New screening criteria being considered
Seattle Housing Authority Board of
Commissioners to consider changes in April
SEATTLE—March 21, 2008—New
screening criteria with respect to applicants' criminal histories have
been considered in a series of stakeholder meetings over the past
two months. Seattle Housing Authority staff have met with nonprofit
housing providers, Section 8 landlords, Seattle Police Officers and
concerned members of the Southeast Seattle community to discuss the
changes. Seattle Housing's Board of Commissioners will likely vote
on the proposal in late April.
"We are aware that opinions about
this change vary widely among these stakeholder groups," commented
Lisa Cipollone-Wolters, Seattle Housing's director of rental
assistance programs. "Some community members are concerned about
adequate screening of voucher holders, while others see this change
as a good way to support ex-offenders who want to rebuild their
lives."
Seattle Housing is proposing to modify the
criminal background criteria currently in use to be generally less
stringent with respect to an applicant’s history of convictions.
Currently the Housing Authority requires a variable waiting period
after an applicant has been penalized or jailed for an offense. This
waiting period has ranged from 20 years for homicide to two years
for burglary or criminal assault. Seattle Housing is proposing to
change this waiting period to a uniform time of 12 months.
Proposed changes will add consistency,
uniformity
According to Cipollone-Wolters, the
proposed changes will increase efficiency and understanding of the
rules and regulations by instituting a uniform standard for Seattle
and King County housing authorities. "We see this process as a way
to reduce regulatory barriers to housing for people who are
homeless, and to further support the efforts of the Committee to End
Homelessness in King County," she said.
Changes to remain consistent with HUD rules
The suggested new criteria will continue to
conform to regulations stipulated by the U. S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development. HUD currently mandates denials of applicants
for certain past criminal activity. SHA would continue to deny
Housing Choice Vouchers in accord with these regulations, which
include denial for methamphetamine production, a consistent pattern
of violent behavior and other serious crimes. For example, if a household has
been evicted from federally assisted housing for a drug-related
crime, that household is denied a voucher for a period of three
years from the eviction.
Within the guidelines cited above, Seattle
Housing has discretion to grant or deny applications based on
numerous factors including proof that household members have
completed drug rehabilitation.
Seattle Housing Authority’s Housing Choice
Voucher Administration Plan would be amended to reflect the changed
criteria.
Read details of the changes here.
Landlords still apply individual screening
criteria
These regulations apply only to eligibility for
a voucher. Landlords in the program are expected to conduct their
own independent reference checks and may deny housing to an
applicant based on their determination that the applicant does not
meet their own tenant suitability standards.
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