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Policies

Seattle Housing Authority currently has an Administrative Plan for its Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8). It explains the policies through which the agency administers the program. The plan has been approved by the Board of Commissioners.

The full plan, including its individual chapters, glossary and appendix are available in PDF format (download Adobe Reader).

Complete Administrative Plan (PDF, 6.75 MB)

Chapter 1—Statement of Policies (PDF, 62 KB)

  • Mission, Values, Guiding Principles
  • Moving to New Ways/Move to Work (MTW) Plan
  • Administrative Fee Reserve
  • Fair Housing Policy
  • Owner Outreach
  • Reasonable Accommodations Policy
  • Privacy/Confidentiality/Use of Personal Identifiers
  • Conflict of Interest Policy

Chapter 2—Eligibility for Admission (PDF, 64 KB)

  • Eligibility Factors
  • Definitions of "Family" – Family Composition
  • Income Limits
  • Mandatory Social Security Numbers
  • Citizenship/Eligible Non-Citizen
  • Criminal History and Other Criteria for Admission
  • Notice to Landlords: Not Responsible for Tenant Screening
  • Changes in Eligibility Prior to Effective Date of Contract
  • Notification of Denial
  • Prohibited Admissions Criteria

Chapter 3—Allocating Seattle Housing Authority's Vouchers: Types of Vouchers; Special-Issuance Vouchers (PDF, 20 KB)

  • General Public Waiting List: Tenant-Based Vouchers
  • Project-Based and Agency-Based Voucher Programs
  • Special Issuance
  • Seattle Senior Housing Program (SSHP)
  • Morrison
  • Executive Director Discretion
  • Vouchers Provided by HUD for Specific Residents of Specific Units
  • Merging Certificates and Vouchers
  • Percentage Allocations of Vouchers

Chapter 4—Voucher Issuance Process (PDF, 204 KB)

  • Family Outreach
  • Opening and Closing of the Waiting List
  • Local Preference
  • Selection Process for Special/Targeted Vouchers
  • Cancellation/Reinstatement Policies
  • Pre-Application Process
  • Issuance Process
  • Changes in Income and Family Composition Prior to Lease-Up

Chapter 5—Seattle Housing Authority's Housing Choice Vouchers Project-Based Program (PDF, 44 KB)

  • Goals
  • Project Selection Criteria
  • Eligible Owners of Project-Based Housing
  • Project Selection
  • Maximum Gross Rents/Payment Standards
  • Uses of Subsidy
  • Contract Term
  • Annual Rent Increases
  • Vacancy Loss and Damage Claims
  • Exit Vouchers
  • Tenant Selection: Waiting Lists
  • Lease Terms for Residents of Project-Based Properties
  • Minimum Occupancy Requirements for Project-Based Properties
  • Tenant Selection: Admissions Criteria
  • Housing Quality Standards: Inspections
  • Rent Calculations for Tenants: Treatment of Medicaid
  • Unit Transfers
  • Release of Health-Related Information
  • Protection of Revenue in Event of Reduction in Federal Funds
  • Commitments to Oxford Apartments
  • Contract Language Takes Precedence
  • Replacement of HUD Regulations and Previous Policy Statements

Chapter 6—Agency-Based Voucher Program (PDF, 96 KB)

  • Percentage Allocation
  • Goals and Rationale for the Agency-Based Voucher Program
  • Annual Review of Agency-Based Voucher Program
  • Qualified Agencies
  • Agency Services Agreement
  • Documenting Allocations of Vouchers

Chapter 7—Subsidy Standards: Bedroom Size of Voucher (PDF, 30 KB)

  • Determining Voucher Size
  • Exceptions to Voucher Size Standards
  • Unit Size Selected if Different from Voucher

Chapter 8—Total Tenant Payment and Family Share (PDF, 73 KB)

  • Income and Allowances
  • Disallowance of Earned Income from Rent Determination for Persons with Disabilities
  • Exclusion of Income from Qualified Training Program
  • Minimum Rent
  • Definition of Temporarily/Permanently Absent
  • Averaging Income
  • Minimum Income/Reported Zero Income/Credit Checks
  • Income of Person Permanently Confined to a Nursing Home
  • Regular Contributions and Gifts
  • Alimony and Child Support
  • Lump-Sum Receipts and Income from Trusts
  • Retirement Funds – Assets
  • Assets Disposed of for Less than Fair Market Value
  • Child Care Expenses
  • Medical Expenses
  • Pro-ration of Assistance for "Mixed" Families
  • Income Changes Resulting from Welfare Requirements
  • Utility Allowance and Reimbursement Payments

Chapter 9—Verification Procedures (PDF, 232 KB)

  • Methods of Verification and Time Allowed
  • Release of Information
  • Computer Matching
  • Items to be Verified
  • Verification of Income
  • Income from Assets
  • Verification of Assets
  • Verification of Allowable Deductions from Income
  • Verifying Non-Financial Factors
  • Verification of Waiting List Preferences

Chapter 10—Voucher Briefings/Voucher Terms (PDF, 100 KB)

  • Briefing Types and Required Attendance
  • Assistance to Families Who Claim Discrimination
  • Term of Voucher: Expiration, Suspension, Extensions

Chapter 11—Request for Tenancy Approval and Contract Execution (PDF, 148 KB)

  • Request for Tenancy Approval
  • Eligible Types of Housing
  • Lease Review
  • Separate Agreements
  • Rent Limitations
  • Disapproval of Proposed Rent: Affordability Cap
  • Information to Prospective Owners about Family's Current and Previous Addresses
  • Owner Disapproval
  • Change in Total Tenant Payment Prior to HAP Effective Date
  • Contract Execution Process
  • Change in Ownership

Chapter 12—Housing Quality Standards and Inspections (PDF, 28 KB)

  • Guidelines/Types of Inspections
  • HQS Guidelines for Unit Size Selected
  • Initial HQS Inspections
  • Annual HQS Inspections
  • Move-Out/Vacate
  • Special/Complaint Inspections
  • Quality Control Inspections
  • Acceptability Criteria and Exceptions to HQS
  • Emergency Repair Items
  • Abatement
  • Owner/Family Responsibility for HQS
  • HQS Inspections of SHA-Owned Units

Chapter 13—Owner Rents, Rent Reasonableness, and Payment Standards (PDF, 112 KB)

  • Making Payments to Owners
  • Rent Reasonable Determinations
  • Payment Standards
  • Adjustments to Payment Standards

Chapter 14—Recertifications (PDF, 40 KB)

  • Annual Activities
  • Annual Recertification/Re-examination
  • Reporting Interim Changes
  • Other Interim Reporting Issues
  • Income Changes Resulting from Welfare Program Requirements
  • Notification of Results of Recertifications
  • Timely Reporting of Changes in Income and Assets

Chapter 15—Moves with Continued Assistance/Portability (PDF, 36 KB)

  • Allowable Move
  • Restrictions on Moves
  • Procedures for Moves
  • Portability
  • Restrictions on Portability
  • Outgoing Portability
  • Incoming Portability

Chapter 16—Contract Terminations (PDF, 24 KB)

  • Contract Termination
  • Termination by the Family: Moves
  • Termination of Tenancy by the Owner: Evictions
  • Termination of the Contract by Seattle Housing Authority

Chapter 17—Termination of Assistance (PDF, 56 KB)

  • Grounds for Termination
  • Failure to Comply with Family Obligations
  • Termination of Assistance for Criminal History
  • Termination for Failure to Submit Consent Forms
  • Termination for Non-Eligible Immigration Status
  • Zero ($0) Assistance Tenancies: No HAP for 180 Days
  • Procedures for Termination of Assistance
  • Option Not to Terminate for Misrepresentation
  • Misrepresentation in Collusion with Owner

Chapter 18—Disapproval of Owners, Limitations on Participation and Changes in Ownership (PDF, 84 KB)

  • Disapproval of Owner
  • Limitations on Owner Restrictions and Penalties
  • Change in Ownership

Chapter 19—Owner or Family Debts to the Seattle Housing Authority/Payment Agreements (PDF, 108 KB)

  • Payment Agreement for Participants
  • Owner Debts to Seattle Housing Authority
  • Writing Off Debts

Chapter 20—Complaints and Appeals (PDF, 64 KB)

  • Complaints
  • Informal Reviews for Denials of Admission to Program
  • Informal Hearing Procedures for Participants
  • Hearing and Appeal Provisions for "Restrictions on Assistance to Non-Citizens"

Chapter 21—Special Housing Types (PDF, 35 KB)

  • Single Room Occupancy
  • Congregate Housing
  • Leased Shared Housing
  • Section 8 Voucher Home-Ownership Program

Chapter 22—Program Integrity (PDF, 132 KB)

  • Criteria for Investigation of Suspected Abuse and Fraud
  • Steps SHA Will Take to Prevent Abuse and Fraud
  • Steps SHA Will Take to Detect Abuse and Fraud
  • Handling of Allegations of Fraud and Program Abuse
  • Investigations of Allegations of Abuse and Fraud
  • Placement of Documents, Evidence and Statements Obtained by SHA
  • Conclusion of SHA's Investigative Review
  • Evaluation of the Findings
  • Action Procedures for Violations Which Have Been Documented
  • Overpayments to Owners

Glossary (PDF, 60 KB)

  • Acronyms Used in Subsidized Housing
  • Glossary of Terms in Subsidized Housing
  • Glossary of Terms Used in the Non-Citizens Rule

Appendix (PDF, 100 KB)

  • Appendix 1 : Summary of Deviations from QWHRA in Administration of the Housing Choice Voucher Program Authorized Under Move to Work
  • Appendix 2 : Section 8 "Violence Against Women Act" (VAWA) Definitions and Program Changes
  • Appendix 3 : Utility Allowance Schedule