A Message from Bob Davis, Executive Director of the Snohomish County
Housing Authority
As we approach our 40th Anniversary in 2011 we reflect on the changes that HASCO has seen and how large HASCO has become. From providing only 332 vouchers in 1981, to now serving 3,023 families in the community, we have grown tremendously. As we look to the future, we anticipate that HUD will provide more funding for service‐enriched housing programs. Service enriched housing programs are unique in that they combine services with housing to create safe, stable and supportive environments for participants. This year, we submitted applications for the Non‐Elderly Disabled (NED), Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) and Family Unification (FUP) programs. We are pleased to announce we were awarded funding for 25 VASH vouchers and look forward to hearing award announcements for NED and FUP vouchers. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for participating in the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program. To the landlords, you have made a tremendous impact in our clients’ lives by providing safe, decent and affordable housing. To our participants, we look forward to providing you with quality service in order to assist you with maintaining quality housing and achieving self‐reliance. Together we can continue to build strong communities, families and partnerships in Snohomish County. I look forward to seeing what we can accomplish together in the coming year! HASCO SECTION 8 TIMES
Volume 10 Issue 3
August—September 2010
WELCOME
Welcome to the current edition of the Section 8 Times. This quarterly
newsletter is produced for Section 8 participants, owners, property
managers and service providers.
HOUSING AUTHORITY OF
SNOHOMISH COUNTY
MISSION STATEMENT
To provide housing
opportunities that are as
affordable as possible,
that enhance the quality
of life for individuals
and families with limited
financial resources,
including elderly and
disabled persons, and
that contribute to a safer
and stronger community.
The Section 8 Times strives to provide information and answer questions
for both participants and property managers/owners.
Staff welcomes your questions and comments. If there are topics you
would like to see addressed in upcoming issues, please write us at:
Section 8 Times
HASCO
12625 4th Ave. W., Suite 200
Everett, WA 98204
HOUSING AUTHORITY OF
SNOHOMISH COUNTY
12625 4TH AVE. W.,
SUITE 200
EVERETT, WA 98204
425-290-8499 OR
425-743-4505
HEARING IMPAIRED
425-290-5785
FAX
425-290-5618
BUSINESS HOURS
MONDAY—FRIDAY
8:00AM– 4:30PM
Section 8 Department is
closed on Fridays.
DIRECT DEPOSIT AVAILABLE FOR LANDLORDS
HASCO is pleased to offer direct
deposit of housing assistance
payments (HAP) to your savings
or checking account.
You may download the Direct
Deposit form at HASCO’s
website: www.hasco.org. Click
on the Forms tab.
Many Section 8 Landlord
participants have taken
advantage of this convenient
and safe program.
You can also request a form by
contacting Carole
Freeman at
425-290-8499
Ext. 520
THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF SNOHOMISH COUNTY
12625 4TH AVE W, SUITE 200
EVERETT, WA 98204
PRSRT STD
US POSTAGE
PAID
CASCADE
PAGE 2
HASC O SE CT ION 8 T I ME S
V OLUME 1 0 IS SUE 3
If you are in need of an interpreter to assist you with information in this newsletter, please contact
Cathy Schindler at 425-293-0518 and she will arrange for an interpreter or translation.
Arabic
‫ﻋﻠﻰ‬Cathy Schindler ‫ اﻟﺮﺟﺎء اﻻﺗﺼﺎل ﺑﻜﺎﺛﻰ‬،‫اذا آﻨﺖ ﺑﺤﺎﺟﺔ اﻟﻰ ﻣﺴﺎﻋﺪة ﻣﺘﺮﺟﻢ ﺑﺨﺼﻮص اﻟﻤﻌﻠﻮﻣﺎت اﻟﻮرادة ﺑﻬﺬﻩ اﻟﺮﺳﺎﻟﺔ اﻻﺧﺒﺎرﻳﺔ‬
‫ﺷﻴﻨﺪﻟﺮ‬
425-293-0518 ‫ اﻟﺮﻗﻢ‬.‫وهﻰ ﺳﺘﻘﻮم ﺑﺘﺮﺗﻴﺐ ﻣﺘﺮﺟﻢ او ﺗﺮﺟﻤﺔ‬
V OLUME 1 0 IS SUE 3
HASC O SE CT ION 8 T I ME S
PAGE 7
Breast, Cervical and Colon Health Program
Are you a woman age 40-64 with no health insurance?
Does your household income fit within the eligibility requirements below?
You may be eligible for a Woman’s Health Exam, which includes a mammogram
and pap test, at no cost to you!
Income Eligibility Table Effective—July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011
Bosnian
Ako si ti u potrebi za prevodiocom da te pomogne oko in formacija u novinama, molim te
kontaktiraj Cathy Schindler na 425-293-0518 i ona ce aranzirati prevodioca ili prevod.
Farsi
‫اﮔﺮ در ﻣﻮرد اﻃﻼﻋﺎت اﻳﻦ ﻧﺎﻣﻪ اﺣﺘﻴﺎج ﺑﻪ ﻣﺘﺮﺟﻢ دارﻳﺪ ﻟﻄﻔﺎ ﺑﺎ ﺧﺎﻧﻢ ﮐﺘﯽ ﺷﻨﺎ ﻳﺪر ﺑﺎ ﺷﻤﺎرﻩ ﺗﻠﻔﻦ‬
0518-293-425 .‫ﺗﻤﺎس ﺑﮕﻴﺮﻳﺪ و اﻳﺸﺎن ﺗﺮﺗﻴﺐ ﻣﺘﺮﺟﻢ وﻳﺎ ﺗﺮﺟﻤﻪ اﻳﻦ ﻧﺎﻣﻪ را ﺧﻮاهﻨﺪ داد‬
Hearing Impaired
Sign language interpreters are available upon request to assist you.
Russian
Если у Вас возникли вопросы в связи с данным информационным бюллетенем, и Вы
нуждаетесь в помощи переводчика, обратитесь к Кети Шиндлер по телефону 425-293-0518, и
она организует заказ переводчика или перевода.
Somali
Hadii aad ubaahan tahay inlagaaga tarjumo wararka warqadaan fadlan lasoo xiriir Cathy
Schindler 425-293-0518 waxay ku diyaarinaysaa turjuman ama fasire.
Family Size
Monthly Income
Annual Income
1
$2,256
$27,075
2
$3,035
$36,425
3
$3,815
$45,775
4
$4,594
$55,125
5
$5,373
$64,475
6
$6,152
$73,825
7
$6,931
$83,175
8
$7,710
$92,525
For family size greater than 8 add $770.00 monthly or $9,350 for each additional member
Please contact Citrine Health for more information or to enroll into the Breast, Cervical and Colon Health Program.
Phone: 425-259-9899 — Toll Free: 1-888-651-8931 — www.citrinehealth.org
Spanish
Si usted necesita un intérprete para que le ayude con la información de esta publicación favor de
llamar a Cathy Schindler al 425-293-0518 y ella le conseguirá un intérprete o traducción.
Ukrainian
Якщо Вам потрібна допомога перекладача, щоб зрозуміти цей інформаційний бюлетень,
зверніться до Кеті Шиндлер за номером 425-293-0518, і вона домовиться відносно перекладача
або перекладу.
Vietnamese
Nếu quý vị cần thông dịch viên giúp hiểu thêm thông tin trong tập tin này, xin vui lòng gọi cho
Cathy Schindler theo số phone 425-293-0518 và cô ta sẽ sắp. xếp một thông dịch viên hoặc giấy tờ đã
được phiên dịch
Are you attending college?
Are you involved in a job training,
apprenticeship or vocational program?
Are you interested in participating in
a supportive service program to help
you with your education?
10 Degrees at
Mt. Baker View
If so, you may be interested in Housing Hope’s 10 Degrees program at Mt. Baker View
apartments in Everett.
Housing Hope provides one and two bedroom service-enriched homes in North Everett for students with families. Services include assistance with navigating college and training programs, college
speakers, employment support, job search assistance and many other opportunities that will help
with your college career and beyond.
If you are interested in this program contact Housing Hope at 425-347-6556 x281
Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity!
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HASC O SE CT ION 8 T I ME S
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What is Hoarding? Hoarding is the collection and failure to discard a large number of possessions or the over col‐
lection of animals as pets. A hoarder’s living spaces are cluttered enough to no longer be us‐
able. The clutter is causing significant distress or impairment to the functioning of yourself or someone you care about. Some of the signs of hoarding are:  Extreme storage in the home or yard,  Blocked windows and doors,  Rotting food/food containers,  Rat and insect infestations,  Non‐working utilities, Look familiar? You may have a problem with hoarding.  No room to sleep or prepare food. Hoarding can create a high risk of fire danger, safety risks such as blocked exits and tripping hazards, structural damage, toxic mold growth, collection of bio‐hazardous waste and isolation from friends and family. For help, call the Senior Information and Assistance Help line for a Hoarding Resources Packet at 425
‐513‐1900, Monday through Friday 8:30 AM‐ 4:30 PM. Some helpful websites are: www.ocfoundation.info/hoarding www.mayoclinic.com/health/hoarding/DS00966 www.squalorsurvivors.com Clutterers Anonymous can be reached at 310‐281‐6064 or google ‘clutters anonymous’ for addi‐
tional information. IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR
TENANTS RECEIVING GAU
BENEFITS

Beginning 9/1/10 current GAU recipients will be subjected to new eligibility requirements for benefits under the Disability Lifeline Program.

Disability lifeline requirements are:
Must be temporarily disabled and unable to work.
Maximum assistance is 24 months within a 60
month period except for clients who are aged, blind
disabled or eligible for expedited Medicaid.

In August, some current GAU recipients will be notified by DSHS by mail on whether they still qualify for
benefits.

If you should lose your GAU grant due to the new
program requirement, please contact us in writing so
we can begin the process to lower your rent.
Community Housing Stability and Support Program 

Are you in danger of losing your subsidized housing? Do you have a hard time keeping your life organized or do you feel overwhelmed with maintaining your housing?  Are you not currently receiving services from a mental health or chemical dependency clinic? If you answered yes to these questions you may be eligible for assis‐
tance from Bridgeway’s Community Housing Stability Support Program (CHSS.) Staff from CHSS provide immediate, compassionate, and effec‐
tive clinical services to preservice your housing and connect you with necessary and on‐going support. If you think you may qualify for this program, please contact Misty Pe‐
han or Kimberly Harrington at 425‐355‐8668 ext. 237 if you have fur‐
ther questions. V OLUME 1 0 IS SUE 3
HASC O SE CT ION 8 T I ME S
PAGE 3
An important reminder for your next annual review:
HUD collects and stores information about current and former Section 8 clients in a nation
-wide database called EIV. Beginning in January or February 2011, at the time of your annual review, you will receive a notification explaining the process for collecting and documenting information about debts owed or adverse information regarding your participation in the HUD Section 8 or public housing program. The notification explains:
1. If you are terminated from housing assistance, your name will be entered into the EIV
system, and this will be shared with all Housing Authorities.
2. At the time of your exit from a housing program, if any outstanding balances or debts
owed to the Housing Authority remain, your name and the amount owed will be entered into the EIV system.
Information entered into the system may affect you if you apply for Federal housing programs in the future. When you receive our notification, please make sure to read it carefully and remember all adults in your household must sign a separate form.

Have you lost your job?

Did you get a new job?

Have you considered adding a new member to your household?

Has any member of your household moved out?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, these changes need to be reported in writing
to your Housing Coordinator. The following forms are available online at www.hasco.org
and they will help you determine what you need to do to verify the change:
 Change in Family Circumstances Packet
 Add a Member Packet
 Add a Minor Packet
Important: Don’t ignore your mail! Ignoring Housing Authority inquiries or requests for information may make things worse. If you don’t understand or have any questions or concerns, call us!
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HASC O SE CT ION 8 T I ME S
V OLUME 1 0 IS SUE 3
Updated Lead Based Paint Regulations Everyone that comes in contact with a home built before 1978 is possi‐
ble at risk for contamination from lead. Recent figures show that 87% of homes built before 1940 have lead based paint, and 69% of homes built during 1940‐1959 contain lead, while 24% of all homes built from 1960‐
1978 contain lead based paint. In order to protect tenants from the hazards of lead based paint, we are required to cite all visually deteriorated pain during an inspection of homes built before 1978. If the Section 8 building is a multi‐family one, the common areas are accessed by the tenants, as well as their occu‐
pied apartment, are examined. All deteriorated paint needs to be corrected by the persons trained and liscensed/certified in the State of Washington. If deteriorated paint is at or above the deminimus levels (e.g. 2 sq. ft. OR 10% of the component or 20 sq. ft. of the exterior), then the repair work needs: 1. To be performed by an EPA or State Licensed/Certified Renovator following lead safe work practices (LSWP.) LSWP MUST be documented by the persons performing the work. 2. To be cleared by a test performed by a State Licensed/Certified Lead Risk Assessor after com‐
pletion of ALL interior work. 3. To be cleared by a test performed by a State Licensed/Certified Lead Risk Assessor after com‐
pletion of ALL exterior work. Note: Clearance is always required after Lead Abatement, interim controls, paint stabilization, or standard treatments unless the area is below the deminimus levels shown above. Typically, win‐
dows are the most commonly cited areas. However, walls ceiling, siding, floors, chipped base‐
boards, moldings, inside and outside of painted cabinets, basements and stairs are often cited. If you should have further question, please contact our inspection manager, Walt DeLaney at 425
‐290‐8499 ext. 575. V OLUME 1 0 IS SUE 3
HASC O SE CT ION 8 T I ME S
PAGE 5
A Message from your Inspectors
Many Section 8 tenants and landlords have questions about standards for cleanliness when preparing for
annual housing inspections. Here are some tips prepared by our inspection staff to help you pass your
next inspection.
Units are to be thoroughly cleaned and organized before the inspection. Pick up miscellaneous items
and children’s toys off the floor and put them away. Make sure clothing is hung in the closet or put
away in drawers. Your unit may fail if an inspector is not able to enter a room because items covering
the floor block their path.
Thoroughly clean all kitchen appliances. This includes the oven, range top and drip pans. Grease
build up can cause fires.
Wash the dishes regularly and put them away. Your unit may fail if the inspector cannot see the sink
or countertops because of dirty dishes and miscellaneous items. There must be room to prepare
meals.
Thoroughly clean the bathroom sink, toilet, and bathtub. Do not allow water to sit on the countertops
or around the toilet and bathtub.
A 14-inch clearance must be maintained around heaters at all times. Otherwise, this is a serious fire
hazard. Furniture, drapes, bedding, clothing and children’s toys must be away from the heaters.
Windows cannot be blocked by items or furniture. All windows must have window coverings and the
coverings must not be removed. The only exceptions are for windows with obscured glass or sidelights that are high enough that no one can see through them. If your windows do not have window
coverings, you may fail your inspection.
Carpets that have a couple stains are satisfactory. However if the carpets are heavily soiled they
must be professionally cleaned.
All light fixtures must have working light bulbs installed. It is the tenant’s responsibility to replace
burned out light bulbs.
All smoke detectors must be properly installed and have working batteries.
We also suggest replacing the batteries once a year just prior to the annual
inspection. If a hard wired smoke detector is removed and a battery operated smoke detector is installed, the exposed wiring must be covered with a
plate. Exposed wiring is an electrical hazard and a fail item.
All electrical outlets and light switches are required to have cover plates.
Cracked or broken plates must be replaced. This is an electrical hazard and a
fail item.
LANDLORDS AND TENANTS: PLEASE NOTICE HUD CHANGE
The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) contract between the landlord and
the Housing Authority will terminate automatically upon the death of a single member household, including single member households with a live-in
aide. The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will not pay
housing assistance payments for any month following the death of a Section 8 tenant.
There are no exceptions to this policy. We urge you to work with the deceased tenant’s
family or friends to ensure the unit is vacated in a timely manner, or proper payment is
made for additional rent of the unit.
If there is a garage at the unit, it is preferred that vehicles be parked in the garage. However, garages may be used for storage if it is organized and stored neatly. Garages with an excessive number of items and/or furniture must be reduced or stored elsewhere. Garage doors are a means of
egress in case of an emergency and must not be blocked. Tenants may not accumulate items for garage sales or store items for others.
Trash or garbage must be removed from the unit regularly. Accumulation of garbage is not permitted
and will cause a rodent infestation. This is a health hazard and a fail item.