Welcome to the FAQs section
of the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing
Authority (RRHA) Web site. This section
is intended for your convenience, so if
you have a question not listed among these
FAQs, please e-mail your question to the
RRHA Webmaster at info@rrha.state.va.us.
The Webmaster will respond as quickly as
possible.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE
FOR PUBLIC HOUSING?
Public housing is available only to low-income
families and individuals. Richmond Redevelopment
and Housing Authority determines eligibility
based on (1) annual gross income; (2) whether
you qualify as elderly, a person with a
disability, or as a family; and (3) U.S.
citizenship or eligible immigration status.
If you are eligible, the authority will
check your references to make sure you and
your family will be good tenants. The authority
will deny admission to any applicant whose
habits and practices may be expected to
have a detrimental effect on other tenants
or on the public housing community's environment.
The authority uses income limits established
by the U.S
Department of Housing and Urban Development
(Virginia
HUD office). HUD sets the lower-income
limit at 80% and very-low-income-limit at
50% of the median income for the county
or metropolitan area in which you choose
to live. Income limits vary from area to
area so you may be eligible at one housing
authority but no another. The authority
can provide you with the income levels for
the city of Richmond and family size.
INCOME LIMITS FOR 2007 Established by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development
Etremely Low 30% of Median
Very Low
Income 50% of Median
Low-Income 80% of Median
1 Person
$14,400
$24,050
$38,450
2 Person
$16,500
$27,500
$43,950
3 Person
$18,550
$30,900
$49,450
4 Person
$20,600
$34,350
$54,950
5 Person
$22,250
$37,100
$59,350
6 Person
$23,900
$39,850
$63,750
MEDIAN INCOME- $68,700
RICHMOND VA HUD METRO FMR AREA
HOW DO I APPLY?
If you are interested in applying for public
housing, contact the Authority at (804)
780-4908, TDD (804) 225-0538 or visit RRHA
offices at 918 Chamberlayne Parkway, Richmond,
VA 23220.
OR - Click on Download Application Form
to print a copy of the application for Public
Housing.
THE APPLICATION
PROCESS
The application must be written. The Authority
will collect the following information to
determine eligibility:
1.
Names
of all persons who would be living in
the unit, their sex, date of birth,
and relationship to the family head.
2.
Your present
address and telephone number.
3.
Family
characteristics (e.g. veteran) or circumstances
(e.g. living in substandard housing)
that might qualify the family for tenant
selection preferences.
4.
Names
and addresses of your current and previous
landlords for information about your
family's suitability as a tenant.
5.
An estimate
of your family's anticipated income
for the next 12 months and the sources
of that income.
6.
The names
and addresses of employers, banks and
any other information the Authority
will need to verify your income and
deductions, and to verify the family
composition.
7.
The Authority
may also visit you in your home to interview
you and your family members to see how
you manage the upkeep of your current
home.
After obtaining this information, the Authority
representative will describe the public
housing program and its requirements, and
answer any questions you might have.
Yes, the Authority representative will request
whatever documentation is needed (e.g. birth
certificates, tax returns) to verify information
given on your application. RRHA will also
rely on direct verification from your employer,
etc. You will be asked to sign a form to
authorize release of pertinent information
to the Authority.
WHEN WILL I BE
NOTIFIED?
The Authority has to provide written notification.
If RRHA determines that you are eligible,
your name will be put on a waiting list,
unless the Authority is able to assist you
immediately. Once your name is reached on
the waiting list, the Authority will contact
you. If it is determined that you are ineligible,
RRHA must say why and if you wish, you can
request an informal hearing.
WILL I HAVE TO
SIGN A LEASE?
If you are offered a house or apartment
and accept it, you will have to sign a lease
with the Authority. You will have to give
the Authority a security deposit. You and
the Authority representative will go over
the lease together. This will give you a
better understanding of your responsibilities
as a tenant and the Authority's responsibilities
as a landlord.
ARE THERE ANY SELECTION
PREFERENCES?
Giving preference to specific
groups of families enables the Authority
to direct limited housing resources to the
families with the greatest housing needs.
(See application.)
The Authority has the discretion to establish
preferences to reflect needs in its own
community. These preferences are included
in the Authority written policy manual and
are stated on the pre-application.
HOW IS RENT DETERMINED?
Your rent, which is referred to as the Total
Tenant Payment (TTP) in this program, would
be based on your family's anticipated gross
annual income less deductions, if any. HUD
regulations allow the Authority to exclude
from annual income the following allowances:
$480 for each dependent; $400 for any elderly
family, or a person with a disability; and
some medical deductions for families headed
by an elderly person or a person with disabilities.
Based on your application the Authority
representative will determine if any of
the allowable deductions should be subtracted
from your annual income. Annual income is
the anticipated total income from all sources
received from the family head and spouse,
and each additional member of the family
18 years of age or older.
The formula used in determining the TTP
is the highest of the following, rounded
to the nearest dollar:
1. 30% of the monthly adjusted income. (Monthly
adjusted income is annual income less deductions
allowed by the regulations).
2. 10% of monthly income.
3. A $50 minimum rent or higher amount set
by the Authority.
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF
THE AUTHORITY?
The Authority is responsible for the management
and operations of its local public housing
program. The Authority also operates other
types of housing programs.
1. On-going functions: (a) Assure compliance
with leases. The lease must be signed by
both parties; (b) Set other charges (e.g.,
security deposit, damages to unit); (c)
Perform periodic reexaminations of the family's
income at least once every 12 months; (d)
Transfer families from one unit to another,
in order to correct over/under crowding,
repair or renovate a dwelling, or because
of a resident's request to be transferred;
(e) Terminate leases when necessary; and
(f) maintain the development in a decent,
safe and sanitary condition.
2. The Authority also provides other services
such as: home ownership opportunities for
qualified families; employment training
opportunities, and other special training
and employment programs for residents; and
support programs for the elderly.
Top
HOW LONG CAN
I STAY IN PUBLIC HOUSING?
In general, you may stay in public housing
as long as you comply with the lease.
If at reexamination, your family's income
is sufficient to obtain housing on the private
market, the Authority determines whether
your family should stay in public housing.
You will not be required to move unless
there is affordable housing available for
you on the private market.
