6125 PREFERENCES FOR PLACEMENT ELIGIBILITY FOR HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM APPLICANTS

6125.1 The waiting list guidelines for admission to the HCVP are found at § 6103 and are incorporated into the Administrative Plan by reference.

6125.2 Applicants eligible for preferences shall be selected from the waiting lists in order of priority as set forth below:

(a) Substandard Housing. The substandard preference is divided into three major ranking factors and is implemented in the following priority order:

(1) Homeless, as explained in § 6125.3;

(2) Applicants residing in units that have been declared unfit for habitation or which contain one or more Housing Quality Standard or local housing code violations as explained in § 6125.3; and

(b) Involuntarily Displaced, as explained at § 6125.5 through § 6125.8; and

(c) Rent Burdened, as explained at § 6125.9; and

(d) Disabled families as defined in § 5999.

6125.3 DCHA shall give highest placement priority on the waiting list to Homeless applicant families as defined by D.C. Official Code § 4-751.01 (2008 Repl. & 2011 Supp.) who can demonstrate that they no longer have a place to live or are in jeopardy of losing their residence. The following types of documentation are acceptable to support the status of the Family as homeless:

(a) Documentation from a social worker, police officer, shelter, or other qualified source showing that the applicant's primary nighttime residence is a public or private shelter, street, condemned building, or other place not fit for habitation;

(b) Documentation showing residency in a temporary residence facility which may include a nursing home, hospital, or mental health facility;

(c) Documentation of residency in a transitional housing facility, showing residence is for no more than twenty-four (24) months;

(d) Documentation from a social worker, police officer, shelter, or other qualified source, that the applicant Family is considered to be chronically homeless based upon four (4) incidences as described above in the one (1) year period preceding the date of application; or

1. (e) Documentation that the applicant Family is living with another household or in another living situation that is tenuous and where the applicant Family has no legal right to occupy the unit, for example, where the right to remain has been revoked by lawful tenant or could be revoked at any time.
2. 6125.4 DCHA shall give placement priority to applicant families who currently reside in substandard housing and units declared unfit for habitation provided the applicant Family can provide inspection records from the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs or other qualified person or agency.
3. 6125.5 DCHA shall give placement priority to an applicant Family who is involuntarily displaced due to a disaster. The applicant Family shall provide documentation from a qualified person or agency regarding the disaster and the unit conditions.
4. 6125.6 DCHA shall give placement priority to an applicant Family who is involuntarily displaced due to federal, state, or local government action related to code enforcement or public improvement. The applicant Family shall provide documentation from the listed agency taking the relevant action.
5. 6125.7 DCHA shall give placement priority to an applicant Family who is involuntarily displaced due to action by an owner or landlord beyond the Family's control. The applicant Family shall provide the notice from the landlord or owner on actions or notice to vacate said property. Examples include:
6. (a) Foreclosure documents;
7. (b) Notice to Vacate with the reason for the action; and
8. (c) Eviction Notice with the reason for the action.
9. 6125.8 DCHA shall give placement priority to an applicant Family who is involuntarily displaced due to Domestic Violence. The applicant Family shall provide documentation from a social worker, police officer, shelter, or other qualified source regarding the incident or incidences of domestic violence and current housing arrangements for the applicant Family.
10. 6125.9 DCHA shall give placement priority to an applicant Family who is claiming that its current rent is creating a financial burden. The applicant Family shall provide DCHA with its current lease agreement, current utilities paid by the applicant Family and a financial affidavit of current income.
11. 6125.10 Permanent Supportive Housing- HCVP Applicants are included under this preference if an applicant is referred to DCHA by an agency of the District of Columbia government as an individual or family in need of permanent supportive

housing for chronically homeless individuals and families with histories of homelessness. Up to 447 vouchers are authorized for this purpose. 26 of the 447 vouchers allocated to this permanent supportive housing limited local preference were reallocated from the condemnation voucher preference set forth in Section 7604.4(b), Chapter 76 of Title 14. To the extent any of such 26 vouchers are not issued and actually used by an applicant for housing under this permanent supportive housing limited local preference by January 31, 2013, any of such unused vouchers shall be reallocated to the condemnation voucher limited local preference under Section 7604.4(b).

6125.11 Long Term Care Housing – HCVP Applicants are included under this preference if an applicant is referred to DCHA by an agency of the District of Columbia government as a person in need of housing with added wrap-around health care and in-home and community based services. The applicants are either people with disabilities or the elderly who desire to maintain their independent living. Up to 65 vouchers are authorized for this purpose.

SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 59 DCR 7963, 7964 (June 29, 2012).