What is the Public Housing Program?

The Public Housing Program was created by the U.S. Housing Act of 1937. Public housing was established to provide decent and safe rental housing for eligible low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. Public housing comes in all sizes and types, from scattered single family houses to high rise apartments for elderly families. There are approximately 1.3 million households living in public housing units, managed by some 3,300 HAs. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) administers Federal aid to local housing agencies (Brunswick Housing Authority) that manage the housing for low-income residents at rents they can afford. HUD furnishes technical and professional assistance in planning, developing and managing these developments.

Who is Eligible?

Public housing is limited to low-income families and individuals. Brunswick Housing Authority 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, the Brunswick Housing Authority will check your references to make sure you and your family will be good tenants. Brunswick Housing Authority will deny admission to any applicant whose habits and practices may be expected to have a detrimental effect on other tenants or on the community's environment. Our Admissions and Continued Occupancy Plan details eligibility for Brunswick Housing Authority.

Brunswick Housing Authority's Objectives

1.   To provide improved living conditions for very low and low income families while maintaining their rent payments at an affordable level.

2.   To operate a socially and financially sound Public Housing Agency that provides decent and sanitary housing within a drug free, suitable living environment for tenants and their families.

3.   To avoid concentrations of economically and socially deprived families in any one or all of the Brunswick Housing Authority’s Public Housing Developments.

4.   To lawfully deny the admission of applicants, or the continued occupancy of residents, whose habits and practices reasonably may be expected to adversely affect the health, safety, comfort, or welfare of other residents or the physical environment of the neighborhood, or create a danger to Brunswick Housing Authority employees.

5.   To attempt to house a tenant body in each development that is composed of families with a broad range of incomes and rent -paying abilities that are representative of the range of incomes of low-income families in the Brunswick Housing Authority’s jurisdiction.

6.   To provide opportunities for upward mobility or families who desire to achieve self-sufficiency.

7.   To facilitate the judicious management of the Brunswick Housing Authority inventory, and the efficient management of the Brunswick Housing Authority staff.

8.   To ensure compliance with Title VI of the civil Rights Act of 1964 and all other applicable Federal laws and regulations so that the admissions and continued occupancy are conducted without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, national origin, handicap, or familial status.

Fair Housing Policy

It is the policy of the Brunswick Housing Authority to comply fully with all Federal, State, and local nondiscrimination laws and with rules and regulations governing Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity in housing and employment. Brunswick Housing Authority will comply with all laws relating to Civil Rights including:

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act)

Executive Order 11063

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

The Age Discrimination Act of 1975

Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (To the extent that it applies, otherwise Section 504 and the Fair Housing Amendments govern)

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