Housing Choice Voucher Annual Recertification

If you do not see your program listed below, please go back to the AMHA main page and select the correct Annual Recertification for your program.

Please select the employee that sent you the letter to complete this online form.

We may need to contact you for additional information, so please provide your email address. If you don't have an email address, please put n/a.

List your full address including CITY, STATE, and ZIP CODE.

Someone we may contact if we cannot reach you. Please list name AND phone number.

For each household member, including yourself, list: 1. Name 2. Last 4 of SSN 3. Sex 4. Relationship to you

Including by death, marriage, divorce, separation, permanent placement in nursing home, placement in a foster home, etc

Please provide 3 current and consecutive pay stubs for each job.

Such as bottle/can collecting, yard work, baby sitting, car repair, independent contractor, day laborer, etc. Please provide Schedule C or other proof of income.

Please provide a copy of the current award letter.

Please provide a current award letter or a print-out from the DJFS portal showing the benefit amount.

Please provide a 12 month print-out or proof of no payment for ALL child support cases.

Please provide proof of the current benefit amount.

Please provide 3 current and consecutive pay stubs.

Please provide a current award letter.

Please provide a current school schedule listing the student's credit hours.

Please provide proof of payment for childcare.

Examples of assets include checking and savings accounts, trust funds, real estate, stocks, bonds, certificates of deposit, mutual funds, money market funds, pensions that you are not withdrawing from, whole life insurance policies, personal investment items such as coin or stamp collections, etc. The annual income from your net assets (as defined in 24 CFR Part 5) will be included in the total gross income for this household.

I understand that I am required to report within 10 days of my knowledge, in writing, any changes in income and household composition. I am also required to report, in writing, any absence from my subsidized unit that will last for 30 days or more. If the entire family is absent for more than 60 consecutive days, the unit will be considered vacated and assistance will be terminated. Failure to report this information may result in owing AMHA back rent and/or the termination of my subsidy.

I understand that per 24 CFR 982.552 and the Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) Administrative Plan, AMHA may terminate assistance if a family member has engaged in or threatened abusive or violent behavior toward AMHA employees or agents. Termination of assistance means that your rent will no longer be partially paid by AMHA. You will be responsible for the full amount of rent to your landlord following termination from the HCVP.

The Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority (AMHA) and the Participant/Client, (collectively the Parties) acknowledge that participation in the Housing Choice Voucher Program involves a mutual duty to comply with various Federal rules and regulations. This includes but is not limited to annual re-certifications and inspections. In order to prevent any interruption of the Participant’s receipt of current subsidy; to timely reflect changes in the Participant rent share; and to assure compliance with both federal regulation and state law, the Parties wish to proceed with recertification and/or inspection but agree that completing the recertification or inspection is not intended and shall not be considered to have waived that enforcement right, even in the event there is a pending HCVP enforcement action including proposed cancellation. Any breach of the terms of the Housing Choice Voucher Program occurring prior to the date of recertification or inspection shall remain a current and continuing breach of the tenancy subject to federal and state law limitations; shall not be extinguished or waived by AMHA’s processing of recertification or inspection; and may result in HCVP subsidy cancellation.

Federal and Ohio laws state that qualified individuals with disabilities shall not be discriminated against and shall be assured an equal opportunity to participate in the housing programs, activities, and services offered by the Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority (AMHA). An individual with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation by completing the Request for Reasonable Accommodation and Authorization for Release of Information form and submitting it to the RA Coordinator at 100 West Cedar Street, Akron, Ohio 44307. Alternative means of requesting reasonable accommodations can be arranged upon request. Reasonable accommodations may include, but are not limited to, the following categories: 1.)    A change in AMHA policies and procedures 2.)    A repair or change in your apartment 3.)    A repair or change to some other part of the property 4.)    A change in location 5.)    A change in the way AMHA communicates with you. The determination of reasonable accommodation is an interactive process which may include consultation with the individual seeking an accommodation, his/her medical professional, and/or his/her designee. An accommodation must be both reasonable and have an identifiable and substantial relationship to the individual's disability. All requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. In determining whether a request for accommodation is reasonable, the following questions will be considered: 1.) Is there an identifiable relationship or nexus between the request and disability? 2.) Is an alternative accommodation possible? 3.) Does the request pose a direct threat to others? 4.) Is the request a fundamental alteration of the nature of AMHA services and/or programs? 5.) Does the request pose an undue financial and administrative burden? If additional information or verification of disability-related information is needed, including additional medical verification, you will be contacted to discuss your request. AMHA will provide the decision in writing or, where appropriate, in another format accessible to the individual requesting the accommodation. If the applicant wishes to appeal the decision, he/she may do so, in writing, within fourteen (14) working days from the date the decision letter was sent to the applicant. For questions, contact the AMHA RA Coordinator at 330-376-9788 or 330-762-9631 (Ohio Relay: 1-800-750-0750 TTY/TTD).

What is a hardship?

•    A request to be exempted from one of AMHA’s MTW policies.

What should I do if I have a hardship?

•    Go to AMHA’s website (www.akronhousing.org) under the Resources tab. Click on Income Change/Hardship Form. You must attach the required proof of your hardship or the request will be denied.

Hardship policies – not all may apply to your household.

•    Tiered Rent Hardship

    o    Who: Households that were assigned to have their rent calculated by the tiered rent method.

    o    Reasons:

    Decreased income

    At least $2,500 in qualifying childcare expenses

    Large family (6 or more dependents)

    Newly full-time student (not head, co-head, or spouse)

    Other circumstances (such as a significant increase in expenses like a large medical bill, death in the family, etc.)

    o    Required hardship proof: Complete the form and attach ALL current income for ALL household members.

•    Elderly/Disabled Household Triennial Reexaminations Hardship

    o    Who: Households with an elderly or disabled head or co-head who have been assigned to income reviews every three years instead of annually.

    o    Reason: If the household has a hardship that cannot be handled with the income change/change of family status process.

    o    Required hardship proof: Complete the form and attach proof of the hardship.

•    Standardized Medical Deduction Hardship

    o    Who: Households with a head or co-head that is elderly or disabled and have unreimbursed medical expenses of more than $500.

    o    Reason: Unreimbursed medical expenses are more than $500.

    o    Required hardship proof: Complete the form and attach proof of all paid medical expenses.

What happens after I submit a hardship?

•    AMHA staff will review the hardship in a timely manner. If AMHA denies the hardship, you will be sent a letter explaining why the hardship was denied.

•    If you disagree with the hardship decision, you may use the following grievance procedure:

    o    Request a grievance review within and including ten (10) business days of the decision to deny or limit the hardship request.

Where can I find more information?

•    Go to AMHA’s website (www.akronhousing.org) under the Resources tab. Go to Annual Plan and review the full plan for your program (Public Housing ACOP or HCVP Admin Plan) and the MTW Supplement.

1. The family must supply any information that the PHA or HUD determines is necessary in the administration of the program, including submission of required evidence of citizenship or eligible immigration status (as provided by 24 CFR 982.551). “Information” includes any requested certification, release or other documentation. 2. The family must supply any information requested by the PHA or HUD for use in a regularly scheduled reexamination or interim reexamination of family income and composition in accordance with HUD requirements. 3. The family must disclose and verify Social Security Numbers (as provided by 24 CFR 5.216) and must sign and submit consent forms for obtaining information in accordance with 24 CFR 5.230. 4. All information supplied by the family must be true and complete. 5. The family is responsible for a Housing Quality Standard breach caused by the family as described in 982.404(b). Following are three types of breaches: • Failure to pay for any utilities for which family is responsible per the lease signed by the owner and the family. • Failure to maintain appliances for which the family is responsible per the lease signed by the owner and the family. • Failure to correct/have corrected/rectify tenant caused damages beyond “normal wear and tear.” 6. The family must allow the PHA to inspect the unit at reasonable times and after reasonable notice. 7. The family may not commit any serious or repeated violation of the lease. 8. The family must notify the owner, at the same time, notify the PHA before the family moves out of the unit or terminates the lease upon notice to the owner. 9. The family must promptly give the PHA a copy of any owner eviction notice. 10. The family must use the assisted unit for residence by the family. The unit must be the family’s only residence. 11. The composition of the assisted family residing in the unit must be approved by the PHA. The family must promptly inform the PHA of the birth, adoption or court-awarded custody of a child. The family must request, in writing, PHA approval to add any other family member as an occupant of the unit. 12. The family must promptly notify the PHA if any family member no longer resides in the unit. 13. If the PHA has given approval, a foster child or a live-in aide may reside in the unit. If the family does not request approval or PHA approval is denied, the family may not allow a foster child or live in aide to reside with the assisted family. 14. Members of the household may engage in legal profit making activities in the unit, but only if such activities are incidental to primary use of the unit for residence by members of the family. 15. The family must not sublease or let the unit. 16. The family must not assign the lease or transfer the unit. 17. The family must supply any information or certification requested by the PHA to verify that the family is living in the unit or relating to family absence from the unit, including any PHA requested information or certification on the purposes of family absences. The family must cooperate with the PHA for this purpose. 18. The family must promptly notify the AMHA in writing of absence from the unit. 19. The family must not own or have any interest in the unit.

20. (A) The members of the family must not commit fraud, bribery or any other corrupt or criminal act in connection with the Federal housing program. (B) The house members may not engage in drug-related criminal activity, violent criminal activity, other criminal activity that threatens the health, safety or right to peaceful enjoyment of other residents and persons residing in the immediate vicinity of the premises, or is subject to lifetime sex offender registration. The members of the household must not abuse alcohol in a way that threatens the health, safety or right to peaceful enjoyment of other residents and persons residing in the immediate vicinity of the premises. An assisted family, or members of the family, may not receive HCVP tenant-based assistance while receiving another housing subsidy, for the same unit or for a different unit, under any duplicative (as determined by HUD or in accordance with HUD requirements) Federal, State or local housing assistance program. (C) Any adult not included on the 50058 who has been in the unit more than fifteen (15) consecutive days, or a total of sixty (60) days in a 12-month period, will be considered to be living in the unit as an unauthorized household member. (D) Program participants must report all changes in income to the PHA between annual re-exams. Household members reporting zero income who subsequently obtain income will be required to report the change in income within 10 calendar days and complete the interim certification process. I have read and been given the opportunity to discuss HUD’s revised family obligation. I understand that AMHA is authorized to cancel housing assistance to my family for failure to comply with the above mentioned Family Obligations.

I/We certify that the above information given to the Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority on household composition, income, net family assets, allowances and deductions is accurate and complete to the best of my/our knowledge and belief. I/We also understand that giving false statements or information can be grounds for termination of housing assistance and is punishable under Federal or State criminal law.

If no, please re-type your name on the Electronic Signature line.