Housing Search Assistance - Welfare to Work Vouchers

Completing the Deal: Improving Administrative Practices to Expedite Lease-up

After the family finds an affordable and desirable unit, it is critical that the leasing phase proceed quickly to complete the leasing-up process within the specified requirements of the program.

Consider revising PHA internal procedures, policies, and processes to facilitate and expedite the leasing process. For example:

• Give priority to processing WtW families. Streamline procedures for completing HQS inspections, rent reasonableness determinations, and lease and HAP processing. Examples of streamlined procedures include:
  
  - Giving priority to new unit inspections and re-inspections of WtW units.
  
  - Offering more scheduling times for new unit inspections and re-inspections of WtW units.
  
  - Offering pre-inspection of units owned by landlords willing to rent to WtW families;
  
  - Giving priority to conducting rent reasonableness determinations of WtW units and reduce the turnaround time for determining rent reasonableness;
  
  - Aggressively negotiating rents within the rent reasonableness limits;
  
  - Creating a dedicated phone line for receiving questions from WtW landlords and families; and
  
  - Providing general assistance with obtaining inspections and lease approvals and more closely monitoring the leasing process.
  
  
• Inform partner agencies, WtW families, and owners of the timing of the leasing process so they will have realistic expectations and adhere to these deadlines.
  
  
• Consider dedicating a staff person(s) to process all WtW families.
  
  
• Provide training to staff so they understand the WtW voucher program and its objectives and understand how processing for these families may differ.