Title 4. Division of Development Finance — Subtitle 29. Statewide Rental Assistance Voucher Program

In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.

“Disability” means a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity.

“Elderly” means an individual that is at least 62 years old.

“Housing assistance payment” means the monthly assistance payment paid for a family under the State Program.

“Housing Choice Voucher Program” means the program established under 24 C.F.R. Part 982.

“Live–in aide” means an individual that:

“Payment standard” means the maximum monthly housing assistance payment for a family assisted under the State Program.

“State Program” means the Statewide Rental Assistance Voucher Program established under this subtitle.

“Voucher” means a document issued by the Department or a public housing agency to a family that is selected to receive assistance under the State Program, which describes the State Program and procedures under the State Program.

“Public housing agency” means an entity authorized by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to administer the federal Housing Choice Voucher Program in the State.

Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, the State Program shall be administered in accordance with federal guidelines under the federal Housing Choice Voucher Program.

reside in the State;

be on a federal housing choice voucher waiting list; and

meet low–income eligibility limits under the federal Housing Choice Voucher Program or income requirements as determined by the public housing agency.

a child who is under the age of 18 years;

a foster child who is:

a veteran;

an individual experiencing homelessness;

a disabled individual; or

an elderly individual.

The Department or a public housing agency shall calculate payment standards and housing assistance payments under the State Program in accordance with guidelines for the federal Housing Choice Voucher Program.

A family assisted under the State Program shall be expected to pay not more than 30% of its monthly adjusted gross income for rent and utilities, as determined by the public housing agency at the time the family initially receives assistance under the State Program, except as otherwise provided in the federal Housing Choice Voucher Program.

A family may request that the Department or a public housing agency approve a live–in aide to provide necessary supportive services for a family member who is a person with a disability.

The Department or a public housing agency shall reasonably modify its policies, procedures, and rules to allow a family that includes a person with a disability to have a live–in aide.

The Department or a public housing agency may not include a live–in aide’s income when determining a family’s income eligibility under the State Program.

For a unit located in a building with 3 to 49 units, the property owner shall provide the public housing agency with a certificate of occupancy that has been completed within 1 year.

For a unit located in a building with 50 units or more, the property owner shall provide the public housing agency with an inspection certificate.

When determining the denial or termination of assistance under the State Program, the Department may consider all relevant circumstances, including the seriousness of the case, the extent of participation or culpability of individual family members, mitigating circumstances related to the disability of a family member, and the effects of denial or termination of assistance on other family members who were not involved in the action or failure if a family member:

A family that receives a voucher under the State Program shall:

A family that receives a voucher under the State Program may not:

the family’s obligations under the State Program;

the grounds on which the Department or the public housing agency may deny or terminate assistance under the State Program; and

the process to request an informal hearing.

The Department shall distribute the greater of the federal de minimis rate of the public housing agency’s modified total direct costs as established in 2 C.F.R. § 200.414(f) or 15% of the amount specified under subsection (a) of this section each year to each public housing agency to help defray staffing expenses related to the administration of the federal Housing Choice Voucher Program and the State Program.

The Department shall develop a formula for distributing State Program funds to each public housing agency.

the number of families receiving assistance under the State Program;

compliance with income eligibility requirements under the federal Housing Choice Voucher Program;

the total amount of funds received;

the number of households terminated from the State Program;

the incomes of families receiving assistance under the State Program;

the geographic locations where families receiving assistance under the State Program have been housed;

the race and gender of individuals in families receiving assistance under the State Program;

the household size for families receiving assistance under the State Program;

the number of families receiving assistance under the State Program, based on the preferences listed in § 4–2906 of this subtitle;

the length of time that each family has received assistance under the State Program;

the average length of time from application into the State Program and receipt of housing assistance payments;

any referrals made for families under the State Program for wraparound services, including job training;

any resources used to advertise the State Program;

the disability status of households served; and

the number of households in which State Program assistance ended without the households having received federal housing choice vouchers.