Rock Springs Housing Authority receives perfect score from Federal Government

Rock Springs Housing Authority receives perfect score from Federal Government

ROCK SPRINGS – Whether it’s at school or in the business world, getting 100 percent, or a perfect score,  is a very big challenge. But how about getting it from the federal government?

Recently, the Rock Springs Housing Authority received a perfect score and, believe it or not, it’s not the first time.

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The perfect score came in the Section Eight Management Assessment Program or SEMAP, which measures the performance of the public housing agencies that administer the housing choice voucher program in 14 key areas. SEMAP will help HUD target monitoring and assistance to the housing agencies programs that need the most improvement.

The 14 indicators or performance show whether agencies help eligible families to afford decent rental units at a reasonable subsidy cost as intended by Federal housing legislation.

The 14 key areas are:

  • Proper selection of applicants from the housing choice vouchers waiting list.
  • Sound determination of reasonable rent for each unit leased.
  • Establishment of payment standards within the required range of the HUD fair market rent.
  • Accurate verification of family income.
  • Timely annual reexaminations of family income.
  • Correct calculation of the tenant share of the rent and the housing assistance payment.
  • Maintenance of the current schedule of allowances for tenant utility costs.
  • Ensure units comply with the housing quality standards before families enter into leases and agencies enter into housing assistance contracts.
  • Timely annual housing quality inspections.
  • Performing of quality control inspections to ensure housing quality.
  • Ensure that landlords and tenants promptly correct housing quality deficiencies.
  • Ensure that all available housing choice vouchers are used.
  • Expand housing choice outside areas of poverty or minority concentration.
  • Enroll families in the family self-sufficiency program as required and help family self-sufficiency families achieve increases in employment income.

The Rock Springs Housing Authority scored perfectly in all 14 areas, but as Authority Director April Thompson explained, the federal government, and many targets, change at mid-year. Not only do they try to hit a moving target but, as we all have seen the past few years, with fewer resources and money.

“We do what we can with what we are given,” Thompson said.

Thompson gave a lot of credit to her Housing Tech Holly Portillo, who handles the authority’s 52 housing vouchers and the 100 units they lease. This was not the first time the department has received a perfect score. Thompson said it is not an easy thing to do by any means. Portillo agreed, saying “It still feels great.”

The ladies explained they enjoy helping families. The housing authority provides 100 units, but applicants can live in another apartment complex as long as it meets the authority requirements. They also provide assistance to veterans.

Any family or resident who would like to look at this option should go to the Rock Springs Housing Authority Office at 233 C St. right next to Rock Springs City Hall. Residents can get applications and start the process from there. There is currently a waiting list of approximately one year. Portillo and Thompson recommended potential applicants act as soon as possible.