BHA PROJECT WAITLIST PURGE AND DEVELOPMENT CHOICE

This article was e-mailed to the department earlier this month.

The bad news: The Boston Housing Authority (BHA) has given everyone on their waitlist for public housing (i.e., not client-based vouchers) about three weeks (until April 2nd) to reply to a letter asking for their development choices or be purged from their waitlist.

The good news: This purge is part of allowing more choice in waiting lists. Applicants can now choose to be on a waiting list for any or all developments for which they are eligible.

Affected Programs: “ Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) Project Based”, “Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation” and “Section 8 Project Based Certificate” programs.

Unaffected Program: Tenant-based Housing Choice Voucher Program

Process:
1. Letters went out in the days before March 12, 2007 to all applicants on the current waiting list for the affected programs. The letter informs them that they must choose which development(s) the are interested in. Their names will be placed on a waiting list for those developments.

2. The packet contains a “Waiting List Update Response Form” which must be returned by April 2, 2007. Those who fail to return the form will be removed from the waiting list. The packet also includes information about every BHA development in these programs, and a question and answer sheet.

3. In late April the BHA will notify all applicants where they are placed on each of the lists they chose. This notice will also give applicants an opportunity to change their choices before the lists are finalized.

4. In late May BHA expects to send a second and final notice notifying them of their place on each applicable wait list.

If someone on one of these waiting lists did NOT receive a letter please have them immediately call the BHA Status Line at 617-988-4200. Those with questions about their choices may also call this number.

Given the large number of affected people, the short response-time allowed and, unfortunately, the complex wording of the letter, there are likely to be people who are unaware that they are in danger of being removed from the lists. Please keep your eye out for clients who are waiting for Boston “projects” and check-in with them about whether they have responded with their Waiting List Update Response Form.

3/07