The Newark Housing Choice Voucher Program

The Housing Choice Voucher Program is a national rental assistance program, funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  The goal of the program is to assist low- and moderate-income families to rent housing in the private market, by paying a portion of the family’s rent each month.

For eligible families, there are ten basic steps to participate in the Housing Choice Voucher Program. They are:

1. Application
2. Eligibility Determination
3. Applicant Briefing
4. Issuance of a voucher
5. Housing Search
6. Housing (HQS) Inspection
7. Rent Reasonableness Determination
8. Execution of Lease and HAP Contract
9. Rent & Housing Assistance Payments
10. Annual Recertification

Under the program, families, owners and NHA all have rights and responsibilities. Voucher Families are required to:

• Comply with program rules and the terms and conditions of your lease with the property owner
• Permit housing inspections
• Report changes in income and any changes in household composition
• Keep the unit in good condition
• Cooperate with the owner by informing him/her of any necessary repairs
• Cooperate with the Newark Housing Authority for initial, annual and complaint inspections.

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Participating property owners’ responsibilities are to:

• Screen all applicants for suitability as tenants
• Collect the tenant’s portion of the rent
• Comply with landlord-tenant and fair housing laws, the terms of the lease with their tenant and their contract with NHA
• Permit inspections
• Make timely repairs to keep the property in good condition

As administrator of the program, NHA’s major responsibilities are to:

• Manage daily operations with fiscal integrity and in accordance with Federal rules and regulations
• Determine whether families and individuals are eligible for the program
• Inspect units to ensure that they meet Federal guidelines in terms of health and safety
• Pay the program’s portion of the rent to the owner in a timely manner
• Monitor voucher participants and owners to ensure compliance with program rules

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Income Limits Housing Choice Voucher Program (Newark, NJ) Effective 3/19/09

Area Median Income: $87,600

	1 Person	2 Person	3 Person	4 Person	5 Person	6 Person	7 Person	8 Person
Very Low Income (VLI)	$30,650	$35,050	$39,400	$ 43,800	$47,300	$50,800	$54,300	$57,800
30% of Median (ELI)	$18,400	$21,050	$23,650	$26,300	$28,400	$30,500	$32,600	$34,700
Lower Income (Port)	$44,800	$51,200	$57,600	$64,000	$69,100	$74,250	$79,350	$84,500

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Payment Standard

The NHA payment standard of approximately 110% is based upon the HUD published Fair Market Rents for the Newark Metropolitan Statistical Area. The Fair Market Rent published by HUD is based upon the 40th percentile of rents charged to recent movers (within prior two-year period) in the private rental market. NHA reviews payment standards annually, at the time new Fair Market Rents are published. Click here to view the Utility Allowances Payment Chart .

Payment Standard Chart (Effective 2/1/09)

Efficiency	1 Bedroom	2 Bedroom	3 Bedroom	4 Bedroom	5 Bedroom	6 Bedroom
$955	$1,167	$1,334	$1,597	$1,766	$2,030	$2,295

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