Erlanger City Council unanimously passed a resolution for the Housing Authority of Covington to administer United States Department of Housing and Urban Development programs within the city during a meeting Tuesday
Central to the discussion was the potential impact of the Housing Choice Voucher program in Erlanger, which allows those in the program to receive vouchers that help pay their housing costs.
Under the voucher program, participants can select their preferred housing, including single-family homes, townhouses or apartments, provided they meet program standards. However, selected housing units must meet acceptable health and safety levels before approval. Moreover, families moving to units where rent exceeds the payment standard are protected by law, ensuring they do not pay more than 40% of their adjusted monthly income for rent. This flexibility ensures beneficiaries can find suitable accommodations.
Erlanger is trying to sustain the provision of housing choice vouchers and intends to entrust the program’s administration to the Housing Authority of Covington, which would manage operations in Erlanger. This transition is intended to bolster housing accessibility and support for vulnerable populations within the community.
Citizens do not need to relocate to Covington to apply for and receive a voucher. The vouchers will still be good in Erlanger; the Housing Authority of Covington would simply oversee how they operate.
In December, Covington and the Housing Authority of Covington began merging the city’s housing choice voucher program into the housing authority, following a request from the city’s Neighborhood Services Department.
Either party may cancel the agreement with at least sixty days’ written notice. If the city issues notice of cancellation to the housing authority, it will cease to enter into any new HCV Program rental agreements and terminate all existing rental agreements. HAC will cooperate with the Erlanger to assign any rental agreements to any replacement HCV Program administrator named by the city.
Mayor Jessica Fette emphasized that residents will not do anything as the city transitions.
“Residents will not need to do anything,” Fette said. “The city will work with HAC to ensure all residents that this may affect them will be taken care of. This agreement will provide more resources to ensure residents have more housing options and better lives.”
In support, the city has pledged to promote the HCV Program, directing residents to seek assistance from the Housing Authority of Covington and encouraging landlord participation.
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