What Is Public Housing?

Public housing was established to provide decent and safe rental housing for eligible families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. Public housing comes in all sizes and types, from scattered single family houses to apartments for elderly families.

There are approximately 1.3 million households living in public housing units, managed by some 3,300 Housing Authorities (HA)s. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) administers Federal aid to local housing agencies (HAs) that manage the housing for residents at rents they can afford. HUD furnishes technical and professional assistance in planning, developing and managing these developments.

Do You Qualify For CMHA Public Housing?

Public housing is limited to income qualified families and individuals. CMHA determines your 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, CMHA will check your references to make sure you and your family will be good tenants.

CMHA may deny admission to any applicant whose habits and practices may be expected to have a detrimental effect on other tenants or on the project's environment.

CMHA uses income limits developed by HUD. HUD sets the lower income limits at 80% and very low income limits 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 HA but not at another. All extremely low income and very low income families are eligible for both the Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher Program programs. Low income families are also eligible for the Public Housing program but with restrictions. Listed below are the income limits for CMHA:

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.

Based on your application, a CMHA 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 percent of the monthly adjusted income. (Monthly Adjusted Income is annual income less deductions allowed by the regulations);

2. 10 percent of monthly income;

3. TANF rent, if applicable; or

4. $25 minimum rent; or

5. Maximum rent as set by market area.

What is the role of CMHA?

CMHA is responsible for the management and operation of its local public housing program.

On-going functions:

1. (a) Assure compliance with leases. The lease must be signed by both parties;
   (b) Set other charges (e.g., security deposit, excess utility consumption, and 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. CMHA also provides other services, including: homeownership opportunities for qualified families; employment training opportunities, and other special training and employment programs for residents; and support programs for the elderly.

How Long Can You 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 open market, the HA may determine 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 open market.