Chicago Housing Authority Housing Choice Voucher Program Administrative Plan Effective January 1, 2021 Chicago Housing Authority Housing Choice Voucher Program Administrative Plan Contents Chapter 1 – Overview of the Program and Plan ................................................................................................ 1-1 Part I: CHA and the HCV Program .................................................................................................................. 1-1 1-I.A. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 1-1 1-I.B. The CHA’s Mission ............................................................................................................................ 1-1 1-I.C. Organization and Structure of the CHA ............................................................................................ 1-1 1-I.D. The CHA’s Commitment to Ethics and Service ................................................................................. 1-1 1-I.E. HCV Partnerships .............................................................................................................................. 1-2 Part II: The HCV Program Administrative Plan ............................................................................................... 1-3 1-II.A. Overview and Purpose of the Plan .................................................................................................. 1-3 1-II.B. Mandatory vs. Optional Policy ........................................................................................................ 1-3 1-II.C. Updating and Revising the Plan ....................................................................................................... 1-3 1-II.D. Applicable Procedures ..................................................................................................................... 1-3 Chapter 2 – Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity .............................................................................................. 2-1 Part I: Nondiscrimination ............................................................................................................................... 2-1 2-I.A. Overview........................................................................................................................................... 2-1 2-I.B Providing Information to Families and Owners ................................................................................. 2-1 2-I.C. Discrimination Complaints................................................................................................................ 2-1 2-I.D. Access for Persons with Limited English Proficiency ........................................................................ 2-1 2-I.E. Affirmative Marketing ...................................................................................................................... 2-1 Part II: Policies Related to Persons with Disabilities ...................................................................................... 2-2 2-II.A. Definition of Disability ..................................................................................................................... 2-2 2-II.B. Overview .......................................................................................................................................... 2-2 2-II.C. Request for a Reasonable Accommodation .................................................................................... 2-3 2-II.D. Approval/Denial of a Requested Accommodation .......................................................................... 2-3 2-II.E. Termination of Assistance ............................................................................................................... 2-4 Part III: Violence Against Women Act ............................................................................................................ 2-4 2-III.A. Protections for Victims ................................................................................................................... 2-4 2-III.B. VAWA Documentation ................................................................................................................... 2-4 2-III.C. Notice of VAWA .............................................................................................................................. 2-5 2-III.D. Confidentiality ................................................................................................................................ 2-5 Chicago Housing Authority Housing Choice Voucher Program Administrative Plan Chapter 3 – Eligibility ......................................................................................................................................... 3-1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 3-1 Part I: Definition of Family ............................................................................................................................. 3-1 3-I.A. Family and Household ...................................................................................................................... 3-1 3-I.B. Family Break-Up ............................................................................................................................... 3-2 Part II: Basic Eligibility Criteria ....................................................................................................................... 3-3 3-II.A. Income Eligibility and Targeting ...................................................................................................... 3-3 3-II.B. Citizenship or Eligible Immigration Status ....................................................................................... 3-3 3-II.C. Social Security Numbers .................................................................................................................. 3-4 3-II.D. Eligibility for Demonstration Programs ........................................................................................... 3-4 Part III: Denial of Assistance .......................................................................................................................... 3-4 3-III.A. Overview......................................................................................................................................... 3-4 3-III.B. Mandatory Denial of Assistance ..................................................................................................... 3-4 3-III.C. Other Permitted Reasons for Denial of Assistance......................................................................... 3-5 3-III.D. Screening ........................................................................................................................................ 3-6 3-III.E. Criteria for Deciding to Deny Assistance ........................................................................................ 3-6 Chapter 4 – Applicant, Waiting List and Tenant Selection ................................................................................. 4-1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 4-1 Part I: The Application Process ...................................................................................................................... 4-1 4-I.A. Applying for Assistance and Placement on the Waiting List ............................................................ 4-1 Part II: Managing the Waiting List.................................................................................................................. 4-1 4-II.A. Organization of the Waiting List ...................................................................................................... 4-1 4-II.B. Opening and Closing the Waiting List .............................................................................................. 4-2 4-II.C. Reporting Changes in Family Circumstances ................................................................................... 4-2 4-II.D. Updating the Waiting List ................................................................................................................ 4-2 Part III: Selection for HCV Assistance ............................................................................................................. 4-3 4-III.A. Overview......................................................................................................................................... 4-3 4-III.B. Selection and HCV Funding Sources ............................................................................................... 4-3 4-III.C. Selection Method ........................................................................................................................... 4-4 4-III.D. Notification of Selection ................................................................................................................. 4-5 4-III.E. The Eligibility Interview................................................................................................................... 4-6 Chapter 5 – Briefings and Voucher Issuance ..................................................................................................... 5-1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................