Housing Assistance and Fair Housing

Question 1

Housing Choice Voucher Program

Answer 1

Commonly Referred to as Section 8, the federal government’s major program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market.

Question 2

How are Housing Choice Vouchers Administered?

Answer 2

Administered locally by public housing agencies, or PHA’s, which receive federal funds from HUD for program administration.

Question 3

Target Audience for Housing Choice Voucher

Answer 3

Very low-income families, the elderly, and disabled.

Question 4

Purpose of the Housing Choice Voucher Program

Answer 4

Assist program participants to obtain decent, safe, and sanitary housing in a private market.

Question 5

How is Subsidy Paid in the Housing Choice Voucher Program?

Answer 5

To the landlord directly by the PHA on behalf of the participating family. The family then pays the difference between the actual rent and amount subsidized.

Question 6

Responsibilities of Housing Choice Voucher Participants

Answer 6

Applying for the program and finding a suitable housing unit of the family’s choice.

Question 7

Landlord Responsibility of Housing Choice Voucher Programs

Answer 7

Provide decent, safe, and sanitary housing that passes and maintains program standards and offers reasonable rental rate.

Question 8

Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH)

Answer 8

Program to end veteran homelessness, the VA and HUD work together to provide housing choice vouchers, case management and outreach.

Question 9

Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA)

Answer 9

HUD mades grants to local communities, states, and nonprofit orgs for projects that benefit low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families. This program assists with housing needs of people living with HIV/AIDS.

Question 10

Fair Housing Act

Answer 10

Discrimination based on race, color, religion, nat’l origin, sex, disability, or familial status, is unlawful.

Question 11

Civil Rights Act of 1866

Answer 11

Granted all American citizens (except Native Americans) full and equal rights. For the first time, all citizens held the same rights to use, purchase, lease, and transfer real estate and properties.

Question 12

Plessy v Ferguson (1896)

Answer 12

Supreme court case, “separate but equal” practices were made legal.

Question 13

Redlining (1933)

Answer 13

Congress created the Home Owner’s Loan Corporation, or HOLC, as an effort to avoid mass foreclosure during the Great Depression. They created residential security maps to show which areas of a city were considered safe or risky for investment.

Question 14

Shelley v Kraemer (1948)

Answer 14

Discriminatory deed restrictions and covenants were deemed illegal and unenforceable.

Question 15

Brown v Board of Education (1954)

Answer 15

The Supreme Court decision based on Brown v. Board of education overturned the separate but equal policy.

Question 16

Executive Order 11063

Answer 16

President JFK signed an order that prohibited discrimination in the sale, leasing, rental, or other disposition.

Question 17

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Answer 17

Prohibited discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in programs and activities that receive federal funding.

Question 18

Civil Rights Act of 1968

Answer 18

In response to the assassination of Dr. MLK Jr., congress passed this act. Title VIII of the Act, commonly called Fair Housing Act, prohibited discrimination in housing sales, rentals, and financing based on race, color national origin, and religion.

Question 19

Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968

Answer 19

Established Ginnie Mae, with the aim of expanding the availability of government secured home loans to moderate income families.

Question 20

Amendments to Fair Housing Act

Answer 20

1974 amendment expanded the law to include sex, and the 1988 amendment further expanded the law to include disability and familial status.

Question 21

Who can you submit a Fair Housing Complaint to?

Answer 21

US Department of Housing and Urban Development, Nonprofit Fair Housing Organization, State or Local Fair Housing Agency

Question 22

What are the steps of submitting a Fair Housing complaint?

Answer 22

Filing, Intake, Pre-Determination Conciliation, Investigation

Question 23

3 Actions to Further Affirm Fair Housing:

Answer 23

1: Research rules for all types of programs. 2: Participate in metropolitan-wide area fair housing planning to address issues. 3: Conduct marketing and outreach.