×

More money for housing

Additional assistance for housing costs may be available to Marietta residents in the coming months.

Under the auspices of the Omnibus Appropriations Act passed in 2017, Congress made approximately $13 million available to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for new Section 811 Housing Choice Vouchers (known as mainstream vouchers) to assist non-elderly people with disabilities. This year the Omnibus Appropriations Act made an additional $385 million available for new mainstream vouchers.

Marietta City Council passed legislation last Thursday authorizing the application for $75,000 of that additional aid.

“It’s a new pot of money to provide housing assistance for those that qualify,” explained Development Director Andy Coleman.

The application is due June 18.

Currently the city’s public housing agent, Washington-Morgan Community Action, provides 487 households within city limits with tenant-based and family unification housing assistance vouchers.

“But this is the additional pot of money the state has opened up and it could help some that are on the waiting list that qualify for assistance,” noted Coleman.

If the city’s application is successful, priority will be given to non-elderly people with disabilities who are transitioning out of institutional or other segregated settings, are at serious risk of institutionalization, are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

Large-scale landlords in the city are already used to working under the parameters and requirements of HUD, which on the landlord-side include inspections for safety and condition of the accommodations and for tenants include an appraisal of finances and all income.

“It depends on the tenant and whether or not they have a job or other forms of income like child support and then it takes into account how much they’re able to pay. Usually it’s just a portion of rent but we do see it cover the full costs for some as well,” noted Wendy Myers, who owns Mitcham Group Apartments. “Say rent is $650 and they can put $300 towards it then the voucher can come up with the difference. Some vouchers are even for $15. It depends on the individual.”

Myers said vouchers need to be a part of a more sustainable solution to low-income economy and public assistance, though.

“Look up eviction records and the No. 1 reason for evictions is unpaid rent,” she noted. “Where emergency programs that offer first and last month’s rent or first month’s rent and the security deposit fall short is if you don’t get a job or learn how to balance a budget what happens in month two? Throwing money at something doesn’t work until you can meet that need as well.”

According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, 25 percent of Washington County residents are renters with the average fair-market rental rate ranging between $440 to $1,092 depending on number of bedrooms (studio apartment to four-bedroom home).

In Marietta, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $468 per month and two-bedroom apartments average at $672 per month.

Annual income needed to support a one-bedroom apartment, with utilities and food taken into account is $21,640, according to the coalition.

For a two-bedroom place, it’s $27,240.

For three bedrooms the need is $37,480 in annual income and to afford four bedrooms the need is $43,680.

The city’s application for $75,000 to be administered through Washington-Morgan Community Action would cover approximately 25 more housing vouchers for those that qualify, according to Coleman.

If awarded, the grant period of the additional funds would be between Aug. 7, 2018 and Aug. 6, 2019.

By the numbers

Annual Income Needed to Afford Rent

¯ Zero-Bedroom: Ohio: $20,913, Washington County: $17,600.

¯ One-Bedroom: Ohio: $24,266, Washington County: $21,640.

¯ Two-Bedroom: Ohio: $31,194, Washington County: $27,240.

¯ Three-Bedroom: Ohio: $41,303, Washington County: $37,480.

¯ Four-Bedroom: Ohio: $46,354, Washington County: $43,680.

Minimum Wage:

¯ Minimum wage: Ohio: $8.15, Washington County: $8.15.

¯ Rent affordable at minimum wage: Ohio: $424, Washington County: $424.

Work Hours/Week at minimum wage:

¯ Zero-Bedroom: Ohio: 49, Washington County: 42.

¯ One-Bedroom: Ohio: 57, Washington County: 51.

¯ Two-Bedroom: Ohio: 74, Washington County: 64.

¯ Three-Bedroom: Ohio: 97, Washington County: 88.

¯ Four-Bedroom: Ohio: 109, Washington County: 103.

Supplemental Security Income Payment

¯ Ohio: $735, Washington County: $735.

¯ Rent affordable to SSI recipient: Ohio: $221, Washington County: $221.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.15/week.

Subscribe Today