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The Section 8 Certificate program provides an approved applicant
with a certificate to rent an apartment or house from a private
landlord who is willing to participate in the program. If the
apartment meets the housing quality standards after inspection,
the landlord will enter into a lease with the tenant and a contract
with the local housing authority which administers the program.
The housing authority will pay a rent subsidy to the landlord
equal to the difference between the monthly rent and the tenant's
share of the rent which is generally 30% of the tenant's adjusted
gross income. If the tenant must pay for utilities, the tenant's
share of the rent is adjusted to provide for a utility allowance
also. The rent charged must be within limits set by the Department
of Housing and Urban Development and the lease must contain a
provision that it can only be terminated by the landlord for
good cause or by the tenant giving notice.
Similar subsidized payments are made to landlords under the
Section 8 project-based program where the local housing authority
contracts with specific landlords to provide assistance payments
to the landlords on behalf of eligible tenants who reside in
particular buildings, and under the New Construction or Substantial
Rehabilitation programs where construction or renovation costs
are subsidized in exchange for the landlords agreeing to rent
those units only to eligible Section 8 tenants.
In Erie County there are two Section 8 programs, one managed
by the Housing Authority of the City of Erie and the other by
the Erie County Housing Authority. For more information about
these programs you can contact the City of Erie Housing Authority
at 456-2028 and the County Housing Authority at 814/665-5161.
If you need an attorney and don't have one, the Lawyer Referral and Information Service can help.
Call Us Monday - Friday from 8:30 AM - Noon and 1:15 PM - 3:00 PM
at (814) 459-4411. |
