General Information

OCHRA
2122 Campus DR SE, Suite 100
Rochester, MN 55904.


Section 8 is a tenant based rental assistance program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) and administered by the OCHRA throughout Olmsted County. The Section 8 program is available in most areas of the nation. The assistance "follows" the participant rather than the participant having to live in a particular unit to receive the assistance. This means it's possible for the participant to move without losing the assistance.

The OCHRA serves an average of 522 households. The OCHRA is required to target 75% of all new admissions to households whose income is at or below 30% of the median.

Households pay rent based of their adjusted income for housing (rent and utilities) provided they locate a unit which costs less than the standard for the appropriate unit size. Basically, the higher the rent, the higher the household share. New households or those who move with assistance are not allowed to spend more than 40% of their income on rent.

Process - Steps to Receive Assistance

1. Household completes and submits a pre-application to the OCHRA office. Information for pre-applications is below.
    
2. OCHRA determines household eligibility based on the information provided on the pre-application and informs the household of their status (either apparently eligible and placed on the waiting list or ineligible and the reason)
    
3. Household waits on the list until they reach the top of the list. 
    
4. OCHRA contacts the household when they get near the top of the list and verifies all household information. All eligible households are invited to attend a briefing at which they will be informed about the program and issued a voucher. If not eligible, the household will be advised of the reason(s).
    
5. Household must locate a unit that meets program requirements.
    
6. OCHRA inspects the unit. All units must pass the inspection prior to the household receiving assistance. In this area, most units either pass the inspection initially or the owner is willing to make the needed repairs.
    
7. After all paper work is completed, the household pays the owner their portion of the rent and the OCHRA sends a check directly to the owner for the balance.
    
8. At least annually, all units are inspected and household re-verified by the OCHRA.

Pre-application

When Section 8 re-opens for new applicants, an application will be posted at this website.

The pre-application the first form households complete if they are interested in receiving a Section 8 Voucher. The form can be completed on-line, printed, and submitted to the OCHRA office:

OCHRA
2122 Campus DR SE, Suite 100
Rochester, MN 55904.

Pre-applications are also available at the OCHRA office, Salvation Army, Community Action Program, and Women's Shelter.

Contact: OCHRA Staff at 507-328-7150

Income Limits

The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) establishes income limits for this program.

• Olmsted County - These are the income limits for Olmsted County, including all the Cities in Olmsted County
• Other - These are the income limits for other jurisdictions in the United States.

Payment Standards

Agencies administering the Section 8 Voucher use a payment standard to determine the amount of the housing assistance payment the agency will pay on behalf of the participant. It is also used as the primary guide for a participants when determining if the rent for a unit meets the program requirements. This will show you the OCHRA's payment standard for unit sizes ranging from an efficiency (0 bedroom) through a six bedroom unit. 

Number of Bedrooms	0	1	2	3	4	5	6
Payment Standard (as of 2/1/10)	$542	$642	$844	$1,095	$1,270	$1,461	$1,650

  

Rents

The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development establishes fair market rents for all areas in the nation.

Note: Program participants will use the OCHRA's Payment Standards (described above) and not fair market rents as a guide when determining if a rental unit meets the program requirements. 

Olmsted County Fair Market Rents
Number of Bedrooms	0	1	2	3	4	5	6
Fair Market Rent (as of 10/1/09)	$610	$651	$855	$1,109	$1,158	$1,332	$1,505

 

Utility Allowance Schedules

Program participants will pay no less than 30% and not more than 40% of their household income for housing (rent and utilities). If the utility is not included in the rent or paid by the owner, it is the responsibility of the tenant to pay it. The schedule shows the allowance by type of utility and type of housing for units located in the following jurisdictions:

• Byron
• Chatfield
• Eyota
• Oronoco
• Rochester
• Stewartville

Administrative Plan

The Administrative Plan describes the OCHRA requirements, guidelines, etc. of nearly every aspect of the Section 8 program, including but not limited to, eligibility, selection, rent calculations, unit selection, and informal hearings.

Apartment Referrals

OCHRA has complied a partial list of landlords and management companies in Olmsted County that have participated in the Section 8 program in the past.

Information for the following items are available at the office.

Section 8 Homeownership Program.

The OCHRA has made it possible for qualified Section 8 Voucher holders to use their housing assistance payment to help them purchase a home rather than pay rent.  September 2003 was the first time a voucher holder used their housing assistance payment to be applied to their mortgage.

Section Eight Management Assessment Program (SEMAP)

The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) annually assess all agencies administering the Section 8 program. Find out more about the process and OCHRA's rating.

Contacts: OCHRA Staff at 507 328-7150 for information pertaining to the OCHRA payment standards. Jerry - U. S. Department of Housing & Urban Development - Minnesota Office for general information at jerry_patiuk@hud.gov or 612 370-3135 ext 2106

Federal Law prohibits housing discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, family status, or disability. In Olmsted County housing discrimination complaints can be filed with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or the Minnesota Department of Human Rights.

FAIR HOUSING IS THE LAW

If you suspect unfair housing practices contact HUD at www.hud.gov to file a complaint on line, or call 800 669-9777 (TDD 800 927-9275) or 612 370-3185 or the Minnesota Department of Human Rights at 651 296-5663.