LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – For the first time in four years county officials are opening a waiting list for low income residents under federal Section 8 guidelines, with the county also receiving news that it’s received a new housing grant.
The Lake County Housing Commission is among more than 50 public housing authorities in California to receive awards from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
HUD announced last week that it had awarded more than $7.1 million in grants on Dec. 31 to help California residents receiving housing assistance through the Housing Choice Voucher Program to gain access to education, job training and employment.
The Lake County Housing Commission received a grant totaling approximately $62,691, HUD reported.
The Lake County Board of Supervisors doubles as the Lake County Housing Commission Board of Directors, plus one additional public member, Deborah Figueroa, county officials reported.
The Lake County Social Services Deputy Director Jennifer Fitts said the Lake County Housing Commission primarily administers the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program, which provides rental subsidies for up to 224 tenants.
Fitts said the program is intended to serve the low-income elderly, disabled and families. There also are some tenants that move here from other counties who bring their vouchers with them.
She said the timing for the grant is good as Social Services is now opening the waiting list to take new applications for the first time in several years.
The waiting list was last opened in September 2009, Fitts said, at which point 150 applicants were added to the list.
“Vouchers are reissued as they become available; it has taken more than four years to move through that list,” she said.
Lake County’s Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher waiting list, which reopened Jan. 8, is accepting preapplications from 100 extremely low-income households, according to Fitts.
Only Section 8 tenants are eligible and all of tenants are encouraged to enroll in the Family Self Sufficiency program. Fitts said the county averages 25 participants.
Social Services has two Section 8 Housing eligibility workers that provide these services, as well as performing eligibility determination and home inspections for Section 8, she said.
“The funds we receive are used to pay administrative costs of providing FSS (Family Self-Sufficiency) services; which constitute a small part of the Section 8 program. We've received them for several years now so the funding isn't new,” she said.
Nationwide, the Housing Choice Voucher Family Self-Sufficiency Program awarded $56.8 million, HUD reported.
The funding will help public housing authorities across the country to hire or retain more than 1,000 service coordinators who will work directly with families to connect them to the supportive services that meet their individual needs and to become gainfully employed, HUD reported.
“This is a modest investment that can make a world of difference for families looking to find their path to self-sufficiency,” said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan in a written statement. “As America’s economy continues to recover, it’s critical that we work to make sure every American has the skills and resources they need to successfully compete for jobs in the 21st Century.”
HUD reported that the service coordinators retained or hired through these programs work directly with residents to connect them with local organizations that provide education and job training and placement opportunities, as well as childcare, counseling, transportation and computer and financial literacy services available in their community.
The agency said the program also encourages innovative strategies that link Housing Choice Voucher assistance with other resources to enable participating families to find employment or increase earned income, to reduce the need for rental or welfare assistance, and work toward achieving economic independence and housing self-sufficiency.
Participants sign a five-year contract that requires the head of the household to obtain employment and no longer receive welfare assistance at the end of the five-year term, according to HUD.
As the family’s income rises, a portion of that increased income is deposited in an interest-bearing escrow account, HUD said.
If the family successfully completes its contract, HUD said the family receives the escrow funds that it can use for any purpose, including paying educational expenses, starting a business or paying debts.
Household qualifications, income guidelines, and preapplication forms for Lake County residents may be picked up at 15975 Anderson Ranch Parkway in Lower Lake or at most Social Services agencies. Forms also can be mailed upon request.
For additional information call Lake County Social Services at 707-995-4649.
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