Public Housing (2024)

Yes. At a minimum the following documentation will be requested:

1. Birth Certificates of all household members
2. Social Security Cards of all household members
3. Release of information consent forms in order to verify all information provided on the application or obtained during the interview process. (Ex. Income verification, Asset verification, Student Status, Landlord References, etc)

I t will also be requested that you completed several forms that are required by HUD along with forms required by SCRHA3.

Everyone is required to complete a written application. (If necessary, you can request that SCRHA3 assist you in the completion of your application.) The following is a list of information that you will need in order to complete the application:

(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) Be prepared to tell us about your current housing situation (homeless, substandard, working family, etc.). You may be asked to provide documentation in order to qualify you for a housing preference;

(4) Names and addresses of your current and previous landlords

(5) An estimate of your family’s anticipated income for the next twelve months and the sources of that income;

(6) The names and addresses of employers, banks, and any other income source

(7) SCRHA3 reserves the right to conduct a home visit also..

Download an application here.

Applications can be completed at the following locations or you can call 803-259-4600 to have an application mailed to you.

Security Deposits are based upon income with $50 being the minimum security deposit. In determining the amount of security deposit to be paid the same formula is used that is used for calculating rent. However, your security deposit is equal to the amount of monthly rent before you subtract the HUD approved utility allowance.

Formula:

(Annual gross income – HUD approved deduction) / 12 x 30%=Security Deposit

Yes.

Definitions of Preferences:

1. Applicants with an adult family member enrolled in an employment training program, currently working twenty or more hours a week or attending school on a full time basis. This preference is also extended equally to all elderly families and all families whose head of household or spouse is receiving income based on their inability to work or actively enrolled in the Family Independence (FI) Program through Department of Social Services.
2. Involuntary Displaced. Individuals or families displaced by government action or whose dwelling has been extensively damaged or destroyed as a result of a disaster declared or otherwise formally recognized pursuant to Federal Disaster Relief Laws.
3. Individuals or families living in substandard housing.
4. Applicants paying more than 50% of income for rent and utilities.

If you are deemed ineligible, you will be notified as soon as the determination is made. You will receive a letter informing you why it was determined that your application was ineligible. At that time, you will have the right to appeal this decision.

If your application is deemed eligible, you will be notified as soon as a unit is available. This time period varies from a couple of weeks to years depending on the availability of units and your position on the waiting list.

*Typically a decision is not made in regards to eligibility until SCRHA3 is ready to offer a unit.

An income-based rent is a tenant rent that is based on the family’s income and the PHA’s rent policies for determination of such rent. A PHA’s rent policies may specify that the PHA will use a percentage of family income or some other reasonable system. In no case, may the income-based rent exceed the total tenant payment (TTP) for the family minus any applicable utility allowance for tenant-paid utilities.

Flat rents are based on the market rent charged for comparable units in the private unassisted rental market. It is equal to the estimated rent for which the PHA could promptly lease the unit. The flat rent is designed to encourage self-sufficiency and to avoid creating disincentives for continued residency by families who are attempting to become economically self-sufficient.

The earned income disallowance (EID) is an incentive to encourage current public housing residents to become self-sufficient (no longer dependent on government aid). This incentive allows qualified tenants to not count a portion of income for a total of 12 months. In order to qualify for EID one of the following events must occur while a tenant lives in public housing (it could not have happened prior to move in.)

• Employment of a family member who was previously unemployed for one or more years prior to employment.
• Increased earnings by a family member during participation in any economic self-sufficiency or other training program.
• New employment or increased earnings of a family member during or within 6 months after receiving assistance, benefits, or services under any state program for temporary assistance (TANF, Welfare-to-Work).

Rent is based upon your income. HUD has established a formula for determining the exact amount of your rent, however, rent is typically 30% of your annual gross income minus a HUD approved utility allowance and any HUD approved deductions. However, there is a $50 minimum rent.

Formula:

(Annual gross income – HUD approved deduction) / 12 x 30%-HUD approved utility allowance=monthly rent

If the family fails to pay their rent by the fifth day of the month, and the PHA has not agreed to accept payment at a later date, a 14 day Notice to Vacate will be issued to the resident for failure to pay rent, demanding payment in full or the surrender of the premises.

In addition, if the resident fails to make payment by the end of office hours on the fifth day of the month, a late fee of $25.00 will be charged. Notices of late fees will be in accordance with requirements regarding notices of adverse action. Charges are due and payable 14 calendar days after billing. If the family requests a grievance hearing within the required timeframe, the PHA may not take action for nonpayment of the fee until the conclusion of the grievance process. If the resident can document financial hardship, the late fee may be waived on a case-by-case basis.

A resident may make partial payments as long as the bill is paid in full by the due date.

Within 30 days of move-out, the PHA will refund to the resident the amount of the security deposit (excluding interest earned on the security deposit), less any amount needed to pay the cost of unpaid rent, damages listed on the move-out inspection report that exceed normal wear and tear, and other charges due under the lease.

The PHA will provide the resident with a written list of any charges against the security deposit within 30 business days of the move-out inspection. If the resident disagrees with the amount charged, the PHA will provide a meeting to discuss the charges.

When applicable, families will be charged for maintenance and/or damages according to the PHA’s current schedule. Work that is not covered in the schedule will be charged based on the actual cost of labor and materials to make needed repairs (including overtime, if applicable).

Notices of maintenance and damage charges will be mailed monthly and will be in accordance with requirements regarding notices of adverse actions. Charges are due and payable 14 calendar days after billing. If the family requests a grievance hearing within the required timeframe, the PHA may not take action for nonpayment of the charges until the conclusion of the grievance process.

Nonpayment of maintenance and damage charges is a violation of the lease and is grounds for eviction.

Yes. Residents requesting a transfer to another unit or development will be required to submit a written request for transfer.

In case of a reasonable accommodation transfer, the PHA will encourage the resident to make the request in writing using a reasonable accommodation request form. However, the PHA will consider the transfer request any time the resident indicates that an accommodation is needed whether or not a formal written request is submitted.

The PHA will respond by approving the transfer and putting the family on the transfer list, by denying the transfer, or by requiring more information or documentation from the family.

If the family does not meet the “good record” requirements under Section 12-III.C., the manager will address the problem and, until resolved, the request for transfer will be denied.

Anyone other than those persons listed on the lease that stays overnight is considered an overnight guest.

All resident families must notify the PHA management prior to the event when, an overnight guest will be staying in the unit. The resident must complete a visitation form and be approved prior to the visitation. A guest can remain in the unit no longer than 14 consecutive or cumulative days during any 12 month period. The twelve month period begins on the effective day of their re-exam date. There will be one set of fourteen-day visitation allowed per re-exam year with written permission from management.

A family may request an exception to this policy for valid reasons (e.g., care of a relative recovering from a medical procedure expected to last 20 consecutive days). An exception will not be made unless the family can identify and provide documentation of the need and to what residence the guest will return.

An overnight guest must meet basic occupancy requirements (e.g., registered sex offender, a fleeing felon, and/or a previously evicted public housing resident will not be considered).

The resident is responsible for the guest’s action(s) while the guest(s) is on the apartment complexes’ property.

Yes but pets must be registered with the PHA before they are brought onto the premises.

Registration includes documentation signed by a licensed veterinarian or state/local authority that the pet has received all inoculations required by state or local law, and that the pet has no communicable disease(s) and is pest-free. This registration must be renewed annually and will be coordinated with the annual reexamination date.

Pets will not be approved to reside in a unit until completion of the registration requirements.

Pet owners are required to pay a pet deposit in addition to any other required deposits. The amount of the deposit is $150.00, and must be paid in full before the pet is brought on the premises.

The PHA requires pet owners to pay a non-refundable nominal pet fee of $100.00.