To: Honorable Chair and Commissioners
From: Vincent Smith, Community Development Director
Prepared By: Michael Kucz, Rental Assistance Program Supervisor
TITLE:
Title
Section 8 Revised Utility Allowance Schedule
LABEL
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommendationle
Adopt a resolution approving the Revised Utility Allowance Schedule for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program effective July 1, 2019.
Body
DISCUSSION:
The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program regulations provide for a utility allowance for tenant-paid utilities that is taken into consideration when calculating the amount of rent that a tenant will pay under the rental assistance program. Federal regulations require the Housing Authority review these rates annually. The current Utility Allowance Schedule has been in effect since April 1, 2018.
Because this work requires specialized training and involves complex formulas, most housing authorities retain outside consultants to do the calculations. This year, the Housing Authority contracted with the Nelrod Company to update the utility allowances. The Nelrod Company certifies that a Housing and Urban Development (HUD) approved method was used to develop the utility allowances.
The Utility Allowance Schedule provides for an allowance for tenant-paid utilities under each of the following general categories:
* space heating
* cooking
* other electric
* air conditioning
* water heating
* water
* sewer
* trash collection
* tenant-provided refrigerator and range.
The utility allowances vary by the type of unit, number of bedrooms and whether heating and cooking utilize gas, electric, or propane. The new schedule uses a 35-gallon cart size for studio, one- and two-bedroom units and a 65-gallon cart size for three, four- and five-bedroom units for trash collection.
The rates in the proposed Utility Allowance Schedule take into consideration a special discounted rate available to persons with lower incomes through Pacific Gas and Elect...
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