WHAT IS PUBLIC HOUSING?
Public housing is intended to provide decent
and safe rental housing for eligible low-income families, the elderly, and
persons with disabilities. In its broadest definition public housing includes
apartments owned and managed by public housing authorities and subsidized
apartments privately owned and managed. Public housing comes in all sizes and
types, from scattered single family houses to high-rise apartments. Throughout
the United States - there are approximately 1.3 million households living in
federally subsidized public housing units. The United States Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) administers federal aid to local housing
agencies. In Massachusetts further public housing aid is provided to local
housing authorities by the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community
Development (DHCD). 
WHAT KINDS OF PUBLIC HOUSING
PROGRAMS ARE THERE?
There are two categories of subsidized
housing programs: Public Housing Programs where the Housing Authority is the
landlord and Leased Housing or Rental Voucher Programs where private
individuals, companies or corporations are the landlord.
WHAT ARE PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMS?
Apartments owned and managed by the New
Bedford Housing Authority are available under the Public Housing Program. The
apartments are generally located in developments scattered throughout the City
of New Bedford and provide decent and safe rental housing for eligible
low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. The NBHA is
the landlord, with all of the accompanying responsibilities of administration,
maintenance, and management of these apartments. These apartments are supported
by funding from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD) or from the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development
(DHCD). The respective source of funding regulates the eligibility and other
requirements of the specific housing development.
WHAT ARE LEASED HOUSING OR
RENTAL VOUCHER PROGRAMS?
Leased Housing or Rental Voucher Programs
(oftentimes referred to as Section 8 Housing) use rental vouchers to subsidize
the family's rent paid to private landlords. This allows eligible low-income
families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities the opportunity to afford
private rental apartments. The New Bedford Housing Authority receives funding
from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and
from the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)
for Voucher Programs. The respective source of funding regulates the
eligibility and other requirements of the specific Housing Voucher Program.
AM I ELIGIBLE?
Our housing programs are intended for low-income families and
individuals. Eligibility is based upon (1) annual income, (2) whether you
qualify as elderly, a disabled individual, or as a family and (3) U.S.
citizenship or eligible immigration status. References are checked to verify
whether you and your family will be good tenants. Income limits have been
determined for eligibility purposes for all the programs that we offer. Please see the Income Limits. You
must call the Tenant Selection Office at (508) 997-4829 to find out if you are
eligible for any programs.
HOW DO I APPLY?
For Public Housing Programs and Leased
Housing Voucher Programs, you must apply in person at the New Bedford Housing
Authority's main office, 134 South Second Street, New Bedford, Massachusetts.
Exceptions are made for people with disabilities. Please call the Tenant
Selection Office at (508) 997- 4829 for further information. Applications are
not available on-line.
WHAT ARE YOUR HOURS OF OPERATIONS?
Main Office is open from 8:30 am - 4:00 pm,
Monday through Friday (except holidays). Applications are accepted from 8:30 am
- 3:00 pm, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday only at the Main Office, 134 South
Second Street, New Bedford, Massachusetts.
WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING WITH ME
WHEN I APPLY?
Please review the check list to see what
applies to your needs. Please call the Tenant Selection Office at (508) 997-
4829 for further information. Applications are not available on-line.
HOW DOES THE APPLICATION
PROCESS WORK?
The application process begins with
completing an application with the New Bedford Housing Authority. The
application must be filled out in person at the main office of the New Bedford
Housing Authority, 134 South Second Street, New Bedford, Massachusetts. A
representative from the Authority will take your application and describe to
you each housing program and its requirements. Certain documents and
information are required as part of the application process. Required
documentation for each program application may vary. A list of general
documentation needed for any program application can be found on our
check list.We suggest you
contact our Tenant Selection Office at (508) 997-4829 to learn more about the
documents you will need to provide to us at the time of your application.
Generally, the Authority will need to collect the following information to
determine eligibility: (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) Family characteristics (e.g.,
veteran) or circumstances (e.g., living in substandard housing) that might
qualify the family for tenant selection preferences; (4) Names and addresses of
your current and previous landlords for information about your family's
suitability as a tenant; (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 information the Authority would
need to verify your income and deductions, and to verify the family
composition; and (7) The Authority also may visit you in your home to interview
you and your family members to see how you manage the upkeep of you current
home.
WILL I NEED TO PRODUCE ANY
DOCUMENTATION?
Yes, the New Bedford Housing Authority will
request documentation necessary to verify the information on your application
(e.g., birth certificates, tax returns, direct verification from your
employer). As part of the application process, you will be asked to sign an
authorization form releasing pertinent information to the New Bedford Housing
Authority. Please review our check list, to help you
determine what documentation you will need in the application process.
WHEN WILL I BE NOTIFIED?
The Housing Authority will review all
information and documentation provided in your application for public housing
or for voucher assistance. Upon the completion of the review, a decision on
your eligibility will be made. If you are eligible, the Housing Authority will
send you written confirmation indicating that your name has been placed on
respective program(s) waiting list(s). Once your name is reached on the waiting
list, you will be contacted immediately. If you are ineligible, the Housing
Authority will send you written notification indicating the reason of
ineligibility. You may request an informal hearing to discuss the circumstances
of the Housing Authority's decision.
WILL I HAVE TO SIGN A LEASE?
A client who has accepted an apartment
offered in a Public Housing Program (apartments owned and managed by the New
Bedford Housing Authority), will sign a lease with the Housing Authority. In
addition, the client may be required to provide a security deposit. A
representative of the Housing Authority will review the lease with the client
to make certain the client understands his tenant responsibilities as well as
the New Bedford Housing Authority's responsibilities. In the Leased Housing
Voucher Programs, a lease for the unit will be signed by both the client and
the private landlord. The client also signs a voucher contract with the Housing
Authority. The Housing Authority is not the landlord for the property. The
client may be required to provide a security deposit. The Housing Authority
will inspect the apartment to be leased to make sure it is safe, sanitary and
well maintained. The voucher contract will be reviewed with the client to make
certain the client understands his tenant responsibilities.
ARE THERE ANY SELECTION
PREFERENCES?
Yes, there are preferences to specific
groups of families. These preferences enable the New Bedford Housing Authority
to direct its limited housing resources to the families with the greatest
housing needs. The Housing Authority determines these preferences from the
information provided during the application process.
HOW IS RENT DETERMINED?
Rent is based upon your family's gross
annual income, with deductions and exclusions according to applicable
regulations. Deductions and exclusions vary with different programs. Typical
deduction examples include: allowances for dependents, elderly family members,
disabled individuals, and medical expenses for families headed by an elderly
person or a person with disabilities. These examples may or may not be
applicable to the program you are applying for and to your family's situation.
The formula used in determining your family's rent varies from program to
program but is generally a percentage of your monthly adjusted income (Monthly
Adjusted Income is annual income less deductions allowed by the regulations),
or a minimum rent established for that program by the New Bedford Housing
Authority, or welfare rent (if applicable) or a market (flat) rent.
HOW MANY APARTMENTS DOES THE
AUTHORITY OWN?
The New Bedford Housing Authority owns 2551
apartments. In addition, the Authority manages approximately 1800 apartments
under the Leased Housing Voucher Programs.
WHERE ARE THE APARTMENTS
LOCATED?
The apartments are located throughout the
entire City of New Bedford. Leased Housing Voucher Program apartments are
located thoughout the Greater New Bedford area.
IS THERE PARKING PROVIDED AT
DEVELOPMENTS?
Yes, parking is provided at all developments.
Availability of parking for apartments under the Leased Housing Voucher
Programs varies from apartment to apartment.
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE NEW BEDFORD
HOUSING AUTHORITY?
The New Bedford Housing Authority is
responsible for the management and operation of its local public housing
programs and various voucher programs. Ongoing functions include: (a) in Public
Housing Programs, assure compliance with leases; in the Voucher Programs,
assure compliance with the voucher contract; (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 as available units permit in
order to correct over/under crowding, make necessary repairs, or because of a
resident's request to be transferred; (e) terminate leases (or voucher
contracts) when necessary; and (f) for Public Housing Programs, repair or
renovate a dwelling, maintain the developments in a decent, safe, and sanitary
condition. In the Voucher Programs, inspect leased units for compliance with
safe and sanitary state and federal requirements as applicable. In addition,
the Authority may provide other services as funding and staffing allow. Other
services may include: homeownership opportunities for qualified families,
employment training opportunities, specialized training and employment
programs, summer youth programs, and support programs for the elderly.
HOW LONG CAN I STAY IN PUBLIC
HOUSING OR A VOUCHER PROGRAM?
In general, you may stay in public housing
or retain your voucher as long as you comply with the lease or terms of the
voucher contract and meet the income eligibility requirements of the program.
You will not be required to move from public housing unless there is affordable
housing available for you in the private market except for violation of terms
of your lease or contract--and this only after due process. |
