Purpose and Funding Source:
The purpose of the Rental Assistance Program is to make safe rental housing more affordable to families and the elderly with limited incomes. In this program, participants generally pay 30% of their income for rent and utilities.

The Rental Assistance Program is a federal program administered through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Spokane Housing Authority (SHA). In Whitman County, the Community Action Center administers the program.

Advantages for Owners and Property Mangers
Owners and property managers who choose to participate in the Rental Assistance Program are able to fill vacancies quickly. The Rental Assistance Program makes housing assistance payments directly to the property manager. Property managers retain full responsibility for screening and choosing renters, enforcing leases, and maintaining rental properties.

Eligible Rent Levels
Generally, rent and utilities for a unit must be within the Fair Market Rent limits for Whitman County. The Fair Market Rent is the rent plus utilities, except for telephone and cable television.

Voucher Payment Standards for 2006
1 Bedroom $475
2 Bedroom $615
3 Bedroom $820

A participating family pays at least 30% and not over 40% of their adjusted annual income for their rent and utilities. The Rental Assistance Program pays the balance of their rent to the owner or manager of the unit.

An eligible family can live in any rental housing unit in Whitman County that meets the following conditions:

Often families who qualify for rental assistance choose to remain in the same unit in which they were living when they applied for assistance. HUD regulations prohibit families receiving assistance to rent from family members

Complete a Pre-Application
You can obtain information on the Rental Assistance Program and a pre-application from the Community Action Center (CAC). You can mail or bring the completed pre-application into CAC.

Preliminary Qualification for Assistance Determined
Within fifteen (15) days of receipt of a pre-application, CAC completes a preliminary determination of eligibility and priority for receiving assistance. At this point, you are sent a letter on your qualifications for assistance with an estimate of the probable date when rental assistance will be available.

Application and Verification of Eligibility
As soon as assistance is available, CAC contacts you to obtain a full application. At this time, we must verify your income and eligibility. Generally, CAC is able to complete the verification within 15 to 30 days of receipt of the application information from you.

Attend a Program Briefing
If the application and verification information indicate that you are still qualified for assistance, you will need to attend a briefing on the Rental Assistance Program and process.

Find a Housing Unit
You have 60 days, after the briefing, to find a unit that is for rent in fair condition and within the “fair market” rental rate. You can stay in the unit you are now renting, if the rental rate is within the approved fair market rents and it is in fair condition.

Inspection
Once you have selected a unit, we have to complete an inspection to make sure that the unit meets the required standards. We will provide you and the property owner with a list of any repairs that are needed.

Sign a lease
As soon as the unit meets the required condition standards, you and the property owner sign a lease and the property owner signs a housing assistance payment contract with CAC.

Housing Assistance Provided
After all the agreements have been signed and the unit passes inspection, the rental assistance is provided. Your financial status and the condition of the unit will have to be reviewed for eligibility annually.