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Long Term Rental Assistance Program
Frequently Asked Questions
For People Interested in Applying:
When can I apply for the
LTRA program?
How will I know when the
application period is open?
How do I qualify for the
LTRA program?
What documentations do I
need to submit with my application?
How are applicants
selected for the Waitlist?
How will I know if I am on
the Waitlist or not?
For Current Waitlist Applicants:
How do I find out what
current waitlist number is being served?
How long can I be on the
Waitlist for?
What should I do if I
want to update my address?
For Current Clients:
What is my primary
responsibility in the HOPWA LTRA program?
What should I do if I’m
having problem with my landlord?
What should I do if I
want to move?
How often do I need to
keep in touch with my Housing Specialist?
How often do I need to
recertify?
Am I allowed to have
somebody move in with me?
What
are rights and responsibilities are as a tenant and a client?
For Current Landlords:
How do I list my
property with the HOPWA Program?
What should I do if the
client is not paying their portion of the rent?
What happens if the
tenant’s unit fails an inspection?
What should I do if I
haven’t received the City of Miami’s rental assistance for a particular month?
What if the tenant has
individuals not included on the lease living in the unit?
When can I apply for the
LTRA program?
Applications for the LTRA program are only accepted during the open
application period. The application period is open depending on the number of
vacancies available in the program. This period may vary from year to year.
How will I know when the
application period is open?
Before
opening the application period for the LTRA
program, the City of Miami will hold public
hearings to announce the application dates. The
City will also places ads in the major printed
news media in Miami-Dade County. Also, the City
of Miami will inform all Ryan White Title I Case
Managers and also provide them with applications
for their respective clients. Please check
either in your local newspaper, or with your
Case Manager to determine when to submit your
application for the LTRA Waitlist.
How do I qualify for the
LTRA program?
Applicants must:
be low-income residents of Miami-Dade County;
meet the documentation requirements of
citizenship or immigration status; and, have
received an AIDS diagnosis.
What documentations do I
need to submit with my application?
Applicants must
have their doctors fill out the Medical
Eligibility Verification Form (provided with the
application). The Medical Form must clearly
state that the client has AIDS. Both, the
application and the Medical Eligibility
Verification Form must be submitted together.
How are applicants
selected for the Waitlist?
A random lottery
process will be utilized to select applicants
for placement on the LTRA Waitlist. Only
applications postmarked by the established
deadline date will be placed into the lottery
pool for the random drawing.
How will I know if I
am on
the Waitlist or not?
All applicants,
whether they are on the waitlist or not, will be
informed in writing of the status of their
applications.
How do I find out what
current waitlist number is being served?
The
Waitlist website will be updated periodically. If you want information on the
current applicant being serviced, please click on the link below:
http://www.miamigov.com/communitydevelopment/pages/housing/HopwaLTRA.asp
How long can I be on the
Waitlist for?
There’s no
time limit for applicants to be assigned to agency for intake. As soon as
vacancies become open, the next available applicant on the waitlist will be sent
a letter assigning them to a HOPWA agency for their initial intake.
What should I do if I
want to update my address?
If you have
moved, and need to update your mailing address,
please call or send the information to Ray Louis
at (305) 416-2092 or through email at:
rlouis@miamigov.com
What is my primary
responsibility in the HOPWA LTRA program?
You’re number one responsibility as a LTRA client is to pay your portion of
the rent on time, and to make sure that you maintain your housing unit in good
conditions. Failure to pay your monthly portion of the rent is a Class II
Violation and may lead to program termination. Failure to maintain unit in
good condition will result in a permanent Class II violation. Two subsequent
permanent Class II violations will result in program termination.
What should I do if I’m
having problem with my landlord?
If you have any issues with your landlord, regardless of their nature, you
must contact your Housing Specialist first and fully explain the issue. The
primary role of your Housing Specialist is to act as an advocate on your behalf,
as long as you remain in good standing with the HOPWA program.
What should I do if I
want to move?
If you want to move, you must fill out a Move out Request 90 days prior to
the expiration of your lease. You must locate a unit prior to the expiration
of your lease. If you fail to locate a unit by the expiration of your lease,
you must renew your current lease (unless you can show some extenuating
circumstance which compels you to move).
How often do I need to
keep in touch with my Housing Specialist?
You must maintain monthly contact with your Housing Specialist. If you fail
to contact your Housing Specialist before the end of a given month, this will
result in a Class II violation.
How often do I need to
recertify?
You need
to recertify once a year at the expiration of your current lease. If you are
going to remain in the same unit, you need to get a new lease with your landlord
60 days prior to the expiration of your current lease. If you plan to move, you
must begin the process 90 days prior to the termination of your lease by
submitting a Request to Move form with your Housing Specialist.
Am I allowed to have
somebody move in with me?
Prior
to allowing anyone who is not included on your
executed lease into your unit, you must contact
your Housing Specialist. Your Housing
Specialist will require that you submit
pertinent documentation on the individual in
question and must formally include this
potential household member on the client’s
application. If you allow any individual to
move into your unit without prior authorization
from your Housing Specialist, this will result
in a Class I violation and immediate termination
from the HOPWA LTRA program.
What
are rights and responsibilities are as a tenant and a client?
Every year during your recertification, your Housing Specialist will go over
and provide you a copy of the HOPWA Client Handbook. This book contains all the
points covered here, as well as additional topics and issues. Please take the
time to familiarize yourself with the Handbook and to adhere to all the policies
covered in the book. Remember, at every recertification, you will be required
to sign a document stating that you understand and will abide by all the
policies listed in the HOPWA Client Handbook.
How do I list my
property with the HOPWA Program?
You can list your properties in different ways: You can go to
miamidade.housing.gov and follow the steps for “landlord” on how to list your
property. Or you can either fax the information to Ray Louis at (305) 400-5224
or email at:
rlouis@miamigov.com. Please make sure that include the full address, the
asking price, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and the contact person and phone
number.
What should I do if the
client is not paying their portion of the rent?
If a tenant fails to pay their rent by the designated date in the lease,
please contact the client’s Housing Specialist immediately. You must also
provide proof in writing that the client has not paid their rental portion and
to also specify the month in question. If a client fails to pay their rental
portion, they will receive a program violation and may be subject to termination
from the program.
What happens if the
tenant’s unit fails an inspection?
If the tenant’s unit fails a recertification inspection, a copy of the
inspection will be sent to the landlord and the client highlighting the issues
that need to be addressed. The landlord will also receive a letter from the
agency advising that the inspector will return for a follow up inspection within
30 days of the failed inspection. If the unit fails a second inspection, the
property will go into abatement and the landlord will forfeit the City of
Miami’s rental assistance. The client may also be required to move out of the
unit. Landlords can request an extension to fix the unit after the first failed
inspection. The request must be submitted in writing to the addressed provided
in the inspection form.
What should I do if I
haven’t received the City of Miami’s rental assistance for a particular month?
If you have not received the rental payment within 14 days after the first of
the month in question, you must draft a letter to the tenant’s Housing
Specialist requesting a stop payment and re-issuance of the payment. The
Housing Specialist will forward the letter to the City of Miami’s Finance Dept.
The Finance dept will re-issue payment directly to the address submitted on the
W-9 form.
What if the tenant has
individuals not included on the lease living in the unit?
If you suspect that your tenant has breached a lease by having additional
people living in the unit, you must document this in writing and also provide
independent witnesses (such as neighbors) that will verify and confirm the
violation. If a tenant allows individuals not included on the lease to move
into the unit without prior authorization from their Housing Specialist, they
will be giving a Class I violation and immediately terminated from the HOPWA
program.
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