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Section 6
RESIDENTIAL SERVICES |
RESIDENTIAL SERVICES
Public Housing
Idaho Legal Aid offers an online brochure for the purpose of informing tenants of their rights and responsibilities in public housing under current Idaho and federal law. It does not include other legal theories which have been adopted by other states but as yet not accepted by Idaho's courts. At several points in the brochure, the tenant is advised to seek legal assistance of an attorney. This can be especially important to tenants in public housing because of certain additional rights they have that are not available to other tenants and because there are frequent changes in the law of public housing.
Renting
Idaho Housing and Finance Association (IHFA) administers federal rental assistance programs that help people with disabilities obtain decent, affordable rental housing. Their website offers information on the Section 8 Voucher program as well as public and subsidized housing. Their site also offers a directory of assisted housing (affordable and subsidized rentals), transitional housing and emergency shelter. For more information, call (208) 331-4882.
IHFA also offers the Accessibility Improvements Program, which provides people with disabilities with a grant to modify apartment units and homes with accessible features. Individuals may be eligible to receive up to $5000 in grant funds. This program is administered by Disability Action Center (north Idaho), Living Independence Network Corporation (southwest Idaho) and LIFE, Inc. (east Idaho). Contact the CIL nearest to you for more information.
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Idaho Housing and Finance
Idaho Housing and Finance maintains a downloadable list of assisted housing (affordable and subsidized rentals), transitional housing and emergency shelter, click on the appropriate link on the map or below. Each file presents a description of the types of assisted housing available, and then lists apartments and service providers by community. In addition, the list indicates the name, physical address and contact phone number for each housing provider, and the number of units by type (family, elderly and accessible), available unit sizes, and price structure. Shelter and transitional housing resources indicate the primary target population served by the provider.
U.S. Housing and Urban Development
U.S. Housing and Urban Development maintains a locator website for subsidized apartments in Idaho counties and cities. Anyone can utilize the site although there are requirements to formally enter into a rental agreement.
E.I.S.S.A. Housing Management Department
Eastern Idaho Special Services Agency (EISSA) Housing Management Department, Idaho Falls, currently owns and manages eight properties. E.I.S.S.A. provides a total of 312 units of housing. Three of the properties are family housing and the others are designated as senior housing. Senior Housing provides housing for persons who are 62 or over or handicapped or disabled and who meet income and tenant selection criteria.
Home Ownership
Eastern Idaho Special Services Agency, Idaho Falls, offers a rural development home ownership program. Self-Help homes are designed to be affordable. Participants have no down payment and mortgage payments are tied to income. Monthly mortgage payments will range from $350 to $550. Many times mortgage payments are less than the rent families were paying before homeownership. Homes are constructed in groups, every homeowner in the group works to complete all the homes. There are several things that determine whether you can be a part of this program. You must meet income guidelines. You must have an acceptable credit history. Each family must be willing and able to work a minimum of 35 hours per week for the duration of construction.
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HOME OF YOUR OWN
Home of Your Own Program is a newly revised program coordinated through Opening Doors, a nonprofit business in Idaho. Contact person is Jackie Hansen, 208-371-6849. There are no other contact people although there is a board of directors.
no website
Home of Your Own program details:
Provides down payment and closing costs only. This is a 10-year
forgivable loan.
Potential buyers must initially attend a Home Buyer Education
Class that is offered statewide through Idaho
Partners for Home Buyers. It is an 8-9 hour class; cost is $10.
This class assists individuals in determining if they are compatible
with home ownership.
Individuals must then be approved for a mortgage by a lender of their choice
Based on need
Potential buyer must be 18+ years old
Verification of disability
Good credit required
Consistent income required
Currently this program operates only in southern Idaho Regions 3 & 4 excluding Boise city limits. There is a desire to expand the program in coming years.
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HUD Subsidized Housing
This type of affordable housing is based on the use of subsidies, the amount of which is geared to the tenant's ability to pay. The subsidy makes up the difference between what the low-income household can afford, and the contract rent established by HUD for an adequate housing unit. Subsidies are either attached to specific units in a property (project-based), or are portable and move with the tenants that receive them (tenant-based). The Section 8 program was passed by Congress in 1974 as part of a major restructuring of the HUD low-income housing programs.
HUD's Mission:
HUD's mission is to increase homeownership, support community development, and increase access to affordable housing free from discrimination. To fulfill this mission, HUD will embrace high standards of ethics, management and accountability and
forge new partnerships--particularly with faith-based and community organizations--that leverage resources and improve HUD's ability to be effective on the community level.
Public Housing
Public housing was established to provide decent and safe rental housing for eligible low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. Public housing comes in all sizes and types, from scattered single family houses to high-rise apartments for elderly families. There are approximately 1.3 million households living in public housing units, managed by some 3,300 HAs. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) administers Federal aid to local housing agencies (HAs) that manage the housing for low-income residents at rents they can afford. HUD furnishes technical and professional assistance in planning, developing and managing these developments.
Renting Homes
HUD doesn't actually own rental housing. They do provide funding to support several rental assistance programs.
Help For People with Disabilities
Regardless of whether you live in private or public housing, Federal laws provide the following rights to persons with disabilities: prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities; requires housing providers to make reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities; requires housing providers to allow persons with disabilities to make reasonable modifications; and requires that new covered multifamily housing be designed and constructed to be accessible.
How to Contact HUD
Disability Action Centers NW
This organization can serve as a resource for many housing needs for those with disabilities.
Idaho Independent Living Centers
This is another resource for housing needs.
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Energy and Telephone Assistance Programs
Six Community Action Partnership agencies within the state employ hundreds of people and assist over 100,000 low income and disadvantaged participants annually. In addition to the six CAPs in Idaho, CAPAI's other members serving Idaho's poor include the Idaho Migrant Council and CCOA-Aging Weatherization and Human Services. All CAP's in Idaho are nongovernmental, private non-profit organizations. They are an example of the private sector stepping in to work with the Idaho Department of Health & Welfare to work with those in poverty. Each Community Action Partnership is anchored in the community by a Board of Directors made up in equal parts by low-income people, members of the business community, and local elected public officials. This unique mix of board members assures that the specific needs of each community are represented.
Resources that can be accessed through CAPs include, but are not limited to:
Food Banks
Programs for the Elderly and Low Income
Children and Youth Programs
Job Training and Employment
Affordable
Housing
Home Weatherization
Individualized Case Management
Do you need help with your telephone bill?
Community Action Partnership Association of Idaho has been awarded the contract to administer Idaho's Telephone Service Assistance Program, and you may qualify for up to $30 in assistance to get a phone connected, and/or $13.50 a month in telephone bill help through the Idaho Telephone Service Assistance Program (ITSAP). Any ITSAP assistance for your connection or monthly bill will go directly to your service provider. You must not have gross household earnings of any more than 133% of the federal poverty guidelines for the previous three months.
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Public Housing