FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions *We have composed a database of our most frequently asked questions.*
General Questions	*Section 8*	Public Housing
Landlords	Family Self-Sufficiency	Buy/Rehab a Home
Emergency Numbers
What are HRHA's hours of operation? Monday through Friday from 8am - 4:30pm, except for holidays. Our housing office is located at 1 South Armistead Avenue, next to Miller Mart. Addresses and telephone numbers for other offices can be found, here. Do I need to fill out an employment application to be considered for an HRHA position? Yes, in order to apply for a position at HRHA, an applicant must submit a completed HRHA employment application. A resume is optional. We cannot accept the City of Hampton's employment application. Will I be contacted if I apply for a position with HRHA? Due to the number of applications that we receive with each opening, we initially only contact applicants that we would like to interview. The interview process may take several weeks to be completed. We try to notify all applicants that are not interviewed of their status after we have completed our interview process. What is Section 3? It is a means by which HUD fosters local economic development, neighborhood economic improvement, and individual selfsufficiency. Section 3 is the legal basis for providing jobs for residents and awarding contracts to businesses in areas receiving certain types of HUD financial assistance. Read more here.
Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Waiting List Questions Is the Section 8 waiting list open for new applications? No, the waiting list is closed and we are not accepting applications. Whenever the waiting list reopens an advertisement appears in the local section of the Daily Press and New Journal and Guide. If I apply (or applied) for Section 8 Housing, will my name be placed on the Public Housing Waiting List? No, you must complete a separate application for public housing. We have color coded Public Housing applications and they are now blue. If I mailed my application at the same time as someone else and they received an appointment letter, will I receive one? Not necessarily, you may have mailed your applications at the same time but that doesn’t mean they arrived here at the same time. Each application was date and time stamped in the order it was received. Minutes and even seconds can make the difference in time. Hundreds of applications were received each day the waiting list was open. We received approximately 5,000 applications. How long will I have to wait for a Housing Choice Voucher if I applied during the open enrollment period? The wait is determined by the date and time your application was received, the number of applicants on the waiting list, the amount of funds available and whether we need to income target. Based on the current status of our waiting list, we estimate the wait to be anywhere between 2 months and 5 years. What is income targeting? Income targeting is a HUD requirement that Housing Authorities must serve 75% of its new admissions from the extremely low income limit tables. If a Housing Authority has not met this requirement, it must skip over applicants with the higher incomes. Are there any exceptions for housing emergencies? Unfortunately not, we must follow federal regulations and our Administrative Plan when accepting applications and managing the waiting list. All applications go through the same procedure and wait their turn on the waiting list. Other agencies that may be of assistance are listed below. What happens if my name comes up to the top of the list and funds are available? You will receive a letter scheduling you to attend an eligibility interview. At the interview you will provide verification of your total household income, assets, household composition, child care and possibly medical expenses. If you are determined eligible you will be scheduled to attend a briefing session to learn the program rules and if all information remains the same, you will receive a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher. What information is available about moving? Our process takes 60 - 90 days. You may attend a pre-movers briefing to learn more. Sign up at the front desk of our Section 8 office at 1 South Armistead Ave. You must give your landlord a proper written vacate notice. Please have your landlord sign your vacate notice. You must be recertified before you can receive your voucher and moving packet. The voucher will be issued for only 60 days. You must be approved by a landlord and have the briefing packet (including the RFTA) completed before it is determined if the rent is affordable under the 40% rule. If you qualify for the unit, the utilities must be turned on and the inspection will be scheduled. The unit must pass inspection before you move in. The Section 8 assistance will not begin until the 1st of the month following the passed inspection. Our subsidy standards have changed. You will be issued a voucher size equal to 1 bedroom for every 2 persons in your family. Please check with your Technician before you decide to port to another locality as we now have restrictions on porting to a higher cost area. return to the top
Public Housing Waiting List Questions What number do I call to place a work order? You should call your rental office to submit a work order. After business hours, the number is answered by an answering service that will note the details of the work order. In the event of an emergency, a technician will be dispatched as soon as possible. Please note that there is a charge of $102.50 if a technician is dispatched after-hours for an event that is found to not be an emergency. Is the Public Housing waiting list open for new applications? Yes, the Public housing waiting list is open for Langley Village (elderly designated), North Phoebus and Lincoln Park; all bedroom sizes. However the family does not choose which bedroom size that they will be placed on. The applicants’ family composition determines the bedroom size that will be assigned to the applicant. Is the Section 8 waiting list open for new applications? No, the waiting list is closed. No date has been set to reopen the waiting list. It may not be for 1-3 years. When the waiting list reopens an advertisement will appear in the local section of the Daily Press and New Journal and Guide. This information is also available on our web site at www.hrha.org. Will my name be placed on the Section 8 Waiting List? No, you must complete a separate application for Section Eight and at this time the Section Eight Waiting list is closed. What happens when my application is turned in? You will receive a letter in the mail once your name is placed on the waiting list. All applications are placed on the waiting list in the order received according to the date and time received and if a local preference can be claimed. This question will be asked on the application. How long will I have to wait to lease an apartment in Public Housing? The wait will depend on the date and time your application was received, local preference, the community, the number of applicants on the waiting list and the amount of vacancies for a particular bedroom size. Based on the current status of our waiting list, we estimate a 2-48 month waiting period. What number am I on the waiting list? Sorry, we do not provide applicants with a number. Your application is placed on the waiting list in the order it was received. We can only verify the date and time the application was received and whether or not you qualify for a preference based on the information provided. Are there any exceptions for emergencies? No, we must follow our Admittance and Continued Occupancy Policy as well as federal regulations when accepting applications and managing the waiting list. All applications go through the same procedure and wait their turn on the waiting list. Other agencies that may be of assistance are attached. What happens if my name comes up to the top of the list and an apartment is available? You will receive a letter to attend an interview to update your Public Housing application. At the interview we will gather information from you in order to determine your eligibility for our program. No apartments are leased at this first appointment. If you are determined eligible you will be contacted and an offer made for an apartment at the public housing community you were interviewed for. If I applied the same time as someone else and they received an appointment letter already, should I also have received an appointment letter too? Not necessarily, you may have mailed your applications at the same time but you cannot know the order they were received. We receive applications everyday and even though you may have mailed your application at the same time, your family status may be different, and so may your claim of a local preference so would your placement on the waiting list. The number of families called in varies on the availability of vacancies in each public housing community, and income targeting requirements. If I have additional questions other than the questions listed above, what can I do? Please call 757-727-1108 for questions regarding Lincoln Park. Call 757-727-1051 for questions regarding North Phoebus or 757-727-1106 for Langley Village. Leave your questions on the phone system. Please state your name, phone number and question you would like answered and speak clearly into the phone. Your phone message will be answered in the order it was received. Due to the high volume of phone calls you may not receive a call the same day, but your call will be returned, please be patient.
Does my unit have to be pre-approved? The unit does not have to be inspected prior to screening a tenant. The unit must be inspected and passing prior to the tenant taking possession or subsidy beginning. Who pays the security deposit? The tenant is responsible for the entire security deposit. How long does it take for my unit to be approved? Once the move in packet is completed and received by the Housing Authority, an inspector will call to schedule an inspection between one and 10 business days. If my rent is more than the HRHA can approve, can the tenant pay the difference? No. Rents may be above the payment standards but must be approved by the HRHA inspector. A tenant must not pay any additional monies out of pocket to the landlord without HRHA approval. If the tenant violates the lease agreement, is it possible to evict a Section 8 tenant? If a tenant violates a lease agreement, the landlord must treat that tenant as they would any non-subsidized tenant. The only difference in the eviction process is that the landlord must send copies of all legal notices to HRHA. Who pays if there are any damages? The tenant is responsible for all damages. return to the top
The Neighborhood Resources Network department includes family self-sufficiency, homeownership assistance, and services for the elderly, disabled, and youth. Can any resident of the City of Hampton utilize the department's services? The department can only serve residents of public housing and Section 8 participants due to funding provided by HUD. However, HRHA does offer home buyer seminars and home rehabilitation programs that are available to all citizens of Hampton. More information is available here. Does your department find jobs for residents? We pursue job leads and share them with residents and other low to moderate income citizens of Hampton. Occasionally we provide group transportation to distant sites. Can you help me find somewhere to live? We have resources that can refer you to shelter, financial assistance, and other low to moderate income apartments. Can residents of Newport News participate in HRHA programs? Newport News Redevelopment and Housing Authority maintains programs for Newport News residents. Please visit their web site at www.nnrha.com. I have applied for housing or Section 8 and am interested in classes that you offer. Can I sign up? Due to funding, you must first become a resident. I am 17 and live in HRHA housing and wish to attend the GED class. Is this possible? You must be 18 years of age. return to the top
BUYING A HOME What is the VHDA Homebuyer Education Class? Hampton Redevelopment and Housing Authority (HRHA) and Virginia Housing and Development Authority (VHDA) are in partnership to provide a free class that is designed to teach you the steps involved in purchasing a home. Topics include understanding the effect of your credit, the loan process, working with a realtor, home inspection, and budgeting. This class is beneficial to any home buyer but is a requirement to purchase an HRHA home. Call 727-1111, ext. 312 or visit www.vhda.com for details. Does HRHA have a program to help first time buyers purchase a home? The SPARC program provides below market rate loans (interest rate reductions) for first time homebuyers. Interest rates are 1/2% to 1% below VHDA's published First-time Homebuyer Program rates. Income limits apply. Call your lender for details. Does HRHA provide down payment and closing cost assistance? Due to funding, HRHA can only offer down payment assistance in limited situations. There is assistance for those that qualify (income limits apply) and are buying a home that HRHA is selling or a home that is located in the Pasture Point or Olde Hampton neighborhoods. You will have to obtain the financing (mortgage) from a lender. In most cases, in order to obtain a loan you will need stable income, good credit and not too many debts. How much down payment assistance can I get? Assistance is provided on an as-needed basis and depends on the house you are buying and your specific financial situation. Where are HRHA homes built? Our homes are built in various neighborhoods throughout the city of Hampton and can be viewed on our website at www.hrha.org . Why do you use income limits? These limits are determined each year by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development to ensure that homeownership funding goes to those who need it most. What are the income limits? Visit www.hrha.org/homesforsale.htm for current income limits. Income is based on all household members over 18 years old. REHAB A HOME Is there a program that can help with repairs to my home? HRHA has a home rehabilitation program for Hampton city residents that is based on household income and the equity in your home. You must also own and occupy the home as your principal residence. The goal of this program is to correct city code related issues. Call 727-1111, ext. 312 for details. Does HRHA offer a grant to fix my home? No. Our rehab program only makes loans to cover the cost of rehabilitation. Some loans, do not have payments and, in some cases, are forgiven over a period of time. What other programs are offered through the Community Development Department? We have a Wheelchair Ramp, Exterior Improvement and Emergency Grant program. Income limits and program guidelines apply. Call 727-1111, ext. 312 for details. return to the top

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