Section 8 Participant Obligations

A. Supplying Required Information

1. The family must supply any information that the JCHA or HUD determines is necessary in the administration of the program, including submission of required evidence of citizenship or eligible immigration status. Information includes any requested certification, release or other documentation.
2. The family must supply any information requested by the JCHA or HUD for use in a regularly scheduled reexamination or interim reexamination of family income and composition in accordance with HUD requirements.
3. The family must disclose and verify Social Security Numbers and must sign and submit consent forms for obtaining information.
4. All information supplied by the family must be true and complete.

B. HQS Breach Caused by the Family
The family is responsible for any HQS breach caused by the family or its guests.

C. Allowing JCHA Inspection
The family must allow the JCHA to inspect the unit at reasonable times and after at least two (2) calendar days’ notice according to state law.

D. Violation of Lease
The family may not commit any serious or repeated violation of the lease.

E. Family Notice of Move or Lease Termination
The family must notify the JCHA and the owner before the family moves out of the unit or terminates the lease by a notice to the owner.

F. Owner Eviction Notice
The family must promptly give the JCHA a copy of any owner eviction notice it receives.

G. Use and Occupancy of the Unit

1. The family must use the assisted unit for a residence by the family. The unit must be the family’s only residence.
2. The JCHA must approve the composition of the assisted family residing in the unit. The family must inform the JCHA within 10 business days of the birth, adoption or court-awarded custody of a child. The family must request approval from the JCHA to add any other family member as an occupant of the unit. No other person (i.e., no one but members of the assisted family) may reside in the unit (except for a foster child/foster adult or live-in aide as provided in paragraph (4) of this Section).
3. The family must notify the JCHA within 10 business days if any family member no longer resides in the unit.
4. If the JCHA has given approval, a foster child/foster adult or a live-in aide may reside in the unit. The JCHA has the discretion to adopt reasonable policies concerning residence by a foster child/foster adult or a live-in aide and defining when the JCHA consent may be given or denied.
5. Members of the household may engage in legal profit making activities in the unit, but only if such activities are incidental to primary use of the unit for residence by members of the family. Any business uses of the unit must comply with the lease, zoning requirements, and the affected household member must obtain all appropriate licenses.
6. The family must not sublease or let the unit.
7. The family must not assign the lease or transfer the unit.

H. Absence from the Unit
The family must supply any information or certification requested by the JCHA to verify that the family is living in the unit, or relating to family absence from the unit, including any JCHA requested information or certification on the purposes of family absences. The family must cooperate with the JCHA for this purpose. The family must promptly notify the JCHA of its absence from the unit.

Absence means that no member of the family is residing in the unit. The family may be absent from the unit for up to 30 calendar days. The family must request permission from the JCHA for absences exceeding 30 calendar days. The JCHA will make a determination within 10 business days of the request. An authorized absence may not exceed 180 calendar days. Any family absent for more than 30 calendar days without authorization will be terminated from the program.

Authorized absences may include, but are not limited to:

1. Prolonged hospitalization
2. Absences beyond the control of the family (i.e., death in the family, other family member illness)
3. Other absences that are deemed necessary by the JCHA

I. Interest in the Unit
The family may not own or have any interest in the unit (except for owners of manufactured housing renting the manufactured home space or people using a housing choice voucher to purchase a home).

J. Fraud and Other Program Violation
The members of the family must not commit fraud, bribery, or any other corrupt or criminal act in connection with the program.

K. Crime by Household Members
The members of the household may not engage in drug-related criminal activity, other violent criminal activity or other criminal activity that threatens the health, safety or right to peaceful enjoyment of other residents and persons residing in the immediate vicinity of the premises

L. Other Housing Assistance
An assisted family, or members of the family, may not receive Section 8 tenant-based assistance while receiving another housing subsidy, for the same unit or for a different unit, under any duplicative (as determined by HUD or in accordance with HUD requirements) Federal, State or local housing assistance program.

M. Alcohol and/or Drug Abuse By Household Members
The members of the household must not abuse alcohol and/or drugs in a way that threatens the health, safety or right to peaceful enjoyment of other residents and/or persons residing in the immediate vicinity of the premises.