Housing Assistance

HOUSING ASSISTANCE

Notice: As of June 11, 2007, the available applications for Section 8 Rental Assistance for Bowie County have all been distributed. We are no longer accepting applications for Bowie County. Once the waiting list is depleted and we are ready to take applications again for Bowie County, we will advertise on this web site and in the newspaper. Please call Texarkana Housing at 903/832-8636 for any questions regarding Section 8 Rental Assistance.

NOTICE POSTED 8/2/07

Effective immediately, the Ark-Tex Council of Governments Section 8 Program is no longer accepting applications for rental assistance in Cass County and Lamar County, Texas. Once the number of applications in either county falls below the number we can reasonably expect to serve in a one-year period, we will resume accepting applications in that county. For further information, contact Ark-Tex Council of Governments Rental Assistance Office at 800-988-3331.

Department Contacts

The Ark-Tex Council of Governments (ATCOG) administers a Section 8 Rental Assistance Program funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in the nine northeast counties of Texas. Eligibility for assistance is based on family income as established by HUD, as well as other factors determined by federal regulation and local policy. Assistance is available through Housing Choice Vouchers.

The ATCOG Housing program is assigned to provide improved living conditions for low-income families; promote freedom of housing choice; provide decent, safe and sanitary housing; and provide an incentive to private property owners to rent to low-income families by offering timely assistance payments and counseling to tenants on obligations under their lease. Eligibility for this program is based on “very low” income limits as published by HUD annually.

Housing Choice Vouchers are issued to eligible families and remain with the family. Rental units must meet the Housing Quality Standards as established by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Rental units on the Housing Choice Voucher Program are not subject to Fair Market Rent limitations, but must meet the rent comparability test. This test is necessary to ensure that the landlord is not charging more rent for their unit than other landlords are charging for similar units in the same general area. The tenant's maximum portion of rent is subtracted from the applicable Fair Market Rent to determine the amount ATCOG will pay. The tenant is responsible for the remaining portion. If a tenant's portion exceeds 30% of family income, counseling is provided to make the family aware of its responsibilities. In no case will the tenant’s portion of rent plus the estimated utility cost exceed 40% of the family’s monthly adjusted income.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Section 8 program a person (family) must:

	be very low income. This means your income must be at or below 50% of the area-wide median income for your county as determined by HUD.
	be a citizen or a non-citizen with "eligible immigration status."
	meet HUD's definition of "family," which includes most individuals, and households with an adult member who has a disability.

Applicants may be denied Section 8 assistance if they do not meet the above criteria OR if any member of the applicant's household has:

	been evicted for cause from other rental housing.
	been terminated from another Section 8 program for cause.
	committed recent drug related activity or exhibited violent criminal behavior.
	committed fraud or criminal acts in connection with a federal housing program.
	not reimbursed a HA for unpaid rent or damages or currently owes money to a HA.

Termination of Tenant Assistance

Tenant failure to abide by the conditions of the voucher or the lease may result in termination of assistance.

Termination of Contract

Owner failure to abide by the conditions of the lease or Housing Contract may result in termination of the Contract.

Resources

Federal Agency Resources
US Dept of Housing Headquarters	202-708-1112
HUD HOTLINES
Complaints, Waste & Fraud	888-560-8913
Discrimination	800-699-9777
Fair Housing	800-347-3739
Multi-Family Housing	800-685-8470
Child / Adult Protective Services	800-252-5400
Family in Crisis	800-799-7233
Texas Homeless Network	800-531-0828
State Agency Resources
Attorney General, Child Support	800-252-8014
Consumer Credit Office	512-936-7600
Governor’s Office	800-843-5789
Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA)	512-475-380
Human Services Dept.	800-844-8894
Public Utilities Commission	512-936-7000
Texas Workforce Commission	800-822-7526
Related Links
www.thn.org	Texas Homeless Network
www.tdhca.state.tx.us	Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs
www.firstgov.gov	Federal Government
www.hud.gov	U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
www.texashousingcounselor.org	Texas Low Income Housing Counselor