PUBLIC HOUSING

SMHA is the public housing authority for Shelby County, Ohio. Our mission is to serve the community by helping people access affordable housing. By working with our collaborative partners, we develop, renovate and maintain housing, promote neighborhood revitalization, and assist residents in accessing needed social services.  To accomplish this, LMHA will operate in an efficient manner, within HUD guidelines and through partnerships with the community. SMHA will operate with a high degree of organizational effectiveness in order to remain financially viable.

SMHA has housing opportunities for qualified families, singles and seniors.  Public housing was established to provide decent and safe rental housing for eligible families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities throughout Shelby County.  The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) administers Federal aid to local housing agencies (HAs) that manage the housing for residents at rents they can afford. HUD furnishes technical and professional assistance in planning, developing and managing these developments.

SMHA Role in Public Housing

SMHA is responsible for the management and operation of its local public housing program.
On-going functions:
  1. (a) Assure compliance with leases. The lease must be signed by both parties;
    (b) Set other charges (e.g., security deposit, excess utility consumption, and damages to unit);
    (c) Perform periodic reexaminations of the family's income at least once every 12 months;
    (d) Transfer families from one unit to another, in order to correct over/under crowding, repair or renovate a dwelling, or because of a resident's request to be transferred;
    (e) Terminate leases when necessary; and
    (f) maintain the development in a decent, safe, and sanitary condition.

Qualifications for Public Housing

Public housing is limited to income qualified families and individuals. SMHA determines your eligibility based on:
  1. Annual gross income;
  2. Whether you qualify as elderly, a person with a disability, or as a family; and
  3. U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status. If you are eligible, SMHA will check your references to make sure you and your family will be good tenants.

SMHA uses income limits developed by HUD.  HUD sets the lower income limits at 80% and very low income limits at 50% of the median income for the county or metropolitan area in which you choose to live. Income limits vary from area to area so you may be eligible at one HA but not at another. All extremely low income and very low income families are eligible for both the Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher Program programs. Low income families are also eligible for the Public Housing program but with restrictions.
The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing because of:  Race or color , National origin, Religion, Sex , Familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians; pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18) , Disability.

After obtaining this information, the HA representative should describe the public housing program and its requirements, and answer any questions you might have. You will be asked to sign a form to authorize release of pertinent information to the PHA. If the HA determines that you are eligible, your name will be put on a waiting list, unless the HA is able to assist you immediately. Once your name is reached on the waiting list, the HA will contact you.