Pittsburg Housing Authority expecting good review of Section 8 voucher program

PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg Housing Authority is expecting another positive review as it submits annual certification of the housing choice voucher program to the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The Section Eight Management Assessment Program, or SEMAP, requires housing authorities to measure their performance over the year in 14 key areas, including selecting the recipients properly, determining the right rent and inspecting the properties.

This year, the housing authority anticipates another “High Performer” designation after completing the requirements for each section.

Of the indicators, payment standards for the voucher program shows studio apartments going for $1,435 a month, one-bedroom apartments going for $1,723 a month, and two-bedroom apartments going for $2,173 a month.

The Pittsburg Housing Authority does not administer a Family Self-Sufficiency program, which provides incentives to families living in multifamily assisted housing to increase their earned income and reduce dependence on public assistance programs.

The housing authority did not see a bonus for the de-concentration of poverty, which encourages families with children to move to low poverty areas.

The certification will be sent to the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the housing authority expects to receive its certification in within 120 days. Failing to meet SEMAP standards can result in corrective actions and limits on new HUD funding awards.

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