Rental
Assistance
The
Housing Authority offers a variety of rental assistance programs that are
categorized as either "Tenant-Based" or
"Project-Based". Tenant Based rental assistance follows
the tenant to any property that accepts rental assistance and that meets
HUD standards. Project Based rental assistance is attached to the
rental unit and does not follow the tenant if they move from the assisted
unit. For both categories of rental assistance, the tenants portion
of the rent is based on 30% of their adjusted monthly income. The
remaining portion of the rent is paid directly to the landlord. To be
eligible, tenants must have an income that is less than 50 percent of the
the Thurston County median income. See Eligibility
for current eligibility criteria.
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Tenant-Based
Rental Assistance Programs:
Non-Targeted
Vouchers: Households must meet a priority, which
includes all groups EXCEPT single individuals and couples who are not
elderly, near-elderly, disabled or victims of domestic violence. Households with children and
households with a disabled or near-elderly member are taken on a first-come,
first-served basis from the waiting
list. To be eligible, households must have a preference which
includes: paying more
than 40 percent of their adjusted income for rent and utilities,
living in substandard housing, being homeless or displaced, or a victim
of domestic violence.
How
do I apply? More Information.
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Mainstream
Vouchers and Housing for Persons with Disabilities: Available
to single, disabled households. Must meet same qualifications as
the Non-Targeted Vouchers above. Typically there have been
sufficient numbers of applicants on the waiting list
so there has been no skipping to get to eligible applicants. How
do I apply? More Information
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Family
Unification Program: Targeted allocation of a very limited
number of Vouchers to families for whom housing assistance is critical
to the stabilization or re-unification of their family. This
program is administered in partnership with DCFS. Referrals for
this program are made by DCFS. How
do I apply? More Information
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Vouchers
in Partnership to Success (VIPS): Program targeted to families
with children who are on TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families),
TANF-eligible, or were TANF recipients within the past two
years. This program is administered in partnership with the
local DSHS program. Applicants on the waiting list are skipped in
order to reach eligible households. How
do I apply? More Information
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Project-Based Rental Assistance Programs:
This
type of rental assistance is attached to a specific rental property and
does not follow the household if they move from the assisted unit.
Each assisted property has its own waiting list, which is typically much
shorter that the Tenant-Based waiting list.
These properties are privately owned, however the rental assistance is
administered by the Housing Authority. There are three properties in
Thurston County that have this type of assistance:
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Martin
Terrace Apartments: Features features
one and two bedroom apartments. This property is located at 7917
Martin Way in Lacey. Map Picture
The waiting list for Martin Terrace is maintained by the Housing
Authority. More
Information
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Uhler
Apartments: Features one bedroom
apartments. This
property is located at 914 S. Franklin in Olympia. Map
Picture The waiting list for the Uhler Apartments
is maintained by the Housing Authority. More Information
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Fleetwood
Apartments: Applicants to this property must be homeless,
single individuals. Features all studio apartments. This
property is located at 119 E. 7th Avenue in Olympia. Map
Picture The waiting list for the Fleetwood
Apartments is maintained by the Fleetwood management and not by the
Housing Authority. The Fleetwood is owned by the Low Income
Housing Institute. More Information
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Family Self-Sufficiency Program:
A
limited number of families on the Tenant-Based Voucher program have the
option of participating in the Family Self-Sufficiency program.
This program aims to transition working households from rental
assistance to financial independence. As the
tenants income increases, a portion of the tenants
share of the rent is deposited in an escrow account. After successful completion of the five-year program
contract, the participant is entitled to withdraw all of the funds in
the escrow account. Many families have used these funds as a
down-payment to purchase a house. Counselors work with
participants to create an action plan with self-sufficiency
goals. More Information
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Emergency Housing:
The
Housing Authority offers two programs for emergency housing. The
Spring Court Apartments offer 4 units of emergency housing for 30 to 90
days. We also have limited funding for a homeless prevention
program. These programs are described below:
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Emergency
Apartments: The Housing Authority owns and operates four units
of Emergency Housing at the Spring Court Apartments. Picture
Families with children are provided with 30 to 90 days of shelter while
they locate permanent housing. Case managers work with the
families to address the issues that caused them to become homeless and
provide them with referrals to other services available in the
community. More Information
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Homeless
Prevention: Limited funds are available
for homeless prevention
for families with children in Thurston County. Funds can be used
for first month's rent, security deposit, or eviction
prevention. More Information
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Transitional Housing:
Two
programs are available for transitional housing in Thurston County.
Transitional housing provides temporary rental assistance (1 to 2 years)
while families seek permanent housing and address the issues that lead to
homelessness. These programs are described below:
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Housing and Transitional Services (HATS):
Program provides 12 months of rental assistance for homeless
families. Participants pay 30 percent of their income for rent and
10 percent into a savings account maintained by the Housing
Authority. Participants are required to attend monthly educational
workshops and participate in case management services. Eligibility
requirements are similar to the Tenant-Based Rental Assistance
programs. Participants locate their own housing that meets program
criteria. More Information
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Homeless
Families with Children: Program provides up to 2 years of
rental assistance at the Lake Park Apartments located in Tumwater.
Picture Participants pay 30 percent of
their income for rent, and work with case managers to develop a housing
stability plan. This plan focuses on addressing the issues that
lead to homelessness and to develop financial self-sufficiency. More Information
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Permanent Housing:
The
Housing Authority owns six multi-family housing sites in the Olympia,
Lacey, Tumwater area. These properties provide affordable housing
that is non-subsidized. With one exception, these properties are
managed by private management companies. The goal of these
properties is to provide affordable housing for families of modest
income. These properties are described below:
Falls
Pointe: Located at 411 W. Lee Street in Tumwater. Map
Picture This property features
one and two bedroom units. Amenities include swimming pool, weight
room, tanning beds, community center, on-site laundry facilities, and
spacious floor plans. More information
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Horizons
West: Located at 507 East 10th Ave in Olympia. Map
Picture This property features
studio, one and two bedroom units. Residents must have
incomes that are less than 50-percent of the area median income.
See the income chart for current
maximum income levels. More information
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Mansfield
Apartments: Located at 303 E. 17th Ave in Olympia. Map
Picture
Features 1 studio, 6 one-bedroom units and 1 two-bedroom
unit. This property provides permanent housing for mental health
consumers who are undergoing active case management and receive a
referral from a participating mental health service provider. More
information
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Olympia
Crest: Located at 206 Lilly Road NE in Olympia. Map
Picture This property one and
two bedroom units. Amenities include swimming pool, weight
room, tanning beds, community center, on-site laundry facilities, and
spacious floor plans. More information
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Shadow
Wood: Located at 402 Golf Club Road in Lacey. Map
Picture This
property has 23 two-bedroom apartments. Residents must have
incomes that are less than 80-percent of the area median income.
See the income chart for current maximum
income levels. More information
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Surrey
Lane: Located at 2810 Ruddell Road SE in Lacey. Map
Picture This
property features one and two bedroom units.
Amenities include beautiful landscaping, children's programs, community
garden space and spacious floor plans. More
information
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Home Repair:
The
Housing Rehabilitation Program provides a deferred-payment, zero interest
loan to repair owner-occupied housing. "Deferred Payment"
means that re-payment is not required until the property is sold or the
title is transferred, provided that all program requirements are
met. When the property is sold, the loan is repaid in full.
Rental properties are also eligible under different terms. These
rehab loans can be
used to perform a variety of home repairs including roofs, wiring,
plumbing, windows, insulation, septic systems, floor repairs, and
more. To be eligible, household income must be less than 80-percent of the area median income.
See the income requirements for current maximum
income levels. Properties must also be located within certain
target areas in Thurston County. See map
for current eligible target areas. Loans are secured by a Deed of Trust and a
Promissory Note. The Housing Rehab Program is funded by a Community
Development Block Grant through the Washington State Office
of Community Development. More Information
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Housing Information and Referrals:
Provides
information and referrals regarding housing issues and services that are
available in the community. Under certain circumstances, this
service also provides direct placement into affordable housing that is not
subsidized. To be eligible for this placement service, clients must
have a stable rental history and be able to pass a criminal background
check. More information
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First Steps:
This
program provides maternity case management services for pregnant women on
Medicaid who meet the "at-risk" criteria. Services include
home counseling and referral to other resources. Program is available from
pregnancy to the child's first birthday. More
information
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Home Buyer Opportunity Project:
Educational
program that provides pre-purchase counseling to first-time
homebuyers. Counseling is in group and individual settings.
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