What is the Section 8 Program?

The section 8 Program was inacted as part of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, which recodified the U.S. Housing Act of 1937. The Act has been amended from time to time, and its requirements, as they apply to the Section 8 Tenant-Based Assistance Program, is described in and implemented throughout the Administrative Plan. The Section 8 rental assistance programs are federally funded and administered for the City of Brunswick, County of Glynn by the Brunswick Housing Authority through its Section 8 Office. Administration of the Section 8 Program and the functions and responsibilities of the Brunswick Housing Authority shall be in compliance with the Brunswick Housing Authority Personnel Policy and the Department of Housing and Urban Developments's (HUD) Section 8 Regulations as well as all Federal, State, and local Fair Housing Laws and Regulations.

Goals for Section 8 Program

The Brunswick Housing Authority has the following goals for the Section 8 Program:

1.   To assist the local economy by increasing the occupancy rate and the amount of money flowing into the community.

2.   To encourage self-sufficiency of participant families and assist in the expansion of family opportunities which address educational, socio-economic, recreational, and other human service needs.

3.   To create positive public awareness and expand the level of family, owner, and community support in accomplishing Brunswick Housing Authority’s mission.

4.   To attain and maintain a high level of standards and professionalism in our day-to-day management of all program components.

5.   To administer an efficient, high-performing agency through continuous improvement of Brunswick Housing Authority’s support systems and commitment to our employees and their development.

6.   To provide decent, safe, and sanitary housing for very low income families while maintaining their rent payments at an affordable level.

7.   To ensure that all units meet Housing Quality Standards and families pay fair and reasonable rents.

8.   To promote fair housing and the opportunity for very low-income families of all ethnic backgrounds to experience freedom of housing choice.

9.   To promote a housing program which maintains quality service and integrity while providing an incentive to private property owners to rent to very low income families.

10. To promote a market-driven housing program that will help qualified low-income families be successful in obtaining affordable housing and increase the supply of housing choices for such families.

Fair Housing Policy

It is the policy of the Brunswick Housing Authority to comply fully with all Federal, State, and local nondiscriination 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)

Federal Regulation 24 CFR 982 Section 8 Tenant Based Assistance

Eligibility for Admission

1. An applicant must be a "family". Family is defined as a group of one or more people related by blood, marriage, or legal adoption, who will live regularly together in the same dwelling unit (including family members who are temporarily absent).
"Disabled Person" A person who is under a disability as defined in Section 223 of the Social Security Act, or who has a developmental disability as defined in Section 102(7) of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act.
"Displaced Person" A person displaced by governmental action, or a person who's swelling has been extensively damaged or destroyed as a result of a declared disaster or otherwise formally recognized under Federal disaster relief laws.
"Elderly Family or Person" A family whose head or spouse (or sole member) is an Elderly Disabled, Handicapped or at least 62 years of age. It may include two or more Elderly, Disabled, or Handicapped Persons living together or one or more of the persons living with one or more Live-In Aides. A "Live-In Aide" is a person meeting such definition as listed at CFR 813.102.
2. An applicant must be within the appropriate income limits.
An applicant must furnish Social Security Numbers for all family members.
3. An applicant must furnish declaration of Citizenship or Eligible Immigrant Status and verification where required.
4. At lest one member of the applicant family must be either a U.S. citizen or have eligible immigration status before Brunswick Housing Authority may provide any financial assistance.
5. A family will not be admitted to the program if any member of the family has been evicted from federally assisted housing for serious violation of the lease within the past 2 years.
6. A family will be denied admission to the program if any member of the family fails to sign and submit consent forms for obtaining information required by the Brunswick Housing Authority, including Form HUD-9886.

The Brunswick Housing Authority will apply the following criteria, in addition to the HUD eligibility criteria, as grounds for denial of admission to the program:

1. The family must not have violated any family obligation during a previous participation in the Section 8 program for 2 years prior to final eligibility determination. Brunswick Housing Authority will make an exception, if the family member who violated the family obligation is not a current member or the household on the application
2. The family must pay an outstanding debt owed the the Brunswick Housing Authority or to any other Public Housing Authority as a result of prior participation in any federal housing program.
3. The family must be in good standing regarding any current payment agreement made with another Public Housing Authority for a previous debt incurred, before the Brunswick Housing Authority will allow participation in its Section 8 Program.
4. Brunswick Housing Authority will check criminal history for all adults in the household to determine whether any member of the family has violated any of the prohibited behaviors as referenced in the section on Screening and Termination Policy in the "Denial or termination of Assistance" Chapter of the Administrative Plan.
5.If any applicant deliberately misrepresents the information on which eligibility or tenant rent is established, Brunswick Housing Authority may deny assistance and may refer the family file/record to the proper authorities for appropriate disposition.

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