Hoke County and Sampson County Accepting HUD Rental Assistance Applications

June 28, 2007

HOKE COUNTY NC NEWS -- Families in Hoke County and Sampson County who need help in paying their rent can apply in July for assistance under a program sponsored by the N.C. Commission of Indian Affairs' Section 8 Housing Program.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) designated the North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs as a Public Housing Agency (PHA) in 1976. This designation gave the commission authority to provide rent assistance through the operation of a Section 8 Housing Assistance Program to eligible families through annual contribution contracts with HUD. The N.C. Commission of Indian Affairs is a division of the N.C. Department of Administration.

To qualify, a family residing in Hoke County or Sampson County must meet the requirements set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Applications are open to the general public.

Neither Hoke County nor Sampson County have Public Housing Adminstration offices. Therefore applications for Hoke County will be taken from 9-11 a.m. July 3 only at the Post Office Federal Building located on 122 Poplar St, Room 206, in Raeford.

Applications for Sampson County will be taken from 9 a.m. to 12 noon July 6 only at the Coharie Tribal Center, 7531 US Highway 421 North, in Clinton.

Please note the following from the NC Department of Administration:

The North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs PHA program has two components, the Certification Component and the Voucher Component.

• The Certification Component is currently funded at a level of $2,328,646 and funds 732 housing units.
• Certificates are transferable anywhere within the United States. Thus, a family can move anywhere in the state and rent a suitable unit with a certification issued by the program.
• A certification contract places a ceiling on the amount of rent that a landlord can ask for a rental unit. The amount of rent that can be subsidized with HUD rental assistance is limited by Fair Market Rents. For example, the maximum rent for a two bedroom unit is $334 per month. If the landlord should ask for a rent of $375, the program cannot place a family in the unit unless the landlord agrees to lower the rent to $334/month.
• The Voucher Component is currently funded at a level of $995,158 and funds 198 units. Voucher contracts allow the program to pay up to the fair market rent for a rental unit and requires the tenant to pay the difference between the fair market rent, paid by the program, and the rent charged by the landlord. For example, a family wishes to rent a two-bedroom unit that rents for $450 per month, but the ceiling for a two-bedroom unit is $334 per month. The family can receive a maximum rent subsidy of $334 per month from the program and must pay the difference between the rent subsidy ($334) and the actual rent ($450) or total of $116 per month. A family holding a voucher can locate anywhere within the United States.

Hoke County and Sampson County North Carolina residents can contact Sonya McIver at the N.C. Commission of Indian Affairs, 919-733-5998 for Additional information regarding the HUD Section 8 Housing Program.