Opportunity Home is proposing several changes to its policies for the Public Housing and Assisted Housing Programs.
Requesting your feedback on the proposed changes is required under the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Moving-To-Work Program, which gives public housing organizations, like Opportunity Home, flexibility to use federal dollars to find ways to provide better housing assistance and resources to residents.
You have an opportunity to share your opinion on the changes Opportunity Home is proposing. Here is a list of some of the proposed changes that could impact you.
CHANGES IMPACTING ALL RESIDENTS
Opportunity Home criminal History Screening Policy
A few offenses have been added to the criminal history screening that could lead to the denial of housing assistance.
Opportunity Home is now adding:
- Assault (misdemeanor) within five years of offense
- Deadly conduct (misdemeanor) within five years of offense
- Assault felony within seven years of offense
- Injury to a child within seven years of offense
- Deadly Conduct felony within seven years of offense
Opportunity Home is removing:
- Weapon Offense within seven years of offense
- Family violence/domestic violence within seven years of offense
Opportunity Home iMPACT RESIDENTS ON THE PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAM
Yard/Garage Sales
We are adding garage or yard sales on Opportunity Home property are not allowed unless the property managers sponsor a community wide garage or yard sale.
Display of Firearms
The public housing lease will prevent residents from displaying or using legal firearms on a Opportunity Home property.
Pet Deposits
Opportunity Home is proposing to lower pet deposit fees from $200 to $150. Pet violation fees will also be lowered from $200 to $150.
CHANGES IMPACTING RESIDENTS ON THE VOUCHER PROGRAM
Triennial Recertifications
All current residents will move from a biennial recertification to a triennial recertification schedule.
Self-Certification
Landlords can no longer perform self-certifications.
Determining Unit Size
When a family receives housing assistance, the number of bedrooms is determined by the family size. We are adding bedrooms will be assigned for foster children if they are in the unit for more than 6 months. Changes also clarify all children who are expected to live in the home will be included in determining the unit size.
Security Deposits
We are changing this section to provide former residents a notice of any charges within 30 days from the move out date.
Opportunity Home family Self Sufficiency Program
FSS participants will be removed from the program if they fail to respond within 10 business days of receiving a certified letter from Opportunity Home requesting to contact the FSS staff.
SHARE YOUR OPINION
What you think of these changes is important to us. You can share your opinion through March 15. You can review all proposed changes here.
Share your opinion by:
- Completing an online form
- Emailing [email protected]
- Mailing or delivering comments to ATTN: Policy and Planning Department, 818 S. Flores St. San Antonio, TX 78204