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Florida Section 8 Housing Authority |
Florida Section 8 housing authority is an important link between the rental assistance program funded by HUD and the low-income families targeted by the program. The housing authority follows the rules and regulations determined by HUD for successful implementation of Section 8 housing program. The eligibility requirements are set by each individual PHA to cover comprehensively the area under their jurisdictions and to help eligible families find affordable housing conveniently. A family must be a US citizen or a legal immigrant to avail the benefits of this program. Moreover, their gross income must be within the income limits determined by the housing authority they are applying.
Applications can be submitted to the housing authority serving your local area or any other city of Florida. It is possible to apply at more than one location but you may first have to make it sure that the waiting list is open for the housing authority you are applying. A PHA may not accept fresh applications for Section 8 assistance when its waiting list contains more names than it can assist with available resources. Even if you make it to the waiting list, you may have to wait a few months or even years in order to finally get a voucher under the Section 8 housing choice voucher program. After receiving the voucher you have 60 days to find a rental unit in the private rental market. The rental apartment you select must meet the housing quality standards of HUD. To ensure this, an inspection may be carried out by the HA before you can move in to live here.
The housing authority prepares a Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) contract on your behalf to help you fulfill your rental obligation. As per the contract, it agrees to pay the difference between the actual rent and its portion paid by you. The contract is for one year which can be extended further depending upon your meeting the eligibility criteria at the time of annual review. Moreover, it is required to live at least one year within the jurisdiction of the housing authority that has issued you the Section 8 voucher. After completing the year, you are free to move to any other location in Florida or elsewhere in the US and continue to avail the benefits of the tenant-based voucher.
Responsibilities of Housing Authorities Administering Section 8 Program
In a nutshell the key responsibilities of the housing authorities providing Section 8 assistance in Florida include the following:
- Determining eligibility requirements for Section 8 application
- Helping an eligible family understand the rules and regulations of the Section 8 program
- Preparing a waiting list and issuing a Section 8 voucher to each of the names found in the list
- Assisting a voucher holder in locating a rental unit that fulfills HUD's guidelines regarding safety, decency and sanitary requirements
- Inspecting a rental unit before allowing a voucher holder to live there
- Preparing a housing assistance payment contract for the rental unit chosen by a Section 8 recipient
- Ensuring that the participants of the program including the tenants and the landlords comply with Section 8 rules and regulations fully
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Housing Authorities in Florida Administering Section 8 Program
Here are the contact details of some of the housing authorities that provide Section 8 rental assistance to low-income families in Florida.
Tampa
1529 W Main Street
Tampa, FL 33607
Phone: (813)253-0551
Fax: (813)251-4522
Orlando
390 North Bumby Avenue
Orlando, FL 32803
Phone: (407)895-3300
Fax: (407)895-0820
Miami Dade
701 NW 1st Court
16 Floor
Miami, FL 33136
Phone: (786)469-4106
Fax: (786)469-4199
City of Miami
444 SW 2nd Avenue
2nd Floor
Miami, FL 33130
Phone: (305)416-2080
Fax: (305)416-2190
Miami Beach
200 Alton Road
Miami Beach
Phone: (305)532-6401
Fax: (305)674-8001
Jacksonville
1300 Broad Street
Jacksonville, FL 32202
Phone: (904)630-3810
Fax: (904)630-3888
For a complete list of housing authorities serving in Florida, visit the following web page of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Website: http://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/pha/contacts/states/flzip.cfm
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