RAD
The process of reviewing a households income, assets, and composition on an annual or triennial basis.
Recertification
Commonly referred to as ‘Section 8’ The federal government’s major program for assisting very low-income families to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market
Housing Choice Voucher
HCV
Providing flexible and continued rent subsidy to expand housing access to households with extremely and very low income Created out of approved measure passed in May of 2020 to authorize a regional tax to fund the Supportive Housing Services Program (SHS) Subject to renewal in 2030 pending voter approval No set program term limit unless fails to renew
Regional Long-Term Rental Assistance
RLRA
Housing assistance that is tied to a specific unit in a specific building. If participants move out, the assistance stays with the unit
Project Based Voucher
PBV
An inspection team is asked to an inspect a unit for the first time.
Initial Inspection
The primary system that stores all participant files, sends information to HUD, and activates payments to our Landlords.
Yardi
Digital portal through which participants can submit their recertification paperwork
Rent Cafe
A local information technology system used to collect client-level data and data on the provision of housing and services to individuals and families at risk of and experiencing homelessness. Used by providers to track client data across homeless services
Homeless Management Information System
HMIS
Created to provide housing opportunities for a specific population Participants must be between the ages of 18 and 62 Participants must be considered disabled
Mainstream Voucher
MS5
An inspection of the unit on a annual/biannual basis
Annual Inspection
The process by which a voucher team assess an application for a voucher program.
Eligibility / Intake
‘Government-owned’ housing the provides affordable housing options through federal assistance Established by The United States Housing Act of 1937
Public Housing
PH
Participants must be homeless and “justice-involved” at time of referral Partnership with New Narrative to provide peer mentorship, general housing support services, employment, mental health and substance treatment, and life skills 24 month term limit
Reentry
Combines typical voucher services with case management and clinical services provided by the VA to assist homeless or at risk Veterans Can receive specialized PBV placement in some buildings Referral based program
Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing
VASH
The metric all units must pass to ensure the rent charged is equal to or generally matching the rents charged for other units in the area
Rent Reasonableness
An action triggered by a change such as a loss/gain of income or a contract rent increase that affects the tenant rent or HAP payment
Interim
The process through which the family can transfer their rental assistance when they plan to move to a location outside the jurisdiction of the PHA that first gave them their voucher when they were selected for the program.
Portability
Participants must be homeless or chronically homeless Partnership with multiple providers such as Community Action, Cascade AIDS Project, Housing Independence, Lifeworks NW, New Narrative, Open Door Counseling, and Sequoia Mental Health Providers work with families to develop integrated clientspecific service and income supports to achieve housing stability, independence, and self-sufficiency
Shelter Plus Care
SPC
Voluntary program for households on rental assistance wanting to experience greater economic independence Provides intensive coaching to identify and progress towards self-sufficiency goals in partnership with local community organizations and utilizing local resources and supportive services Qualify for HUD-funded escrow funding when earned income of the household increases during program participation
Family Self-Sufficiency
FSS
These inspections occur when a major function of a participant’s unit is in disrepair and the Landlord has failed to make corrections The team will inspect only the deficiencies originally reported, but will also record and observe any other deficiencies that will require repairs A unit may lapse into ‘abatement’ if required repairs are not completed in a timely manner
Special Inspections
Smartsheet
A study we are doing with HUD to determine a new method of rent calculation. Participants only complete a recertification every 3 years and keep all new income in between recertifications
Tiered Rent
Low barrier rent payment program 2-year term limit Partnership with multiple providers such as Bienestar, Easter Seals, IRCO, Urban League, Community Action, Family Promise, New Narrative, and more Provider maintains file and reports subsidy need including requested amount Renews as needed every 90 days
Enhanced Rapid Rehousing
Provides rental assistance and wrap-around support to qualified youth formerly in foster care or aging out of the system and at risk of homelessness Must be between the ages of 18 and 24 Joint collaboration between local housing authorities, public child welfare agencies, and homeless prevention organizations
Foster Youth to Independence
FYI
National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate - A standard set to keep properties in compliance by accurately assessing the condition of a unit, implementing streamlined inspection processes, and prioritizing the health and safety of residents.
NSPIRE