Month: August 2022

In the midst of a global pandemic, Ms. Abby Strong remained focused and never missed a step on her chosen path. In 2020, the Johnstown Housing Authority sponsored Abby’s scholarship application, which was selected by PAHRA as First Place winner of our $3,000 L. DeWitt Boosel Memorial Scholarship Award.
Ms. Strong’s application was forwarded by PAHRA to MARC NAHRO, where she was chosen as recipient of their regional scholarship. She then advanced to competition at the national level, and was selected as a 2020 NAHRO Merit and NAHRO LDG Scholar, which provides a $12,000 scholarship distributed over four years, as well as a $3,000 per year summer internship stipend for up to three years.
Fast forward to 2022, as Abby continues on her journey to what’s certain to be a very bright future. She is featured in this month’s issue of the Journal of Housing & Community Development (JOHCD), where a Student Spotlight article chronicles her progress. She is on track to graduate with her nursing degree this December, accomplishing that goal in just 2-1/2 years.
In the article, Abby encourages others to “Take every opportunity you have for help, and never give up on your goals.” The JOHCD report concludes that Abby “hopes to work in psychiatric nursing following graduation. Helping others and giving back to the community remains her top priority.”
Click here to read the entire JOHCD Student Spotlight.
It should be noted that achievement apparently runs in the family. Following in her sister’s footsteps, Abby’s younger sibling, Whitney Strong, was selected as PAHRA’s First Place recipient of the L. DeWitt Boosel Memorial Scholarship in 2021. We wish these “Strong” young ladies continued success!

MCKEESPORT CITY HOUSING AUTHORITY
Section 8 Coordinator
Vacancy

POSTING DATE: July 25, 2022 CLOSING DATE: August 25, 2022
___________________

THE PROVISIONS OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
DO NOT APPLY IN THE FILLING OF THIS POSITION

VACANCY: Job Title: Section 8 Coordinator
Class: L0580
Annual Salary Range: $50,000 – $60,000
Location: McKeesport, Pennsylvania
Type Employment: Full-Time, Regular Complement
Work Hours: 8:30AM – 4:30PM

DUTIES: See Position Description Below

RECRUITMENT METHOD(S):

Applicants must meet one (or more) of the following methods(s) to be considered for this vacancy:

• Contracted Employee
• Civil Service List
• Promotion Without Examination
• Transfer
• Reassignment
• Voluntary Demotion
• Reinstatement

ELIGIBILITY:

1. Meet the minimum experience and training required for the job: three (3) years of experience in supervising or performing tasks associated with the management of multi-family residential subsidized or affordable housing communities, property owned, or programs administered by a public housing authority or comparable (low-income) property management agency; or one (1) year as an Assistant Property Manager or Assistant Section 8 Coordinator; or two (2) years as a Management Aide.
2. Be a resident of Pennsylvania.
3. To be considered for promotion without examination, applicants must have or have had regular civil service status in one of the next lower classifications, as follows: Assistant Property Manager, Assistant Section 8 Coordinator, Management Aide.

SELECTION CRITERIA FOR PROMOTION WITHOUT EXAMINATION:

1. Meritorious Service will be defined as: (a) the absence of any discipline above the level of a written reprimand during the 12 months preceding the closing date of the posting, and (b) the last due overall regular or probationary performance evaluation was higher than “unsatisfactory” or “fails to meet standards”.
2. Seniority will be defined as a minimum of one year in the next lower class by the closing date of the posting.

HOW TO APPLY:

Please e-mail a resume to: McKeesport Housing Authority
Attn: Steve Bucklew
sbucklew@mckha.org

To obtain additional information, call (412) 673-3604

Section 8 Coordinator Job Description

The Section 8 Coordinator is responsible for administering the Housing Choice Voucher, Mod Rehab SRO, and other Section 8 related programs in accordance with the regulations established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The specific administration duties include:

• Supervise the staff of the Section 8 Department.
• Ensure qualified applicants for housing assistance meet the income and other program guidelines.
• Review all ‘Requests for Tenancy Approval’ for accuracy and negotiate contract rents with landlords if necessary.
• Determine and document Rent Reasonableness of Housing Assistance Payments.
• Comply with HUD PIC and EIV systems
• Supervise Housing Quality Standards inspections.
• Administer annual tenant re-examinations to insure assisted tenants continue to qualify under HUD guidelines.
• File the annual SEMAP certification in the HUD REAC system.
• Perform quality control inspections and file review in accordance with SEMAP.
• Update the Utility Allowance schedule annually.
• Verify real estate taxes and municipal fees are paid by landlords annually.
• Review and administer vouchers porting in or out of the PHA’s jurisdiction.
• Review rent calculations for accuracy on vouchers being billed to the PHA.
• Resolve any issues/disputes between landlords and tenants.
• Perform month end processing for HAP and UAP payment disbursements.
• Perform briefings and issuance of new vouchers.
• Review and process all new leases and HAP contracts.
• Comprehend all HUD forms and regulations related to the Section 8 Program.

Administer annual 1099 MISC filing for landlord payments.

Any other administrative duties assigned by the Executive or Deputy Executive Director

The Housing Authority of the City of York is accepting applications for the position of Section 8 Housing Program Manager.
Contact Susan Paiva, HR Manager at 717-845-2601, ext. 1124 or spaiva@yorkhousing.org for more information and the application. Click here to view the job description for Section 8 Housing Program Manager and visit yorkhousingauthority.com for more insight. Applications will be accepted until the position has been filled.
York Housing Authority is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

READ ON FOR A MESSAGE FROM NAHRO CEO MARK THIELE WITH MORE DETAILS AS TO HOW YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Dear NAHRO members,

Today, we kick off our annual August Advocacy campaign with three ambitious goals: 50,000 letters sent by 2,500 individual advocates and 50 site visits. I am asking for your help to achieve these goals – whether you are an executive director, a commissioner, maintenance staff, or a developer, or a service provider, your voice is critical to lifting up the need for additional affordable housing resources.

We are housers and community builders and we are the best at what we do. We build and maintain safe, decent affordable homes for our neighbors, and provide necessary services and opportunities for children, families, seniors, veterans and persons with disabilities to thrive. Congress knows the importance of these investments – earlier this summer, the House approved a 17% increase to FY 2023 HUD funding.

That’s why I’m incredibly excited to kick off this year’s August Advocacy campaign. Now, more than ever, it is important to let your elected officials know that Federal housing programs work and that your agencies are vital partners in providing everyone with a safe, decent, affordable home! Based on member input, we’re focusing on these critical topics:

• Federal housing solutions work
• Address housing scarcity
• Expand access to housing vouchers
• Increase housing voucher effectiveness
• Preserve public housing
• Pass timely, robust appropriations

Here are some of the resources we’ve prepared for you:

• Our Action Alert Center – customize and send weekly letters about vital housing and community development programs to your representatives and senators;
• Our first-ever Advocacy Agenda – brief and timely talking points to take to your lawmakers as you make the case for Federal housing programs and local solutions;
• An August Advocacy webpage with goal trackers and site visit information;
• A second Virtual Hill Day on August 3;
• Sample emails, social media posts and graphics to help get the word out; And more!

So let’s get real loud this August – the families we serve depend on us!

Regards,

Mark Thiele, NAHRO CEO