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A community conversation about housing affordability and community development issues sponsored by the Durham Housing Authority. Usual blogging rules apply ... please be respectful of other contributors at all times. DHA reserves the right to remove any offensive material without notice.
9 comments:
Customer service has improved. However, I would really like to know the answer to this question.
Where I live now, if a Section 8 tenant leaves a landlord owing rent or without paying for damage, he or she is removed from the program until the issue is resolved and the affected landlord signs to the effect. The tenant can move but they will no longer receive Section 8 funding.
Needless to say, this makes hesitant landlords more willing to give Section 8 tenants a try. It is a win-win situation.
Does Durham follow these same guidelines? If not, what is done about tenants who skip owing or after causing much damage?
Thank You
Thanks for your question.
Landlords are responsible for lease enforcement, of course, but when a tenant has done property damage that's not covered by the security deposit (something much more than carpet stains or a wall that needs a patch) then, yes, the Housing Authority wants to know and it would certainly affect eligibility. Naturally, it's better for all involved to have no surprises as the lease closes out, so we want to encourage landlords to attentively manage their property or hire qualified proerty managers to do so.
Why is it talking so-long for the section-8 program,to COME BACK.It's people out here that really need It.And it taking forever to adminstrate It.
I am a new landlord to the section 8 program and must say this is the worst ran gov't organization I've ever dealt with. Why? I'm still waiting for rents for JULY and AUGUST for 1 tenant I have. Cutomer service is not worth a crap. I have left phone messages for Angela Gerald and Brian Saunders in July that have still not been returned. Only way I get them is to catch them at their desk. I was told by Angela that late fee's would be included in payments...Brian says they do not pay late fee's. First time I finally caught Brian he assured me someone would be in touch the next day. Never happened.I'm still not in system to be paid as of August 15 according to tenant's case worker but now Vanessa Dunn says I am. Ms. Dunn also says no late fee's were approved by Brian even though rent for July is 45 DAYS Late!!!
My advice to any landlord out there is DON'T BELIEVE ANYTHING YOUR TOLD BY THIS AGENCY and don't deal with them. Let the section 8 people find a bridge to sleep under and when the city and or Federal governments figure out what's happening, maybe someone with some accountability will make changes.
PS: I grew up in Durham and know the problems this dept has had over the decades. I should have known better than try to work w/ them. Well, you can bet that no more of my 5 rental units in Durham will be allowing section 8 applications unless this place can get their storylines straight.
Yea, me again. Realized during my earlier rant that I never got to my question. I see from earlier blog postings in Feb & March of this year (stupid me, should have read this whole area before renting section 8) that DHA spokesperson indicated late fee's would be paid out accordingly. My question is what is appeal process when Bryant Saunders does not approve a landlords request for a late fee payment on 45 day and 15 day (as of 8/15/08) past due rent payments? So far, the only reason he has given me in the 1 phone conversation that I was lucky enough to be blessed with having with the Bossman was "we don't pay late fees". Now that I see what I see in the past blogs, has something changed? Is he not up to speed w/ DHA procedures? Is my head about to blow off my neck from the frustrations of trying to help disabled/low income people live in decent housing in decent neighborhoods like the Hillandale road/Watts hospital area? I'm glad I moved out of town in the early 90's.
How does a landlord submit payment for and appeal decisions on late fee's? I've had a July payment received 45 DAYS late and a AUGUST payment received 15 DAYS late. My lease calls for rents to be paid by the 10th of any given month.
As I drove to my daughter's school this morning in the rain, I noticed as we passed Oxford Commons that those school children were standing outside in the remnants of Fay with NO covered bus stop, huddling under a tree, with no umbrella. It's bad enough that these families have to live in Oxford Commons, but since I am a taxpayer, is it too much to ask that they have a covered bus stop? Those children are going to be soaked to the bone by the time their bus gets there. I have no affiliation with Oxford Commons, other than paying my taxes, but can we please have a covered bus stop added for those children whose bus picks them up on Danube Road?
I've just learned that my mentee's summer and afterschool program through Durham Parks and Recreation is being closed at the Club Blvd Community Center as of Friday 8/14/09. The DPR staff told the kids it was a DHA decision. What is behind this decision, and what was the process?
From our Resident Services Director:
It was not DHA decision to end the Park Rec after school program. The decision was made by the City of Durham Park and Rec Department due to budget cuts. But DHA is stepping in to put a 21st Century after school, so that the youth will continue to have a program.
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