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Public Housing

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• Required Documents
• Income Limits
• Waiting List
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Waiting List Information

Once your application is received, it will be placed on a Waiting List. The Waiting List is a complex database containing up to 2,600 application files and sorted by Bedroom Size, Preference, Date, and Time.

• Bedroom Size is determined by the number of adults and children on the application along with the sex of each child.
• Preference is determined by the applicant at the time of application. We currently have five preferences that are explained in the Preference Guidelines below:
  • First Preference
    Applicants, otherwise eligible, who are elderly, handicapped or disabled families as defined in 24 CFR 5.603 who are receiving Social Security, SSI benefits or other disability benefits as a result of their inability to work.
  • Second Preference
    Applicants, otherwise eligible, who are currently retired and receiving a pension or who are employed and have been employed for 90 days of more as and working an average of 20 hours per week as of the date on the application. “Employed” is defined as working for monetary compensation, Family Medical Leave or Worker’s Compensation.
  • Third Preference
    Applicants, otherwise eligible, who are currently employed but have been employed less than 90 days and working an average of 20 hours a week as of the date on the application.
  • Fourth Preference
    Those applicants, otherwise eligible, with unearned income from other sources, such as Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF), Child Support, SSI/SSA for children, donations, unemployment, etc.
  • Fifth Preference
    All other families
  • Date and Time are determined by the actual date and time the application was received.

Homeless Priority

Within each of the five preference categories listed above, preference is given to Applicant families, otherwise eligible, who meet the definition of homeless. “Homeless” is defined as any individual or family who:

• Lacks a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence, AND
• Is living in a homeless shelter (or other temporary housing provided by an agency serving the homeless) at the time of application as well as at the time of selection. The applicant must be living a homeless shelter (or other temporary housing shelter provided by an agency serving the homeless) that is controlled in whole by an agency that has a current Memorandum of Understanding on file with the Macon Housing Authority. An applicant family must also be referred by such agency. Referrals in this regard must be accompanied by an official certification by the referring agency as to the homeless status of the applicant.

The Homeless Priority cannot be claimed by:

• An individual or family who is residing with relatives; or
• An individual or family who has created a homeless situation for the sole purpose of obtaining the priority. Creating a homeless situation includes, but is not limited to:
  • purposely setting fire to existing shelter
  • being evicted from a rental unit for violation of the lease
  • voluntarily moving from an otherwise suitable unit.

An applicant family, who qualifies for the Homeless Priority will receive only one offer for a public housing unit. If this offer is refused, the homeless priority is void, and the applicant will be ranked in the preference category for which they qualify.

Waiting List Procedures

Your file will remain on the Waiting List until we have vacant units that are ready to be offered. At that time we will begin processing the applications at the top of the Waiting List.

Change of Address: If, at any time after applying, your address changes from the one listed on your original application, you must come into our office at 2015 Felton Avenue to complete a Change Form. Any correspondence from MHA will be sent to the last address on file for you.

Change of Preference: If you have a change that may affect your Preference, it is important that you complete a Change Form at the Central Office. Many times this will affect your placement on the Waiting List. The Waiting List changes on a daily basis, depending on the number of new applications and changes received. If you submit a Change Form, please allow 5 business days for us to post the change prior to calling to check on the placement of your application. If you are on the Working Less Than 90 Days Preference and your status changes to Working More Than 90 Days, please come in and complete a Change Form. If you are in the TANF Preference and more Working Preference applications are taken, you may have to wait longer for an offer until we do not have any of the Preferences above you. As we get vacant units, we pull files from the Waiting List based on the Bedroom Size, Preference, Date and Time. We always pull the SSI/SSA – Handicapped/Elderly applicants first in each Bedroom Size. We then pull the application files for those Working More Than 90 Days in each Bedroom Size, and so forth, until we no longer have vacant units.