PUBLIC HOUSING

        The United States public housing program was established by the Housing Act of 1937 as the nation’s oldest and most extensive effort to house/shelter families, the elderly and persons with disabilities.

        There are approximately 14,000 public housing developments housing 2.8 million residents. One-half of the households served by public housing are families with children, one-third are elderly households without children, and the remainder are headed by people without children or with disabilities. (National Low Income Housing Coalition). Tenants of public housing usually pay 30% of their gross adjusted income.

        In the Buffalo area there are 27 public housing developments and several scattered site developments.

        The Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority (BMHA) Occupancy/Application office is located at 245 Elmwood Avenue. Currently BMHA is only accepting applications for one bedroom near elderly (50 years and older) individuals. BMHA applicants also have a copy of their application forwarded to the Rental Assistance Corporation and Belmont Shelter Corporation, Section 8 housing providers.

        The Kenmore, Lackawanna and Tonawanda Housing Authorities also accept applications on a regular basis.

        Applicants for Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority are required to complete an extensive application/survey requesting detailed information regarding the applicant and all other household members. The Housing Authority may also request a history of previous addresses. Landlord references will also be required. Routinely the Housing Authority will inquire if the applicant or other household members have a criminal history.

        An application for public housing may be denied if the applicant has a poor rent history, criminal history, bad landlord references, owes a housing authority rental arrears as a previous tenant, or fails to meet the housing authority housekeeping standards. The applicant will receive a written notice of the denial, with a brief statement describing the reason for the denial. The applicant will also be advised that they may be entitled to an informal meeting within 30 days from the date of denial if they disagree with the denial. The request for an informal hearing/meeting must be submitted in writing.

        Prior to the informal hearing, the applicant or the applicant’s representative may request a review of the application file. The applicant has the right to submit evidence and testimony which refutes the reasons for application rejection. The informal hearing may be heard by Development Tenant Review Board; Central Tenant Review Board; or the BMHA Staff Review Board. The Director of Occupancy and Marketing determines which cases are heard by the Tenant Review Boards and the BMHA staff. A Housing Staff member, with no prior knowledge of the case will act as a hearing officer. A written decision is issued by the hearing officer after the hearing.

        If, after the informal hearing, the decision to deny the application is upheld, the applicant may request a formal hearing, by the Board of Review. The Board of Review will consist of at least three (3) members of the Housing Authority Board of Commissioner (some of whom are public housing tenants)

        As in the informal hearings, applicants may introduce additional evidence and testimony to support their case.

        The public housing landlord/tenant relationship is governed by the lease agreement, local, state and federal landlord/tenant laws and regulations.

Nonpayment of rent A written fourteen (14) day notice to pay rent or vacate is issued from the Public Housing Authority (PHA) to the tenant.

Holdover A written full month’s notice to the tenant is required.

The written notice must

1. State the specific reason why the tenancy is being terminated.

2. Inform the tenant of his/her right to request a grievance hearing (except in cases where there are allegations of criminal/drug activity).

3. Inform the tenant of his/her right to challenge the proposed termination in court if the matter proceeds to that level.

        The grievance procedure is an administrative procedure available to public housing tenants to resolve any action or inaction by the Housing Authority which adversely affects the tenant’s rights, duties or status as an applicant.

        The grievance procedure is a two-step process. The first is the informal hearing. The request for the hearing must be in writing and submitted to the tenant’s manager. The manager usually acts as the hearing officer. The tenant or tenant representative may review the tenant file. A written decision is issued by the project manager.

        If the tenant is dissatisfied with the results of the informal hearing, the tenant may request, in writing, a formal hearing.

        At the formal hearing will be at least three (3) Housing Authority Boards of Commissioners (some of whom are tenants). The decision of the Board of Commissioners is binding. H

FAMILY SELF SUFFICENCY PROGRAM

        The Family Self Sufficiency Program is a program funded by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help families to become financially independent.

        The program offers job training skills and education, along with a variety of other types of assistance such as linking families with other community services programs to make a family more financially secure.

        You are eligible for the program if you receive Section 8 rental assistance (usually from Rental Assistance Corporation and Belmont Shelter Corporation.) or if you reside in public housing (for example, Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority).

        The program is a voluntary program. If you decide that you do not wish to participate, your housing assistance will not be affected.

        If you sign up for the Family Self Sufficiency Program, you have to sign a contract outlining your intended goals to become self sufficient. Once you sign the contract, you can be in the program for up to five years. If you are not close to reaching your goal at the end of the five year period, you may be entitled to a two year extension.

        You can apply for the program by contacting your Section 8 rental assistance case manager. If you reside in public housing, you can contact Family Support Services at 855-6711. For more information contact Neighborhood Legal Services @ 847-0650.

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