Section 8 Project Based Vouchers provide rental subsidies to eligible extremely low and very low-income households. The amount of subsidy is based on the difference between the tenant’s required contribution (30 percent of defined household income) and the contract rent for an eligible housing unit. Rents must be reasonable for the immediate market, with determination of rent reasonableness in accordance with 24 CFR 983.303. In this RFP, the Fort Wayne Housing Authority (FWHA) seeks proposals to increase Project Based Voucher units and is prepared to partner with those looking to offer PBVs in less concentrated areas of poverty in order to affirmatively further fair housing. FWHA will offer owners of selected existing, quality, affordable housing the opportunity to receive allocations of vouchers that can be attached to their rental housing for a designated period of time through contracts with FWHA. Owners will gain the benefit of a multi-year contract ensuring a Section 8 approved rent for their properties for an extended period. Eligible projects must be located in the City of Fort Wayne or within a five (5) mile radius outside of the city limits, except for where there is another incorporated municipality, in Allen County. 4.1Available Vouchers and Intended Uses 4.1.1 Availability: Voucher availability is conditional upon agreementswith the Department of Housing and Urban Development. We anticipate issuing 25 PBVs through this RFP. 4.1.2 Use: Vouchers for new construction and existing housing within the Fort Wayne area. 4.2 Terms of Section 8 Project Based Assistance 4.2.1 Key contract terms and program regulations include, but arenot limited to the following: 4.2.1.1 Contract Term: The Section 8 project-based vouchers will be committed for an Initial term of three (3) to ten (10) years subject to the availability of continued funding to the FWHA from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Contracts will be signed between the FWHA and the owner of the development. 4.2.1.2 Rents: Rents must be reasonable, i.e., comparable to the market rents for comparable apartments in thatimmediate market. Market rents will be approved by FWHA using Rent Comparability methods as described in the Administrative Plan. 4.2.1.3 Tenant Selection: Tenants of assisted units will be referred exclusively via the PBV waiting list maintained by FWHA. Selection of tenants for these Project Based units will be based on the FWHA’s Administrative Plan for the Section8 Program consistent with the following guidelines: 4.2.1.3.1 FWHA will establish a separate waiting list for PBV assistance. 4.2.1.3.2 FWHA will refer families to properties based on availability of appropriately sized units. 4.2.1.3.3 The owner of the units must select tenants from applicants referred from the FWHA’s waitinglist. 4.2.1.3.4 Owners must subject prospective tenants referred by the FWHA to the same selection criteria used for other tenants in their development. Owners must submit written selection criteria. 4.2.1.3.5 Owners may reject tenants referred by the FWHA; however, valid reasons based on the generally applied selection criteria must be given for such rejections. 4.2.1.3.6 Owners may refer prospective tenants toFWHA’s waiting list according to HUD regulations. 4.2.1.4 Housing Quality Standards/NSPIRE: Selected units must meetHUD's Housing Quality/NSPIRE Standards. 4.2.1.5 Site Standards and De-Concentration of Poverty Goals: The project must be consistent with the goal of de-concentrating poverty and expanding housing and economicopportunities. Project based voucher assistance will be prioritized for units in census tracts with a poverty rate of less than 15 percent. (this would exclude properties in the following zip codes: 46803, 46802, 46806, 46816 and 46807) 4.2.1.6 Limitation: With the exception of single-family homes, housing for the elderly or disabled, and housing that provides supportive services, units receiving PBV assistance will be awarded in a manner consistent with mixed-income housing models. Under no circumstances will PBV assistance exceed 75% of total units at a property.
