(Effective October 1, 2023 for New Admissions and Effective January1, 2024for Annual Reexaminations)
Bedroom Size | Voucher Payment Standard |
SRO | $1,598 |
$2,132 | |
1 | $2,407 |
2 | $3,052 |
3 | $3,915 |
4 | $4,320 |
5 | $4,968 |
6 | $5,616 |
The landlord's asking rent for the unit must be supported by comparable rents within the area. Regardless of the location, the rent for the unit can never be higher than the comparable rent determined by the HACLA/third party vendor regardless of the VPS.
There are no area exception rents at this time.
FAMILY SHARE REMINDER: At the starting date of the initial Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) contract for a unit (lease-in-place or otherwise) if the contract rent is higher than the appropriate VPS, the family share cannot be greater than 40% of the family's adjusted monthly income. This is a statutory and regulatory requirement. There are absolutely no exceptions and HUD headquarters (D.C.) cannot grant a waiver on this matter.
The Family Share is contract rent minus the HAP. [24 CFR 982.515(a)]
Small Area Fair Market Rents
Effective 01-01-2023, the Section 8 Department implemented Small Area Fair Market Rents (SAFMRs) for applicant and participant families in the Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP).SAFMRs are defined based on the U.S. Postal Service ZIP code areas. They reflect rents at the ZIP code level with the goal to improve client outcomes. They have been shown to be a more direct approach to encouraging tenant moves to housing in lower poverty areas by increasing the subsidy available in specific ZIP codes to support such moves.
The following chart depicts the SAFMRs for HACLA as approved by HUD.
(Effective October 1, 2023 for New Admissions and Effective January1, 2024for Annual Reexaminations)
Tier | Zip Code | Bedroom Size | ||||||||
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |||
1 | 90005; 90012; 90013; 90020; 90021; 90027; 90028; 90038; 90039; 90071; 90240; 90623; 90638; 90701; 90715; 90807; 91001; 91006; 91007; 91008; 91010; 91020; 91024; 91104; 91107; 91108; 91303; 91321; 91324; 91325; 91335; 91345; 91351; 91356; 91384; 91387; 91411; 91504; 91506; 91601; 91607; 91711; 91722; 91724; 91740; 91775; 91780; 91790; 91791; 91792; 93551 | $2,184 | $2,460 | $3,120 | $3,996 | $4,416 | $5,078 | $,5740 | $6,403 | $7,065 |
2 | 90010; 90015; 90021; 90034; 90035; 90045; 90046; 90056; 90066; 90068; 90211; 90230; 90232; 90245; 90263; 90278; 90402; 90603; 90712; 90713; 90732; 90746; 90808; 91030; 91214; 91311; 91316; 91326; 91344; 91350; 91355; 91362; 91381; 91403; 91423; 91504; 91505; 91602; 91604; 91608; 91741; 91765; 91773 | $2,448 | $2,760 | $3,504 | $4,488 | $4,956 | $5,698 | $6,442 | $7,185 | $7,929 |
3 | 90014; 90024; 90025; 90036; 90048; 90049; 90064; 90067; 90069; 90073; 90077; 90094; 90210; 90212; 90254; 90265; 90266; 90272; 90274; 90275; 90290; 90291; 90292; 90293; 90703; 90732; 91011; 91105; 91301; 91302; 91307; 91354; 91361; 91364; 91367; 91390; 91436; 91789 | $2,796 | $3,216 | $3,948 | $5,280 | $6,036 | $6,940 | $7,846 | $8,751 | $9,657 |
Voucher Payment Standard (VPS) ‐ All Other ZIP Codes | $2,132 | $2,407 | $3,052 | $3,915 | $4,320 | $4,968 | $5,616 | $6,264 | $,6912 | |
Regardless of its location, or whether the unit is providing a reasonable accommodation, the unit’s rent can never be higher than the comparable rents determined by the Housing Authority. Effective 10/1/2023 for New Admissions/Recontracts and 1/1/2024 for Annual Reexaminations Bold ZIP codes indicate LA City ZIP codes. | ||||||||||
Additionally, SAFMRs are only for use with HCV related programs, such as Housing Choice Vouchers, Veteran Vouchers (HUD-VASH) and Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV) and Project Based Voucher Program. SAFMRs do not apply to Certificate Programs nor the Moderate Rehabilitation Program.
HACLA received HUD's approval of SAFMR under EPS (exception payment standard). HUD defines EPS asexception payment standards in select ZIP codes. Zip codes not selected will continue to use HACLAs VPS rates.
Updated: 09-28-2023
Sure, I'm well-versed in housing assistance programs, particularly the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program and its intricacies. The information you provided concerns the voucher payment standards, Small Area Fair Market Rents (SAFMRs), and guidelines for determining rental rates in specific ZIP code areas.
Let's break down the concepts mentioned in the article:
-
Voucher Payment Standard (VPS):
- This is the maximum subsidy that a housing authority will pay for a rental unit on behalf of a voucher holder. The VPS varies based on the number of bedrooms in the unit and the location (ZIP code). It sets a limit on the amount of assistance a family can receive.
-
Comparable Rents:
- Landlords must justify their asking rent for a unit by providing comparable rents in the area. The rent cannot exceed the determined comparable rent set by the Housing Authority, regardless of the VPS.
-
Family Share:
- If the contract rent exceeds the VPS, the family's share of the rent cannot be more than 40% of their adjusted monthly income. This is a regulatory requirement without exceptions.
-
Small Area Fair Market Rents (SAFMRs):
- SAFMRs are rents established at the ZIP code level by the U.S. Postal Service. They aim to reflect market rents in specific areas and encourage tenant moves to housing in lower poverty areas by providing increased subsidies in those regions.
-
Implementation Dates:
- Effective October 1, 2023, for new admissions and January 1, 2024, for annual reexaminations, certain changes in VPS and SAFMRs were implemented.
-
SAFMRs and VPS by ZIP Code and Bedroom Size:
- The article provides specific VPS and SAFMR values for different ZIP codes and bedroom sizes, showcasing the variation in subsidy levels based on location and unit size.
-
Exception Payment Standards (EPS):
- HUD approved SAFMR as EPS, enabling the use of exception payment standards in select ZIP codes, while others continue to use the regular VPS rates.
-
Applicability:
- SAFMRs are applicable to programs like the Housing Choice Vouchers, Veteran Vouchers (HUD-VASH), Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV), and Project-Based Voucher Program. They do not apply to Certificate Programs or the Moderate Rehabilitation Program.
Understanding these concepts is vital for both landlords and voucher holders to navigate the Section 8 program effectively, ensuring fair rents, proper subsidies, and compliance with regulatory requirements.
