Section 8 Participant Responsibilities and Obligations​

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1. The family must supply any information that the PCHA or HUD determines is necessary for the administration of the program, including submission of required evidence of citizenship or eligible immigration status. Information includes any requested certification, release, or other documentation.

2. The family must supply any information requested by the PCHA or HUD for use in a regularly scheduled reexamination or interim reexamination of family income and composition in accordance with HUD requirements.

3. The family must disclose and verify Social Security Numbers and must sign and submit consent forms for obtaining information.

4. All information supplied by the family must be true and complete.

 

A. HQS Breach Caused by the Family. The family is responsible for any HQS breach caused by the family or its guests.

 

B. Inspection. The family must allow the PCHA to inspect the unit at reasonable times and after at least two (2) calendar days’ notice according to state law.

 

C. Violation of Lease. The family may not commit any serious or repeated violation of the lease.

 

D. Family Notice of Move or Lease Termination. The family must notify the PCHA and the owner before the family moves out of the unit or terminates the lease by a notice to the owner.

 

E. Owner Eviction Notice. The family must promptly give the PCHA a copy of any owner eviction notice it receives.

 

F. Use and Occupancy of the Unit

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1. The family must use the assisted unit for a residence by the family. The unit must be the family’s only residence.

2. The PCHA must approve the composition of the assisted family residing in the unit. The family must inform the PCHA within 10 business days of the birth, adoption or court-awarded custody of a child. The family must request approval from the PCHA to add any other family member as an occupant of the unit. No other person (i.e., no one but members of the assisted family) may reside in the unit (except for a foster child/foster adult or live-in aide as provided in paragraph (4) of this Section).

3. The family must notify the PCHA within 10 business days if any family member no longer resides in the unit.

4. If the PCHA has given approval, a foster child/foster adult or a live-in aide may reside in the unit. The PCHA has the discretion to adopt reasonable policies concerning residence by a foster child/foster adult or a live-in aide and defining when the PCHA consent may be given or denied.

5. Members of the household may engage in legal profit making activities in the unit, but only if such activities are incidental to primary use of the unit for residence by members of the family. Any business uses of the unit must comply with the lease, zoning requirements, and the affected household member must obtain all appropriate licenses.

6. The family must not sublease or let the unit.

7. The family must not assign the lease or transfer the unit.

 

G. Absence from the Unit. The family must supply any information or certification requested by the PCHA to verify that the family is living in the unit, or relating to family absence from the unit, including any PCHA requested information or certification on the purposes of family absences. The family must cooperate with the PCHA for this purpose. The family must promptly notify the PCHA of its absence from the unit.

 

Absence means that no member of the family is residing in the unit. The family may be absent from the unit for up to 30 calendar days. The family must request permission from the PCHA for absences exceeding 30 calendar days. The PCHA will make a determination within 10 business days of the request. An authorized absence may not exceed 180 calendar days. Any family absent for more than 30 calendar days without authorization will be terminated from the program.

 

Authorized absences may include, but are not limited to:

 

• Prolonged hospitalization

• Absences beyond the control of the family (i.e., death in the family, other family member illness)

• Other absences that are deemed necessary by the PCHA

 

H. Interest in the Unit. The family may not own or have any interest in the unit (except for owners of manufactured housing renting the manufactured home space or people using a housing choice voucher to purchase a home).

 

I. Fraud and Other Program Violation. The members of the family must not commit fraud, bribery, or any other corrupt or criminal act in connection with the program.

 

J. Crime by Household Members. The members of the household may not engage in drug-related criminal activity, other violent criminal activity, or other criminal activity that threatens the health, safety, or right to peaceful enjoyment of other residents and persons residing in the immediate vicinity of the premises

 

K. Other Housing Assistance. An assisted family, or members of the family, may not receive Section 8 tenant-based assistance while receiving another housing subsidy, for the same unit or for a different unit, under any duplicative (as determined by HUD or in accordance with HUD requirements) Federal, State or local housing assistance program.

 

L. Alcohol and/or Drug Abuse by Household Members. The members of the household must not abuse alcohol and/or drugs in a way that threatens the health, safety, or right to peaceful enjoyment of other residents and/or persons residing in the immediate vicinity of the premises.

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