINISTRATIVE PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................. Intro-1 Charges Against Section 8 Administrative Fee Reserve ........................................................ Intro-2 Section 1.0 SELECTION AND ADMISSION POLICIES 1.1 Hiring a Housing Choice Voucher Participant as an Employee of the Local Organization ........................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Eligibility of Local Administrator’s Employees for Housing Choice Voucher Program Assistance ...................................................................................... 1-1 1.3 Preferences ............................................................................................................. 1-2 1.4 Opening the Waiting List ....................................................................................... 1-4 1.5 Closing the Waiting List ............................................................................................ 1-5 1.6 Updating the Waiting List ......................................................................................... 1-5 1.7 Removal of Applicants from the Waiting List ......................................................... 1-6 1.8 Screening of Applicants ......................................................................................... 1-7 1.9 Grounds for Denial of Assistance .......................................................................... 1-8 1.10 Confidentiality of Criminal Records ..................................................................... 1-11 1.11 Notification of Negative Actions ........................................................................... 1-11 1.12 Application Procedures ......................................................................................... 1-12 1.13 Applicant Status While on Waiting List ............................................................... 1-14 1.14 Time of Selection .................................................................................................. 1-14 1.15 Income Targeting Requirement ............................................................................. 1-14 1.16 Selection of Families from the Waiting List ......................................................... 1-15 1.17 First-Year Limitation on Where Family Can Lease a Unit at Initial Participation In the Program ....................................................................................................... 1-15 1.18 Eligibility of Students for Assisted Housing under Section 8 ............................... 1-16 1.19 Initial Eligibility Certification .............................................................................. 1-18 1.20 Requirement to Attend Interview ......................................................................... 1-18 1.21 Portability Moves from Other PHAs .................................................................... 1-19 1.22 Income Verification ............................................................................................. 1-20 1.22.1 Child Support ........................................................................................ 1-21 1.22.2 Pay Stubs as Verification of Income ..................................................... 1-21 1.22.3 Asset Verification .................................................................................. 1-22 1.22.4 Medical Expenses …………………………………………………………...1-22 1.23 Final Determination and Notification of Eligibility ............................................. 1-23 NYS HCR Section 8 Administrative Plan TOC-1 1.24 Document Retention for Applicants and Participants .......................................... 1-23 1.24.01 Applicants ............................................................................................ 1-23 1.24.02 Participants ......................................................................................... 1-24 1.24.03 Criminal Records ................................................................................ 1-24 Section 2.0 ISSUING VOUCHERS 2.1 Voucher Term ....................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Voucher Expirations ............................................................................................. 2-1 2.3 Suspensions ........................................................................................................... 2-2 2.4 Extensions ............................................................................................................. 2-2 2.4.1 Reasonable Accommodation Extensions .............................................. 2-2 2.4.2 Extensions Due to Extenuating Circumstances ................................... 2-2 2.5 LA Assistance to Voucher Holders ....................................................................... 2-2 2.6 LA to LA Moves ................................................................................................... 2-3 Section 3.0 SPECIAL ADMISSIONS 3.1 Special Purpose Programs ...................................................................................... 3-1 3.01.1 Mainstream Vouchers (MS) ................................................................. 3-1 3.01.1.A MS Definitions ....................................................................................... 3-2 3.2 Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH)…………………………...……………..3-5 3.3 Disaster Recovery .................................................................................................. 3-5 Section 4.0 OCCUPANCY POLICIES 4.1 Definition of Groups of Persons That May Qualify as a Family .......................... 4-1 4.2 Family Guests ........................................................................................................ 4-2 4.3 Definition of When an Applicant Is Considered to Be Continuously Assisted .... 4-2 Section 5.0 ENCOURAGING PARTICIPATION IN AREAS OF NON-CONCENTRATION ............................................................................... 5-1 Section 6.0 AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHERING FAIR HOUSING 6.1 Assistance to Families Claiming Discrimination .................................................. 6-1 6.2 Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Programs ...................................................... 6-2 6.3 Fair Housing Policies ............................................................................................ 6-3 NYS HCR Section 8 Administrative Plan TOC-2 Section 7.0 PROVIDING PARTICIPANT INFORMATION TO PROSPECTIVE OWNERS ............................................................................................................ 7-1 Section 8.0 DISAPPROVAL OF OWNER .......................................................................... 8-1 Section 9.0 GROUNDS FOR TERMINATING ASSISTANCE 9.1 Terminating for Alcohol Abuse or Criminal Drug Activity ................................. 9-1 9.2 Termination of Assistance to Sex Offenders ........................................................ 9-1 9.3 Other Reasons for Terminating Assistance ........................................................... 9-2 Section 10.0 SUBSIDY STANDARDS 10.1 Determination of Family Unit (Voucher) Size ................................................... 10-1 10.2 Exceptions to Subsidy Standards ....................................................................... 10-2 10.3 Request for Exceptions to Subsidy Standards .................................................... 10-3 10.4 Errors in Subsidy Standards ............................................................................... 10-3 10.5 Changes for Applicants ...................................................................................... 10-4 10.6 Overcrowding (Under-Housed) Families .......................................................... 10-4 10.7 Under-Utilization (Over-Housed) in Enhanced Voucher Conversions ............. 10-4 10.8 Ineligible Housing .............................................................................................. 10-4 Section 11.0 FAMILY ABSENCE FROM THE DWELLING UNIT 11.01 Confinement to Nursing Home or Hospital ....................................................... 11-1 Section 12.0 DETERMINING ASSISTANCE IF A FAMILY BREAKS UP 12.01 Remaining Member of Tenant Family ............................................................... 12-1 Section 13.0 INFORMAL REVIEW PROCEDURES FOR APPLICANTS 13.1 Preference Denials ............................................................................................. 13-1 13.2 Informal Review Procedures for Applicants ...................................................... 13-1 13.3 When an Informal Review is Not Required ....................................................... 13-1 13.4 Informal Review Process .................................................................................. 13-2 NYS HCR Section 8 Administrative Plan TOC-3 13.5 Procedure for Review ........................................................................................ 13-2 13.6 Mitigating Circumstances for Applicants with Disabilities .............................. 13-3 13.7 USCIS Determination of Ineligibility ............................................................... 13-3 13.8 Restrictions on Assistance to Non-Citizens .....................................................