Moving to Work (MTW) Housing Authority of the County of San Mateo

General Information

The Housing Authority of the County of San Mateo's (HACSM) Moving to Work Plan is intended solely for Section 8 applicants and does not affect current participants. HACSM's MTW program began May 1, 2000.

Status

HACSM can enroll up to 300 Housing Choice Voucher families in their MTW program.

Goals

The goal of HACSM's MTW program is to provide support to residents working towards self-sufficiency.

Agreement

	Amended and Restated MTW Agreement
	Original MTW Agreement
	Original MTW Agreement Amendment #1

Rent Policies

• Twenty-five percent of the increase in employment income will be excluded for purposes of calculating rent.
  
• Seventy-five percent of any income earned by a member of a Section 8 household who was not a household member at the time of initial qualification of housing assistance or during the 1-year period preceding qualification will be excluded from income. For example, an absentee father who rejoins a household will not trigger a large rent increase for a 2-year period. This benefit will be limited to one time per family.
  

Occupancy Policies

MTW households other than those headed by the elderly or disabled will be limited to six years of housing assistance. Families whose housing assistance is terminated as a result of this time limit may reapply for housing assistance.

Other changes to Section 8 policies include:

• Security deposit loans or guarantees will be provided up to a maximum of 50 percent of deposit requirements.
  
• Maximum term of certificates and vouchers will be increased from 120 days to 180 days provided that the family is making diligent efforts to secure qualified housing. This will apply to new admissions and reallocation of MTW participants.
  
• The elimination of all limits on the proportion of household income which housing assistance recipients can spend on housing costs.
  

Self-sufficiency Policies

All TANF-eligible families who receive Section 8 assistance under MTW will be required to enter and adhere to the county's welfare-to-work program. In addition, participation in the housing authority's Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program will be mandatory.

Support

San Francisco Regional Office
Office of Public Housing
459 Golden Gate Avenue
Ninth Floor
San Francisco, CA 94102-3448
(415) 436-6550
F (415) 436-6446

Housing Authority of San Mateo
264 Harbor Boulevard
Belmont, CA 94002
(605) 802-5024
F (650) 802-3373
http://www.co.sanmateo.ca.us/smc/department/printable/0,,363439794_364183697
_408915998,00.html

MTW Contact Staff
William Lowell, Deputy Director
(605) 802-5024
F (650) 802-3373
wlowell@co.sanmateo.ca.us