Online Rental Application Directions
Dear Applicant: Please read the following steps in applying for a rental unit with the Allegheny County Housing Authority (ACHA):
Read and review the HUD Income Guidelines
Read and review the Grounds for Denial due to Criminal Activity - LIPH Program
Read and review the Policy of Non-discrimination & Accessibility for Individuals with a Disability
Read and review the Debts Owed to Public Housing Agencies and Terminations policy
Read and review the Policy regarding the Violence Against Women Act
Read and review the Policy regarding Background Criminal Investigations and Credit Checks
Read and review the Policy regarding Veterans and Foster Care Preferences
Read and review the Policy regarding Confirmation Numbers
Read and review the Policy regarding Assignment of Bedroom Sizes
You must verify that you have read and reviewed each section by checking the corresponding boxes. Checking all boxes will allow you to continue to the Online Application. Checking the boxes will confirm that each policy has been reviewed and that you understand and agree to the terms set therein.
HUD INCOME GUIDELINES:
Note: Any changes in income, family composition and/or contact information (phone and/or address) MUST be made in writing to the ACHA within 10 days of the change. If you fail to update your contact information within 10 days, you may be removed from the site waiting list and must reapply to be placed on the waiting list again.
Persons with disabilities who require a reasonable accommodation in completing an application may call the Allegheny County Housing to make special arrangements. A Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (TDD) is available for the deaf. The TDD telephone number is 412-402-2671.
All applicants must fall within HUD income guidelines to qualify for Low Income Public Housing. Rent payments are based upon 30% of the adjusted gross income of the applicant. Please contact the site Property Manager if you have any questions regarding these requirements. DORCHESTER of Mt. Lebanon LIPH Units INCOME GUIDELINES as of July 2018 income qualifications are as follows for the number of persons and bedroom size: [subject to increase at leasing date as per PHFA New Rent Structure]
I have read and reviewed the income guidelines to apply for Low Income Public Housing. I also understand that just because my income is within the income guidelines does not make me eligible for any low income public housing. Other factors will determine my eligibility for the program.
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Grounds for Denial due to Criminal Activity - LIPH Program
ACHA Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy – Effective October 1, 2010
8.4 Grounds for denial - the Allegheny County Housing Authority is not required or obligated to assist families where applicants or members of the applicant’s household…..
A. Do not meet any one or more of the eligibility criteria; if one member of the household does not meet the eligibility criteria, the entire household is considered ineligible. The remaining household members may re-apply with a new application and a new date and time.
B. Do not supply information or documentation required by the application process, however, once supplied, the family may reapply for assistance;
C. Have failed to respond to a written request for information or a request to declare their continued interest in the program, however, once supplied, the family may reapply for assistance;
D. Have a history of not meeting financial obligations, especially rent, however, once the family completes the process, they may reapply for assistance; (Please refer to Management Plan for all LIHTC sites regarding credit eligibility);
E. Once management receives landlord verification(s) from current/previous landlords and there is negative response(s), they may be deemed ineligible for the assigned site;
F. Do not have the ability to maintain (with assistance) their housing in a decent and safe condition where such habits could adversely affect the health, safety, or welfare of other tenants;
G. If resident household is responsible for paying utilities and they are not able to put utilities in their name, they will be deemed ineligible for the assigned site;
H. Have a history of criminal activity by any household member involving crimes of physical violence against persons or property and any other criminal activity including drug-related criminal activity that would adversely affect the health, safety, or well-being of other tenants or staff or cause damage to the property. For the purpose of this Policy, if any adult member of the applicant family is currently charged with or has been convicted in the last five (5) [or ten (10)] years of the date of projected admission of any of the following listed offenses, they will be determined to have engaged in criminal activity, drug-related criminal activity or violent criminal activity. While juvenile criminal records will not be routinely monitored, if the Allegheny County Housing Authority becomes aware that a juvenile has committed a non-sex-related crime, it reserves the right to deny admission to that person.
Offenses involving Danger to the Person - 10 year ban:
Drug Offenses - 5 year ban:
Drug Offenses - 10 year ban:
Offenses Against Property - 5 year ban:
Burglary and Other Criminal Intrusion:
Theft and Related Offenses – Felonies Only - 5 year ban:
Other Offenses - 5 year ban:
Additionally, any applicant that is currently charged with or convicted of attempt, conspiracy or solicitation to commit any of the offenses listed in in this Section will be denied admission.
Being a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking is not an appropriate basis for denial of program assistance or for denial of admission, if the applicant otherwise qualifies for assistance or admission. The Authority will require verification in all cases where an applicant claims protection against an action proposed to be taken by the Authority involving such individual. Types of acceptable verifications are outlined in Section 20.2B of the ACOP, and must be submitted within 14 business days after receipt of the Housing Authority’s written request for verification.
I. Currently owes rent or other amounts to any housing authority in connection with their public housing or Section 8 programs and listed on the Debts Owed report in EIV. Denial will be upheld until debt is repaid, once paid the family may reapply for admission. If an applicant was a former Allegheny County Housing Authority resident and was evicted for non-payment of rent, the applicant will be ineligible for a period of twelve months. The twelve month time period will be based on the eviction date of the former resident. After the twelve months have expired and the debt has been paid in full the applicant will be eligible for housing again;
J. Have committed fraud, bribery or any other corruption in connection with any Federal housing assistance program, including the intentional misrepresentation of information related to their housing application or benefits derived there from (family will be denied for three years before they are eligible to reapply for admission);
K. Were evicted from federally assisted housing or terminated from a Housing Choice Voucher Program within the past 5 years for any reason other than the non-payment of rent. The 5-year limit is based on the date of such eviction. If the eviction was for drug related criminal activity, the Allegheny County Housing Authority may admit the household if the PHA determines:
L. Are currently engaging in the illegal use of a controlled substance. For purposes of this section, a member is “currently engaged in” the criminal activity if the person has engaged in this behavior recently enough to justify a reasonable belief that it behavior is current.
M. The Allegheny County Housing Authority determines that it has reasonable cause to believe that a household member’s illegal use or pattern of illegal use of a drug may threaten the health, safety, or right to peaceful enjoyment of the premises by other residents (family will be denied for three years);
N. The Allegheny County Housing Authority determines that it has reasonable cause to believe that a household member’s abuse or pattern of abuse of alcohol may threaten the health, safety, or right to peaceful enjoyment of the premises by other residents (family will be denied for three years);
O. Have engaged in or threatened abusive or violent behavior towards any Allegheny County Housing Authority staff member or resident (denial will be for five years);
P. Denied for Life: If any family member has been convicted of manufacturing or producing methamphetamine;
Q. Fugitive felons, parole violators, and persons fleeing to avoid prosecution or custody or confinement after conviction for a crime, or attempt to commit a crime, that is a felony under the laws of the place from which the individual flees (family will be denied for three years);
R. Murder, Kidnapping and Arson: Have a conviction or is currently charged with Murder, Kidnapping or Arson. Have a conviction or is currently charged with Criminal Attempt, Solicitation, or Conspiracy with regard to the crimes of Murder, Kidnapping or Arson. Denials based upon this section will be for life.
S. Denial for Firearms: A family member is currently charged with or has been convicted in the last five (5) years of violating the Pennsylvania Uniform Firearms Act of 1995.
T. Denial for Individuals Registered as a Sex Offender in Pennsylvania. Any adult or juvenile household member listed as a registered sex offender in Pennsylvania for a sexual offense listed in 42 Pa.C.S.A. §9799.14 will be denied as follows:
U. Denial for Individuals Registered as a Sex Offender in Another State. Any adult or juvenile household member listed as a registered sex offender on the US Department of Justice’s Dru Sjodin National Sex offender website will be denied as follows:
V. Denial for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender When Required. Any adult or juvenile household member who fails to register as a sex offender when required to do so pursuant to any state sex offender statute will be denied admission.
W. Denial for Other Sex Offenders. Admission will be denied to any household member currently charged with or convicted in the last ten (10) years of the projected date of admission of any offense listed as a sexual offense in Pennsylvania Consolidated Statues Annotated, or a conviction in another state of a similar offense.
X. Denial for Sex Offenses Committed Prior to 1995. Any household member convicted of an offense designated as a sexual offense under Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Annotated, or of a sexual offense in another state similar to a Pennsylvania sexual offense, which, if convicted after 1995, would require the individual to register as a sex offender, will be denied as follows:
Y. No household member can be participating in another subsidized or assisted housing program.
Z. New admissions of medical marijuana users are prohibited (this does not include FDA-approved marijuana synthetics). HUD has ruled that federal law preempts state law on this issue. In determining whether to deny admission for illegal use of a drug by a household member who is no longer engaging in such use, or for a current charge or conviction in the last five (5) years for Possession of a Controlled Substance, or for abuse or a pattern of abuse of alcohol by a household member who is no longer engaging in such abuse, the Allegheny County Housing Authority may consider whether such household member:
For this purpose, Allegheny County Housing Authority will require the applicant to submit evidence of the household member’s current participation in, or successful completion of, a supervised drug or alcohol rehabilitation program or evidence of otherwise having been rehabilitated successfully.
Before the Allegheny County Housing Authority denies admission to the Allegheny County Housing Authority’s public housing program on the basis of a criminal record, the Allegheny County Housing Authority must notify the household of the proposed action and must provide the person with the criminal record (i.e. the child) and the applicant (head of household) with a copy of the criminal record and an opportunity to dispute the accuracy and relevance of that record. The applicant will have 10 business days to dispute the accuracy and relevance of the record in writing. If the Allegheny County Housing Authority does not receive the dispute within the allotted time, the applicant will be denied. If an applicant is denied admission due to a current criminal charge that is later dismissed, withdrawn, or where the applicant is found not-guilty; the applicant shall be reinstated to the waiting list as of the date they originally attempted to apply if requested within 90 days of the dismissal, withdrawal, or finding of not guilty.
8.5 Informal Review
A. If the Allegheny County Housing Authority determines that an applicant does not meet the criteria for receiving public housing assistance, the Allegheny County Housing Authority will promptly provide the applicant with written notice of the determination. The notice must contain a brief statement of the reason(s) for the decision and state that the applicant may request in writing an informal review of the decision within 10 business days of the denial. The Allegheny County Housing Authority will describe how to obtain the informal review.
The informal review may be conducted by any person designated by the Allegheny County Housing Authority, other than a person who made or approved the decision under review or subordinate of this person. Typically this will be the Residential Property Manager. The applicant must be given the opportunity to present written or oral objections to the Allegheny County Housing Authority's decision. The Allegheny County Housing Authority must notify the applicant of the final decision within 14 calendar days after the informal review, including a brief statement of the reasons for the final decision.
B. The applicant family may request that the Allegheny County Housing Authority provide for an Informal Hearing after the family has notification of an INS decision on their citizenship status on appeal, or in lieu of request of appeal to the INS. This request must be made by the applicant within 30 calendar days of receipt of the Notice of Denial or Termination of Assistance, or within 30 calendar days of receipt of the INS appeal decision.
For the applicants, the Informal Hearing Process above will be utilized with the exception that the applicant will have up to 30 calendar days of receipt of the Notice of Denial or Termination of Assistance, or of the INS appeal decision.
I have read and reviewed the ACHA Policy regarding Grounds For Denial due to Criminal Activity. I certify that neither myself nor anyone in my family has committed a criminal offense that violates this ACHA Policy.
Policy of Non-discrimination & Accessibility for Individuals with a Disability
During the application process, you will be asked 5 questions specific to requests for accessibility, otherwise known as Reasonable Accommodations.
You will be asked:
The HUD definition of a live-in aide is a person who resides with one or more elderly persons, near-elderly persons or persons with disabilities and who is: (1) determined to be essential to the care and well-being of the persons; (2) is not obligated for the support of the persons; and (3) would not be living in the unit except to provide the necessary supportive services. It should be noted that the definition applies to a specific person. In accordance with this definition, a live-in aide is not a member of the assisted family and does not qualify for continued occupancy as the remaining member of the tenant family.
If you answer “Yes” to any of these questions during the application process, you will receive forms asking you to verify your disability related need for the accommodation including information from a qualified third party verifier (doctor, therapist, social worker, etc), and have 30 days to provide requested information. Please contact Kate Vitek, ADA/504 Coordinator at (412) 402-2474 with any questions or concerns on this section of the Application.
I have read and reviewed the ACHA Policy regarding Non-discrimination & Accessibility for Indivduals with a Disability
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
In order to qualify for the Victims of Domestic Violence Preference and VAWA protections, the Certification of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, or Stalking (known as the “VAWA Certification”), and/or other supportive documentation as identified in the VAWA Certification, must be submitted to the Allegheny County Housing Authority (ACHA) within 14 business days of entering your application. In all cases, it is necessary that you provide sufficient documentation for you to be protected under VAWA and support your request for the Victims of Domestic Violence Preference. If we do not receive your documentation by that time, your Victims of Domestic Violence Preference will be automatically denied, and you will remain on the waiting list according to date and time of your application and any other preference that you might qualify for. All documentation must be acceptable to the ACHA and include appropriate signatures certifying to the accuracy of the information provided.
Get the form here
I have read and reviewed the ACHA Policy regarding the Violence Against Women Act
Background Criminal Investigations and Credit Checks
By completing the application you hereby authorize the Allegheny County Housing Authority to obtain from any person, agency or service, regarding your background and credit report. This may assist in determining whether you have
I have read and reviewed the ACHA Policy regarding Background Criminal Investigations and Credit Checks
Veterans and Foster Care Preference
In order to qualify for the Veterans or Foster care Preference you must submit to the Allegheny County Housing Authority (ACHA) within 14 business days of entering your application any and all supporting documentation. In all cases, it is necessary that you provide sufficient documentation for you to receive the preference. If we do not receive your documentation by that time, your Preference will be automatically denied, and you will remain on the waiting list according to date and time of your application and any other preference that you might qualify for. All documentation must be acceptable to the ACHA and include appropriate signatures certifying to the accuracy of the information provided.
Foster care please contact: Allegheny County CYF 400 N Lexington St., Pittsburgh, PA 15208, Phone: 412-473-2000, (fax ) 412-473-2015
Veterans Administration @ 1000 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Phone: 800-827-1000
I have read and reviewed the ACHA Policy regarding Veterans and Foster Care Preference
DEBTS OWED TO PUBLIC HOUSING AGENCIES AND TERMINATIONS
What information about you and your tenancy does HUD collect from the PHA?
Who will have access to the information collected?
How will this information be used?
How long is the debt owed and termination information maintained in EIV?
What are my rights?
What do I do if I dispute the debt or termination information reported about me?
This Notice was provided by the below-listed PHA:
I have read and reviewed HUD's Policy regarding Debts owed to Public Housing Agencies and Terminations. I understand that a written copy will be provided to me when I attend my eligibility interview. I understand that at that time I, and all adult members of my household, will be required to sign HUD Form OMB No. 2577-0266, which is due to expire 10/31/19.
Confirmation Number Information:
After completing your online application, you will be assigned a confirmation number. You will have the option to print the confirmation number, or have it emailed to the email address you entered during the application process. If you are unable to either print your confirmation number or receive it through email you will receive it through mail to the address you have provided. *If the notice with your confirmation number is not received within 10 business days applicants are to contact the Leasing Administrator.
The confirmation number will act as an access code to view, change or update application information. If you do not have the confirmation code upon request you will NOT receive information. Any Caseworkers, Power of Attorney, Social Worker’s, etc. that request access to their client’s information must provide the applicants social security number, birth date and confirmation number. Note: Any changes in income, family composition and/or contact information (phone and/or address) MUST be made in writing to the ACHA within 10 days of the change. If you fail to update your contact information within 10 days, you may be removed from the site waiting list and must reapply to be placed on the waiting list again.
Lost Confirmation Numbers: Lost confirmation numbers can ONLY be requested through submitting a written letter to the Leasing Administrator. Confirmation numbers will be provided through email or U.S Postal mail upon request. Leasing Administrator 412.402.2641 12th Floor 625 Stanwix Street Pittsburgh Pa, 15222
I have read and reviewed information regarding my confirmation number that I will receive after completing my online application. I understand that without my confirmation number I will be unable to access any of my application information.
ASSIGNMENT OF BEDROOM SIZES
The following guidelines will determine each family’s unit size without overcrowding or over-housing. These standards are based on the assumption that each bedroom will accommodate no more than two (2) persons.
In determining bedroom size, the Allegheny County Housing Authority will include the presence of children to be born to a pregnant woman, children who are in the process of being adopted, children whose custody is being obtained, children currently under a 50% or more joint custody decree, children who are temporarily away at school, or children who are temporarily in foster-care.
In addition, the following considerations may be taken in determining bedroom size:
Exceptions to normal bedroom size standards include the following:
I have read and reviewed the ACHA policy regarding the assignment of bedroom sizes.