1. Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority
Housing Choice Voucher Program
Presented by:
Latweeta Smyers, Director
Jane Nichols, Deputy Director

2. The Housing Choice Voucher Program at a Glance
15, 283 vouchers
5,874 vendors
75 employees
Senior Operations Management
Director – Latweeta Smyers
Deputy Director – Jane Nichols
Supervisors
Applications -Akiela Mills
Applications/Operations (Mod Rehab) – Kenyatta Green
Quality Control – Ava Decembly
Contracting and Leasing – Andrea Smith

3. How does the Voucher Program Work?
Families rent from private-market landlords.
Families contribute 30-40% of their adjusted income toward the rent in the initial year of the contract.
CMHA pays the balance.

4. A Typical Month 500 requests to lease a new unit
1,300 re-certifications
100 families terminated from the program
$515 average per-unit-cost

5. Financial Impact on the Community$
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CMHA’s Housing Choice Voucher Program generates over $8.1 million in HAP dollars monthly, $97 million annually.
Investors purchase vacant or foreclosed housing stock, renovate, and place them back into the housing market.
Low-income families are able to afford to move to low-poverty areas which provide them with additional amenties, e.g. safety services, recreational activities, and school systems.

6. How is the HCVP Program Funded?
HUD provides funding through “Annual Contributions Contracts” (ACCs).
Number of vouchers will be smaller if program units are expensive or the families require many bedrooms versus traditional apartment units.
HCVP creates the vouchers with the funding provided by HUD.

7. HCVP Waiting Lists Tenant Base Project Base
PB Fairfax Intergenerational
PB Chronically Homeless
PB Homeless
Mod Rehab

8. Interlocking Relationships
Voucher
CMHA’s contract with tenant
Housing Assistance Payment Contract
CMHA’s contract with owner
Lease Agreement
Owner’s contract with tenant
Voucher: contract between CMHA and “our” participant
HAP: contract between CMHA and “our” LL
Lease Agreement: Contract between “you” and your tenant, enforce your lease

9. Applicant/Participant
Program Overview
Program Overview
Applicant/Participant
Voucher Briefings & Issuance
3 R’s
Requirements
Rules
Regulations
Refresher Annual Briefing
Owner’s
New Landlord Briefing
3 R’s
Requirements
Rules
Regulations
Quarterly Brown Bag Luncheon’s

10. Voucher Term & Voucher Size
How long an applicant/participant has to search for housing
120 days from date voucher issued
Extensions may be granted by the Housing Authority for reasonable accommodation
Voucher Size
Represents the number of bedrooms a household is eligible for

11. Request for Tenancy Approval Packet (RFTA)
Contains:
Instructions for completion
RFTA Document
Landlord Fraud Letter
Landlord Certification
Sample Lease
HUD Tenancy Addendum
Drug-free Housing Lease Addendum
Lead-based Paint Disclosure
30-Day Notices
New Landlord Packet
Direct Deposit Form
W-9 Form
Agent Form
Inspection Checklist
Informational Handouts
Participants bring the RFTA packet to the landlords
Landlords cannot pick up a packet
After the participants attend a Mover’s Session, pass a criminal background check, and are confirmed eligible to move, than they are provided with a RFTA packet and a new voucher

12. The Family Finds A Unit…
The owner and family must complete the Request for Tenancy Approval (“RFTA”) packet in its entirety
The completed RFTA packet is submitted to the HCV program
The tenancy approval process starts

13. Notification Applicants, Participants & Landlords
Memorandum of Understanding: .
Bedford
Bedford Heights
Berea
Brooklyn
Brook Park
Cleveland Heights
Cuyahoga Heights
Parma
Parma Heights
Shaker Heights
South Euclid
University Heights
Warrensville Heights
East Cleveland
Euclid
Fairview Park
Garfield Heights
Lakewood
Lyndhurst
Maple Heights
Agreement between CMHA and
There are some additional steps taken when your property is in one of these areas

14. RFTA Intake Confirmation
Foreclosures
Will not accept the RFTA is unit is in foreclosure
Tax Delinquency
Confirm that property taxes are paid biannually
Occupancy Permits
Must submit before signing HAP contract

15. CMHA HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM
INSPECTIONS

16. CMHA Inspection Checklist
Where to find it
Follow the link to the HQS Inspection Checklist
This is a mandatory HUD form

17. Program Violations IDENTIFYING THE VIOLATIONS TIMELINE OF EVENTS
Annual Re-inspections–up to 30 days
Initial Re-inspections–up to 14 days
RESULTS
MAKING THE REPAIRS

18. The interior and exterior condition of a
Inspecting Garages
Single Family Units:
The interior and exterior condition of a
stand-alone garage will be inspected, regardless of whether the tenant has access into the garage.

19. Inspecting Garages cont.
Multifamily Units:
Inspection of the garage interior will take place when the tenant has access only. We would verify this with the property owner or participant. If they have access and it’s just one large garage we inspect the entire interior area. When each tenant has their own individual garage we only inspect the one that the tenant uses.
For high rises with a parking garage inspect the path the tenant takes as well as the area that is assigned for the vehicle. Look for any potential hazards that may threaten the health and safety of the tenant, for example: exposed wires or any electrical hazard, tripping hazards, cutting hazards, door systems are working properly, walls and ceiling not in danger of collapsing, etc.

20. The 3 R’s
REPAIR REPLACE REMOVE

21. LEAD LAW: Citation Cited for defective paint AND
Child under 6 yrs old in the home
Home built prior to January 1, 1978

22. Lead Law, continued…
LEAD SAFE WORK PRACTICE
LEAD-BASED PAINT CONTRACTOR CERTIFICATION FORM
PASSED LEAD CLEARANCE TEST
COMPLIANCE
Documentation must be ed to or hand delivered to the HCVP office at 8120 Kinsman Rd, Resource Room #107

23. Resolving Municipal Requirements
Contact the building department in the municipality your unit is in, to receive information on all paperwork, fees, and inspections that the city may require for a unit to qualify as a rental property. Remember: If your unit is not in compliance with the City, the unit is not in compliance with the CMHA HCVP.

24. Any Questions ?