About PorchLight Insider

PorchLight Insider is a bimonthly electronic publication for case workers, advocates, partner agencies and other service providers who assist clients with Seattle Housing Authority's admissions and Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) services at PorchLight.
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Whom to call at PorchLight

Telephone numbers of all PorchLight staff are here (pdf)»

The entire Section 8 caseload distribution list is here (pdf)»

Public housing waiting lists

Estimated waiting times to interview (not to date of leasing)
for new applicants, in months, by building

Use this quick-look chart to gauge waiting times to interview - that is, the amount of time someone on a waiting list might wait untiil called in for an interview - for current and new applicants. Download (pdf)»

Diversity in high-rises

HUD policies define "racially-concentrated" high-rise buildings and call for plans to encourage diversity. SHA will concentrate its marketing for buildings identified by HUD to ethnic and minority groups who are under-represented in these buildings.
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Consent & confidentiality: Discussing cases with SHA

• Our confidentiality policy and how to get information faster
• Don't have a client consent form? Download one from SHA

Issues Archive

July/August 2008: Announcing the publication of a new brochure describing SHA's mission and programs; how to order. HUD and the VA fund 52 SHA Housing Choice vouchers for homeless vets. SHA adopts new procedures for hearings for people at risk of having their vouchers terminated. Seattle Senior Housing Program to adopt "Save My Spot" waiting list management tool in October.

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May 2008: Partners invited to PorchLight to discuss LIPH issues; SHA partners with Seattle-King ABC to launch "Seattle Asset Building Initiative;' SHA proposes "SNAP," a new initiative for LIPH residents; April's Section 8 waiting list lottery brought an overwhelming response and let SHA create a new list of 4,000 households.

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February-March 2008: More about the upcoming lottery. New criminal background criteria proposed for the Section 8 program. SHA sent a delegation to the 14th annual Housing & Homelessness Advocacy day in Olympia.

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January 2008: Special Notice Information about the forthcoming Housing Choice Voucher program (Section 8) waiting-list lottery, and an appeal for suggestions as to how SHA might best reach people who might want to know about the lottery.

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November 2007: New housing counselors, federal housing monies in limbo, looking for great employees, update on homeWorks.

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August 2007: Special Notice Announcing a stakeholders' meeting (for Aug. 24) about  "Save My Spot"

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May 2007: LIPH introduces "Save My Spot" check-in requirement, Section 8 Project-based introduces "Owners' Corner," Section 8 tenant-based streamlines application process.

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February 2007: Section 8 caseload redistributed, about the Expedited Referral Program, SHA to use HUD's Enterprise Income Verification (EIV) system, Phase II of homeWorks gets underway.

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December 2006: Section 8 by the numbers, PeoplePoint to counsel PorchLight clients, Public Housing discontinues "next available unit" list.
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September 2006: Applications for Westwood Heights solicited, a new housing brochure offered, Job Connection assists residents.
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July 2006: Lottery concluded, agency-based vouchers issued and homeWorks ahead of schedule.
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March 2006: Scholarships and resources for college, new public housing leases, waiting list opens for seniors and disabled.
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January 2006: Scholarships and resources for college, new public housing leases, waiting list opens for seniors and disabled.
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October 2005: New Section 8 utility allowances, reporting changes in income, housing for Hurricane Katrina victims
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August 2005: Changes to Section 8 policy approved, new occupancy standards in public housing, Housing Choice Vouchers to be issued again, new Section 8 director
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May 2005: Housing options for seniors, public housing and Section 8 undergo policy change processes
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March 2005: Public housing pilots a wait list check-in system, Section 8 project-based and mod-rehab lowers restrictions on sex offenders
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February 2005: New policy on Section 8 portability, Public Housing interview process, new proof of identity required
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January 2005: Moving with a Section 8 voucher, Public Housing screening criteria, current criminal history standards
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Comments and suggestions

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