CMHA and The Nelrod Company Community Focus Group Meeting - An Intro to HCV Rent Reasonableness

CMHA’s Mission Statement To provide quality affordable housing solutions by building partnerships with Hamilton County communities while strengthening and expanding housing opportunities for families to achieve self-sufficiency.

Assisted Housing in the U.S. U.S.Ohio Hamilton County Public Housing1.2 Million50,0005,700 Housing Choice Vouchers 2 Million70,00010,698 Site-Based Section million80,0009,100 Source:

Types of Government Housing Programs HCVProject Based Assistance Public Housing LIHTC Type of Assistance Tenant Based Project/ Site Based Site/ Project Based Property OwnerPrivate Owner CMHA or Other PHA Private Owner PortabilityAnywhere in US Stays w/Unit Lease Enforcement Owner Owner – CMHA Owner HUD ReviewSEMAPHUD Management & Occupancy Review PHASState Agency

How does Assisted Housing Benefit the Community? Provides workforce supply and allows businesses to access employees who live close to their jobs Generates property taxes – HCV and PBS8 Generates maintenance and management fees spent in the neighborhoods Expands low-income housing opportunities Increases diversity throughout the county Bolsters rental occupancy rates in a soft market

Where can a HCV Tenant Live in Hamilton County? Federal law permits a CMHA Housing Choice Voucher tenant to live in almost any rental property in Hamilton County that meets HUD guidelines when the owner is willing to accept a Voucher. There are no special qualifications, but the property owner must be willing to comply with rent restrictions and housing quality standards. CMHA HCV owners are required to abide by all Federal, state and local laws. CMHA HCV owners are required to continuously maintain rental units in compliance with federal Housing Quality Standards (HQS), local housing codes and CMHA guidelines. CMHA HCV owners are required to screen and approve each renter, collect a security deposit from the renter, execute an acceptable lease with renter, execute a Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Contract with CMHA and proactively enforce the lease.

CMHA is… Seeking community input on Rent Reasonableness

What is Rent Reasonableness? Rent Reasonableness (RR) is the HUD mandated process that PHAs use to ensure that approved HCV program rents are “reasonable”. “Reasonable” is defined as what a knowledgeable consumer would pay for rent in a particular rental market.

Goals of Rent Reasonableness To ensure that program participants pay rents that are comparable with the market To ensure that program rents do not adversely affect the jurisdictional rental market To ensure effective disbursement of agency HAP dollars

When is a RR Assessment Required? Before execution of a HAP Contract Before granting a requested increase in rent to owner If there is a 5% FMR decrease Whenever HUD requires

Rent Comparability The RR assessment establishes that the proposed Owner Rent is: Comparable to similar unassisted units in the marketplace, and Comparable to similar units on the premises

CMHA’s Rent Reasonableness Task Force CMHA used a competitive bidding process to select a RR vendor. The Nelrod Company was awarded the opportunity to perform all data collection and analysis for CMHA’s 2010 Rent Reasonableness study. The Nelrod Company is responsible for collecting additional specialized data from local community agencies and government groups. The community information will help to guide data collection efforts and final analysis.