Public Housing Frequent Questions
I have a specific question that isn’t answered here. Where can I ask?
If your question isn’t answered in this section, please contact the GCHA Office at 724-627-6523. We will respond to all calls as soon as possible.
How long can I stay in Public Housing?
In general, you may stay in Public Housing as long as you comply with the lease. If, at reexamination, your family’s income is sufficient to obtain housing on the private market, the GCHA may determine whether your family should stay in Public Housing. (i.e. Future changes due to HOTMA (Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act) may affect this current determination/policy.
What is a reasonable accommodation? Can I get one?
Sometimes people with disabilities may need a reasonable accommodation in order to take full advantage of the GCHA’s housing programs and related services.
A reasonable accommodation is a change, adaptation, or modification to the GCHA’s rules, policies, practices, or services which is necessary to provide a qualified individual with a handicap or disability an equal opportunity to participate fully in the services, programs, or activities provided by the GCHA.
You may request a reasonable accommodation. A request may be made on behalf of the individual by a family member or other agent.
What is the role of the GCHA?
The GCHA is responsible for the management and operation of our local Public Housing program, as well as our other housing programs such as the Section 8 Program.
Our ongoing functions in the Public Housing Program include:
- Assuring compliance with leases. The Lease must be signed by both parties;
- Setting other charges like security deposits, excess utility consumption, and damages to units;
- Performing periodic reexaminations of a family’s income at least once every 12 months;
- Transferring families from one unit to another in order to correct over or under crowding, repairing or renovating a dwelling, or due to resident’s requests to be transferred;
- Terminating leases when necessary; and
- Maintaining our developments in a decent, safe, and sanitary condition.
How much will I pay in rent? How is my rent determined?
Your rent, which is referred to as the Total Tenant Payment (TTP) in this program, is based on your family’s anticipated gross annual income, less any deductions, if applicable.
HUD regulations allow the GCHA to exclude from annual income the following allowances: $480 for each dependent; $400 for any elderly family or person with a disability; certain childcare expenses; and certain medical expenses for families headed by an elderly person or a person with disabilities.
Based on your application, the GCHA will determine if any of the allowable deductions should be subtracted from your annual gross income. Annual gross income is the anticipated total income from all sources received by the family.
The formula used in determining the TTP is the highest of the following, rounded to the nearest dollar: 30 percent of your monthly adjusted income (income minus deductions allowed by regulations); or a minimum rent.
As you can see, there are many factors that go into our calculations.
Do you give a preference to any groups of people?
Yes. Since the demand for housing assistance often exceeds the limited resources available to the GCHA, long waiting periods are common.
The GCHA Public Housing Program has the following preferences:
- Applicant who is involuntarily displaced from his/her home as a result of fire, flood, or disaster.
- Veteran/Surviving Spouse of a Veteran.
- Head of household or sole member who is 62 years of age or older, or who receive Social Security, and/or SSI due to disability/inability to work.
- Applicant who is a victim of domestic violence.
- Reunification.
- Working.
Can I choose the Public Housing development where I would like to live?
No, you will not be able to choose the development or developments where you would like to live.
What if I’m not interested in a unit that you offer me?
If you reject a unit offer without good cause, you will be removed from the public housing waiting list.
After I am eligible, what happens?
Once you are eligible, you will be offered an available unit that meets your needs. We will discuss your rent and security deposit. We will then schedule a leasing appointment, where you will pay the first month’s rent and security deposit, sign the lease, and receive the keys to your new unit. You should take this opportunity to go over the lease carefully with the GCHA representative. This will give you a better understanding of your responsibilities as a tenant and the GCHA’s responsibilities as a landlord.
When will I know if I am eligible?
We will verify all your information and the circumstances and facts of your case. The length of time it takes to verify your information is dependent on the accuracy of the information that you provide on the application and the response time of your landlord and personal references. This is not something that we can control. Once this is finished, we will determine whether you are eligible or not. We will contact you either by phone or mail with our decision.
If we determine that you are ineligible, we will state the reason(s) why. If you believe our decision was made in error, you have the right to request an informal hearing.
