IMPORTANT
APPLICANT INFORMATION
PLEASE
READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION CAREFULLY. IT WILL HELP YOU UNDERSTAND OUR
APPLICATION PROCESS.
You have an interest
in applying for housing with Oxford Housing Authority. Remember, YOU MUST BE 21 YEARS OF AGE OR
OLDER IN ORDER FOR THE HOUSING AUTHORITY TO LEASE TO YOU. MEMBERS OF THE SAME HOUSEHOLD MUST BE RELATED
BY BLOOD, MARRIAGE, OR LEGAL GUARDIANSHIP.
BOYFRIEND(s) AND/OR GIRLFRIEND(s) MAY NOT LIVE WITH
YOU. IF THEY DO, THEY WILL CAUSE YOU TO
BE EVICTED. If you plan to put children
on your application who are not yours, you must show legal custody papers when
you apply. You must come by the offices of Oxford
Housing Authority in order to pick up forms and other instructions which must
be completed BEFORE you
actually make an appointment to complete your application.
Getting housing with
Oxford Housing Authority is a slow process. How quickly or how badly you
need housing does NOT help the process go any faster.
Many people have the
wrong idea about public housing. Public
housing IS NOT
! Emergency housing - if
you need emergency housing, we cannot help you.
! Guaranteed - your application will be
given every consideration under HUD regulations and Housing Authority Policies;
however, things like a history of criminal behavior, failure to pay debts,
prior evictions, unwillingness to be a good neighbor, lack of cleanliness,
inability to maintain a residence are all factors which may negatively affect
your application.
Ž Student housing, but is multifamily
housing. Students who are housed must understand that the OHA and
Public housing IS
! A safe, low-income family oriented rental
assistance program that provides a stable, safe, affordable and secure home
environment to the residents. Rent is
based upon the entire family's income, regardless of how many bedrooms you
need.
You should understand
that
! The information you give on your
application will be investigated.
! Providing false, misleading, or
fraudulent information is against State and Federal law which can result in
criminal prosecution for the offender(s) and the Auttering
or otherwise providing false information about family income and size, using an
alias on the application for housing, or making any other material false
statement or omission intended to mislead@
will result in your being rejected for housing.
! As a part of screening your application
to determine your suitability for public housing occupancy, the
Authority will conduct a credit history screening on your household through the
Memphis Consumer Credit Association to determine if you have bad debts,
garnishments against your wages, bankruptcy and other credit factors that may
adversely affect your ability to be housed.
An evaluation
of your eligibility will be made at
the time of application to determine if your household income meets the Income
Limit criteria for your family size.
! If you are handicapped and require any
type of reasonable accommodations, please be sure and tell the person taking
your application.
! All persons that you want to be members
of your household have to abide by Housing Authority rules, policies and lease
requirements. Each person over the age
of 18 will be subjected to the same background check as the head of household
and spouse, if applicable. Persons
unwilling to submit to a background check will be rejected for housing.
! Any member of your household who violates
these rules can cause you and the rest of your family to be evicted.
! Criminal behavior of any nature will not
be tolerated and will result in eviction of the entire family and prosecution
of the person(s) responsible.
! THE PRESIDENT=S AONE-STRIKE-YOU=RE-OUT@
POLICY GRANTS PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITIES BROAD DISCRETIONARY POWERS IN
SCREENING OUT INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHOSE PAST
BEHAVIOR WOULD INDICATE THEY ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR PUBLIC HOUSING OCCUPANCY.
! Monthly rent is based upon TOTAL
HOUSEHOLD INCOME. OHA has a minimum
rent of $50.00 per month. As your
household income increases, your share of the rent will increase up to a
maximum value, called a ceiling rent, for your bedroom size.
! Failure to pay rent will result in
eviction.
Every member of your
household MUST have a valid Social Security Card
AND you must have them in your possession when you come to apply. Each completed application will be evaluated
according to local preference rules.
Your family apartment size needs will be assessed based upon the
information you provide.
After the application
is completed in the interview during the Tuesday appointment, the application
will be submitted for background check in accordance with approved policy and
regulation. When the background check is completed, a determination will
be made about eligibility and suitability for housing. Eligibility is
based upon declared and verified income statements. Suitability is based
upon the results of the criminal and credit background checks. When the
application is returned from background check, you will get a letter advising
you of your eligibility and suitability for housing, and the date by which we
think we can assist you with housing or you will get a letter telling
you of your ineligibility and the reason(s) for your ineligibility. Remember, we have already told you that our
housing process is slow. We cannot
tell you when we can house you because we do not know when our families who
live here may move out and create a vacancy.
PLEASE DO NOT CALL US ON THE TELEPHONE TO CHECK ON YOUR WAITING LIST
STATUS!!! Rest assured, when your
name rises to the top of the list of waiting applicants, we will get in touch
with you at the last address you gave us.
If you move, or if something else changes in your life that changes any
of the information you gave us on your application, it is YOUR
RESPONSIBILITY TO NOTIFY THE AUTHORITY OF ANY SUCH CHANGES WITHIN 10 CALENDAR
DAYS OF THE CHANGE. Failure to
do so will negatively affect your application and our ability to offer you a
unit when and if it becomes available.
Housing assignments are made by the Authority based upon which
development has the most vacancies for your apartment size. You do not get
to pick your apartment or development location. When your name rises to the
top of the waiting list, and when an apartment that fits your needs becomes
available, we will offer that apartment to you.
If you do not accept the offer, your application will automatically be
placed at the bottom of the waiting list.
If you choose to accept the offer, then you must be prepared to pay:
! The first month's rent, which is
calculated based upon your family income;
! An apartment security deposit, currently
in the amount of $125.00 for OHA or Total Tenant Payment for
! An Oxford Electric Department security
deposit of $185.00;
! An Entex gas security
deposit of $75.00.
YOU WILL BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYMENT OF SOME OR ALL OF YOUR OWN UTILITIES DEPENDING ON WHERE
YOU ARE HOUSED. You must arrange and
pay for your entire telephone bill (if you get one) and cable t.v. bill (if you get it), and any other bills you incur,
as well as your regular monthly rent.
The Authority does not provide telephone or cable service as part of the
rental agreement, although we do have hook-ups in all of the apartments.
Your rent will be
determined based upon your entire family's income, including, but not limited
to, wages, TANF, child support, interest income, retirement pay, disability
pay, SSI, and/or Social Security, as well as any assets of value you or your
family may possess. OHA has a minimum rent of $50.00 per month.
There are three (3)
Public Housing Police Substations: one
at C. B. Webb, one at
Should you be housed
in one of the Authority=s
complexes, you must pay your rent on time every month. Rent is due and
payable the first calendar day of each month.
If your rent is not paid by the 10th calendar day of the month, OHA will
charge you a $10.00 late charge. You
must pay your rent in cash, by cashier=s
check or money order. Personal checks, two-party checks or other methods of
payment will not be accepted. We do not
accept partial rent payments.