How to Apply

Information

frequently asked questions

Public housing was created to provide decent and safe rental housing for eligible low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. Blair Housing Authority (BHA) has apartments and scattered site single family homes and duplexes for individuals and families.

After the housing authority approves an applicant, their rent is figured as 30% of their gross income, less allowable expenses. BHA has adopted flat rents for approved applicants with higher income who still qualify for housing under the HUD established income limits.

As part of the Public Housing Program, the Housing Authority owns, manages and maintains all of the properties.

Anyone can apply for public housing, but it is limited to low-income families and individuals. Eligibility is based on annual gross income, family size, and U.S. citizenship or immigration status. Eligible applicants are placed on a Wait List.

Apply online by clicking the How to Apply button or paper applications are available in our office.

Applicants complete a pre-application to determine eligibility.  Eligibility is determined by the family’s annual gross income, family size, and U.S. citizenship or immigration status.  Eligible applicants will be placed on the appropriate Wait List based on family size.  Actual wait time is unknown, but can be 6 to 12 months based on availability. All applicants will be notified via U.S. mail of their eligibility status.  Ineligible applicants will be notified why they are ineligible and given an opportunity to request an informal hearing. All adult household members 18 and over must sign the application and authorization.  Authorization is required from all adult household members to verify information given by applicants.  A criminal background check is completed for all adult applicants. The following information is needed to apply:
  1. Names of all persons who will be living in the unit, their sex, date of birth, and relationship to the family head
  2. Current physical and mailing addresses and telephone number
  3. Government issued identification (driver’s license or state ID), social security card for each person who will be living in the unit, and proof of income for all persons 18 and over. Proof of current income includes, but is not limited to: check stubs, letter from social security, child support order, etc.

Eligible families are notified in writing once they have reached the top of the Wait List.  The head of the family has 5 business days from the date on the letter to complete the full application and respond to the housing authority.

The following information is needed for the full application:

  1. Names and addresses of your current and previous landlords for information about your family’s suitability as a tenant.
  2. An estimate of your family’s anticipated income for the next twelve (12) months and the sources of that income.
  3. The names and addresses of your employers, banks and any other information needed to verify income or deductions (medical expenses or child care expenses for eligible households).

 

BHA will use the information on the full application to complete the verification process.  Including, but not limited to, credit check, previous rental history, income verification, and expense verification.

Rent is based on the family’s anticipated gross annual income less deductions, if any.  HUD regulations allow housing authorities to exclude the following allowances from annual income:  $480 for each dependent; $400 for elderly families, or a person with a disability; and some medical deductions for families headed by an elderly person or a person with a disability.  These determinations are made during the full application process.

Annual income is the total anticipated income from all sources received from the head of household, spouse, and each additional adult member of the family.

The formula used to determine rent is the highest of the following, rounded to the nearest dollar:

  1. 30% of the monthly adjusted income. (Monthly Adjusted Income is the annual income less deductions allowed by the regulations);
  2. 10% of monthly income;
  3. Minimum rent of $50.

Parkview Manor – Yes

Rent includes electric, water, sewer, gas, and trash.

Scattered Site units – No

Tenants are responsible for all utilities.  A utility allowance is deducted from the rent amount to assist with the costs of utilities

No.  Blair Housing Authority administered a Section 8 program from 1993-2005, including a Family Self-Sufficiency Program.  In 2005, due to cut-backs in funding from HUD, BHA was no longer able to administer the program.  Douglas County Housing Authority in Omaha then began administering the program for the City of Blair and a 10 mile radius of Blair.  Goldenrod Hills Joint Housing Authority in Wisner, NE is responsible for administering the program in the remainder of the Washington County area. 

In the Section 8 Program, the housing authority does not own or maintain the property.  The housing authority approves the applicant and they are required to find a landlord in the area that is willing to rent them property and sign a lease with them, and a contract with the housing authority.  The Housing Authority pays a portion of the rent directly to the landlord according to the approved applicant’s income.   

The Section 8 Program is currently more commonly referred to as the “Housing Choice Voucher Program”.

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