Please read the overview of the minimum acceptability criteria necessary for housing to qualify for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program.
- When will the unit be inspected?
Once a voucher holder has selected a housing unit and the owner of the property has agreed to make the unit available for rental under the Housing Choice Voucher Program, the property will undergo initial inspection by the local Public Housing Agency using form 52580-A to determine whether the housing unit is decent, safe, and sanitary according to HOTMA. The local Public Housing Agency will make a determination of the unit’s acceptability at least one each year when an assisted family continues in occupancy. - What are the standards?
- Sanitary Facilities – must be contained within the dwelling unit to be leased and available for the exclusive use of the occupants of that dwelling unit. The bathroom must be located in a separate room and have a flush toilet in the proper operating condition. The bathroom must have a fixed basin with a sink, trap and hot water running in proper operating condition. The unit must have a shower or a tub with hot and cold running water in it in good operating condition. The facility must utilize an approvable public or private disposal system, including a locally approvable septic system.
- Food Preparation & Refuse Disposal – The unit must have a cooking stove or range and refrigerator of appropriate size for the unit (ie. family), all in proper operating condition. This equipment may be supplied by either the owner or the tenant. The unit must have a kitchen sink in proper operating condition with a sink trap and hot and cold water running which drains into an approvable private or public system. The unit must provide space for the storage, preparation, and serving of food. There must be adequate facilities and services for sanitary disposal of food waste and reuse, including temporary storage facilities where necessary (ex. garbage containments).
- Space and Security – The dwelling unit shall contain a living room, kitchen area and bathroom. The dwelling unit shall contain at least one bedroom or living/sleeping room of appropriate size for each two persons. Persons of opposite sex, other than husband and wife or very young children, shall not be required to occupy the same bedroom or living/sleeping room. Exterior doors and windows accessible from outside the unit shall be lockable. Smoke Detector – The dwelling unit shall contain a working smoke detector on every level and in an appropriate location to provide maximum warning to occupants should a fire or smoke situation occur.
- Thermal Environment – The dwelling unit shall contain safe heating that is in proper operating condition and provides adequate heat to each room in the dwelling unit appropriate for the climate to assure a healthy living environment. Un-vented space heaters that deliver enough heat to assure a healthy living environment are acceptable. To determine if the family has 7 adequate heat during winter months, the family will be questioned regarding adequacy of heat. The American Gas Association (AGA) seal of approval must be present on each unvented space heater to determine its safety.
- Illumination and Electricity – Each room shall have adequate natural or artificial illumination to permit normal indoor activities and to support the health and safety of occupants. Living and sleeping rooms shall include at least one window. A ceiling or wall type light fixture shall be present and working in the bathroom and kitchen area. At least two electric outlets, one of which may be part of an overhead light, shall be present and operable in the living area, kitchen area and each bedroom area. The kitchen, however, must have at least one overhead light and one working wall outlet.
- Structure and Materials – Ceiling, walls, and floors shall not have any serious defects such as severe bulging or leaning, large holes, loose surface materials, severe buckling or noticeable movement under walking stress, missing parts or other serious damage. All floors must be covered (e.g., linoleum, carpet, rugs, hardwood sealant, paint). The roof structure shall be firm, and the roof shall be weather-tight. The exterior wall structure and exterior wall surface shall not have any serious defects such as serious leaning, buckling, sagging, cracks or holes, loose siding, or other serious damage. The condition and equipment of interior and exterior stairways, halls, porches, walkways, etc., shall be such as not to present a danger of tripping or falling. All stairs with four or more steps require handrails and porches and balconies over 30 inches high require guardrails.
- Interior Air Quality – The dwelling unit shall be free from dangerous levels of air pollution from carbon monoxide, sewer gas, fuel gas, dust, and other harmful air pollutants. Air circulation shall be adequate throughout the unit. Bathroom areas shall have at least one window that opens or other adequate exhaust ventilation. Water Supply – Either public or private sanitary water supply is acceptable.
- Lead Based Paint – The regulation at 24-CFR 35, which implements the Lead-Based Paint Poisoning Prevention Act, requires that the Public Certification (HF-39-C) signifying that all HOTMA lead-based paint requirements have been met on any property identified by a visual assessor, a certifies lead-based paint risk assessor, or certified lead-based paint inspector. This certification must be received by the PHA before the execution of the HAP contract or within the time period stated by the PHA in the owner HOTMA violation notice.
- Access – The unit must have a private entrance without going through another dwelling unit. An alternate means of egress from the building is required.
- Site and Neighborhood – The site and neighborhood must be reasonably free of conditions that would endanger the health and safety of residents, such as dangerous walks, steps, structural instability, flooding, poor drainage, septic tank back-ups, excessive accumulation of trash (more than one person can pick up in an hour), vermin or rodent infestation, and/or fire hazards.
- Sanitary Condition – The unit and its equipment must be free of vermin and rodent infestation.
- Eligible Types of Housing
Existing rental housing types that are authorized by the program include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:
• Townhouses;
• Garden apartments;
• Duplexes, triplexes, four-plexes, etc.;
• Single-family homes;
• Manufactured homes;
• High-rise apartments;
• Double bungalows;
• Cooperative housing units;
• HUD-insured, or HUD-owned properties (certain exceptions apply);
• VA-guaranteed properties; and
• FmHA-insured or direct loan properties (certain exceptions apply).
- Who is qualified to perform the inspections?
A PHA may employ Full-Time Housing InspeCtors, Part-time or Shared Housing Inspectors, In-House or Subcontracted Inspection Staff or Specialists or Generalist Inspectors. - What are the owner and tenant responsibilities?
- Owner Obligation
- The owner must maintain the unit in accordance with HOTMA.
- If the owner fails to maintain the dwelling unit in accordance with HOTMA, the FHA must take prompt and vigorous action to enforce the owner obligations. PHA remedies for such breach of the HOTMA include termination, suspension or reduction of housing assistance payments and terminations of the HAP contract.
- The PHA must not make any housing assistance payments for a dwelling unit that fails to meet the HOTMA, unless the owner corrects the defect within the period specified by the PHA and the PHA verifies the correction. If a defect is life-threatening, the owner must correct the defect within no more than 24 hours. For other defects, the owner must correct the defect within no more than 30 calendar days (or any PHA-approved extension).
- The owner is not responsible for a breach of the HOTMA that is not caused by the owner, and for which the family is responsible (as provided in 24CFR, Paragraph 982.404(b) and Paragraph 982.551 (c)). (However, the PHA may terminate assistance to a family because of HOTMA breach caused by the family.)
- Tenant Obligation
- If a HOTMA breach caused by the family is life-threatening, the family must correct the defect within no more than 24 hours. For other family-caused defects, the family must correct the defect within no more than 30 calendar days (or any PHA-approved extension).|
- If the family has caused a breach of HOTMA, the PHA must take prompt and vigorous action to enforce the family obligations. The PHA may terminate assistance for the family in accordance with Paragraph 24 CFR 982.552
- The family is responsible for a breach of the HOTMA that is caused by any of the following:
- (a) The family fails to pay for any utilities that the owner is not required to pay for, but which are to be paid by the tenant;
- (b) The family fails to provide and maintain any appliances that the owner is not required to provide, but which are to be provided by the tenant; or
- (c) Any member of the household or guest damages the dwelling unit or premises (damages beyond ordinary wear and tear).
- Owner Obligation
The Marshfield Community Development Authority (MCDA) Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher waiting list is currently open. This waiting list is open indefinitely.
There are two ways to apply:
- Visit MCDA to pick up a pre-application, located at 601 South Cedar Ave., Marshfield, WI 54449, during normal office hours.
- Download a pre-application online here, then print, complete, and mail.
Once the pre-application has been completed, it must be hand-delivered to the address listed above.
Be sure to include these original documents with the pre-application: Social Security Cards, birth certificates, and photo IDs for all adult household members.
For more information, visit the MCDA website, or call the office at (715) 387-0528 during normal office hours.
Last Updated on 07/17/2024.