STRATFORD APARTMENTS TENANT SELECTION POLICY

The Stratford Apartments is a Veterans Housing complex located at 1312 Hemlock St. Longview WA 98632 owned and operated by Longview Housing Authority.

  1. APPLICATIONS
  1. All applicants must fill out a pre-application to be placed on the waiting list. Applicants are place on the waiting list based on time and date that the application was received at the Housing Authority. Applications may be picked up in person, downloaded from the LHA website or requested to be mailed. No applications from other sources will be considered.
  1. The application packet contains:

1.  Pre-Application for Project Based Assistance

2.  Tenant selection policy

  1. All applicants over the age of 18 must provide valid photo identification (photo ID), verification of Social Security number, and completed application.

1.  To be considered valid the photo ID must be current and issued by a Federal or State agency of the United States of America. Identification cards issued by a foreign government cannot be used for identification purposes.

  1. AN INCOMPLETE OR INACCURATE APPLICATION WILL BE REJECTED.
  1. Denied applicants will be notified in writing. Denied applicants have the right to appeal the denial within 14 days.
  1. APPLICANT SCREENING CRITERIA
  1. ALL APPLICANTS MUST BE A VETERAN.
  1. INCOME QUALIFICATIONS

1.  All applicants must income-qualify for the Project Based Rental Assistance.

  1. REFERRALS

1.  Applicants must pass through the Veterans Integration Program screening, then the application will be sent to the property manager.

  1. CREDIT

1.  If derogatory information is reported applicant must be willing to accept services provided by the case manager to explore what action and / or effort can be made to address past behavior and history.

a)  Derogatory information includes but is not limited to: past due accounts; accounts placed for collection; profit and loss write offs; multiple bankruptcies.

2.  Monies owed to another Housing Authority may be cause for denial unless payment arrangements are made prior to housing at the Stratford.

  1. CRIMINAL HISTORY

1.  Reasons for an applicant may to be denied based on criminal background may include but are not limited to:

a)  Convicted of a felonious or violent crime.

b)  Convicted of drug related offense, excluding DUI or DWI

c)  Convicted of a sex based crime

d)  Convicted of the manufacture, distribution or use of controlled substance.

  1. PROIOR RENTAL HISTORY

1.  If the applicant is homeless, the Verification and Certification of Homelessness must be completed.

2.  The applicant should provide at least one year of rental history. (Family/relative references will be included as acceptable rental history). Previous rental references will be verified.

  1. CONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE

1.  If applicant cannot meet all of the above criteria, a co-signer or last months rent deposit may be required. A co-signer must fill out an application and be approved. The qualified co-signer must reside within a 100 mile radius of the property. The co-signer must have a verifiable income and make twice the rental amount. The co-signer is required to sign agreement and all rental paperwork at or before move-in.

  1. REASONS FOR DENIAL

1.  Lack of information provided by the applicant.

2.  Falsification of information on any part of the application.

3.  Applicant is clearly under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

4.  History of violence; convicted of hate crimes.

5.  Conviction of child abuse as a perpetrator or physical or sexual abuse of a minor.

6.  Demonstrated inability to live in a diverse community.

7.  Applicant is a registered sex offender.

8.  Being convicted of a crime that would put the community and its residents at risk.

9.  Over income.

10.  Outstanding debt owed to another Housing Authority.

  1. OCCUAPNACY STANDARDS
  1. An occupancy standard of a maximum of two (2) persons per apartment has been established.
  1. TRANSFER POLICY
  1. There will be a transfer waiting list held by management. “Reasonable accommodations” transfer requests will be given priority.
  1. Only tenants in good standing and who have completed the initial one year lease term will be considered for a unit transfer.
  1. An inspection of the unit will be completed before a tenant will be placed on the transfer list.
  1. Excessive damage to an existing unit will be grounds for denial of a unit transfer until the unit is repaired to satisfactory condition. These repairs will be at the tenant’s expense.
  1. In a unit transfer, the initial move in deposit will not transfer with the unit. The following steps will be completed in order, once the transfer is approved:

1.  The tenant will complete the transfer certification.

2.  A new deposit will be established for the new unit.

3.  The tenant must pay the new deposit in full.

4.  The transfer is to be completed in a time frame agreed to by management.

5.  The unit, once vacated, will be inspected.

6.  The deposit, minus any non-normal wear and tear damage and cleaning charges, will be refunded to the tenant.

  1. FAIR HOUSING, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, AND NONDISCRIMINATION
  1. It is our intent to comply with all legislation governing Civil Rights (Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968) Executive Orders, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, and any other legislation currently or in the future that protects the individual rights of tenants, applicants and staff.
  1. The Longview Housing Authority does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or physical or mental disability.
  1. In accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Longview Housing Authority will make appropriate reasonable accommodation for those applicants and / or residents with handicaps or disabilities.
  1. PRIVACY POLICY
  1. This complex adheres to the Federal Privacy Act of 1974 and intends to adhere to any future legislation.
  2. No information in our possession will be released without the written consent of the applicant or the tenant.
  3. Any information dealing with a handicap or disability will be considered private and treated confidentially.