Departments
Assisted Housing (Section 8)
Section 8 is a Rental Assistance Program funded by HUD which subsidizes the rental of privately-owned property.
The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program (HCV) is administered by the Housing Authority of the City of Bessemer with funding provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The HCVP is a federally-funded program offering much needed rental assistance to low-income families through the issuance of housing vouchers. These vouchers give our families the freedom to select decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private rental market. Participating landlords provide our families with a greater choice and better housing opportunities for rental units located throughout the City of Bessemer and Jefferson County.
The Housing Authority of the City of Bessemer is currently authorized to administer 473 Housing Choice Vouchers. As funds are available, eligible families are selected from the waiting list. The families are required to pay 30% of their adjusted income toward rent and utilities. These payments are made directly to the landlord. The Housing Authority pays the remaining balance of the rent based on comparable rents in the area of operation of the Housing Authority.
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In addition to the Housing Choice Vouchers, the authority also administers 70 Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers. The VASH program combines HCV rental assistance for homeless veterans with case management and clinical services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) at its medical centers in the community. Applicants for the VASH vouchers are not taken from the regular Voucher waiting list but are clients of the VA medical center.
Applications are taken as funds are available. When HUD notifies the Agency that funds are available, the Housing Authority will post public notices in advance as to time and location of acceptance of applications. Families who meet eligibility and income requirements, which include a criminal history and do not owe a prior Authority, are placed on the waiting list based on the preferences they are eligible for and the date of application. As families reach the top of the wait list, income is verified as well as other required verifications and if eligible, they are issued a Voucher.
Vouchers are also portable. A Voucher holder is able to use the voucher anywhere in the United States where another Housing Authority is located to administer the voucher.
All voucher units must meet a "rent reasonableness" test. This means that rents for assisted units are not higher than unassisted units. This is done each time a unit is leased, when a landlord requests a rent increase, and if the fair market rent decreases 5%.
All units must meet Housing Quality Standards which insures the Tenant a decent and safe place in which to create a home for their family.
Public Housing
Public housing was established to provide decent and safe rental housing for eligible low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. Public housing comes in all sizes and types, from scattered single family houses to multi-level apartments for elderly families. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) administers Federal aid to local housing agencies that manage the housing for low income residents at rents they can afford.
Who Is Eligible?
Public housing is limited to low-income families and individuals. The Housing Authority determines your eligibility based on:
- Annual gross income.
- Whether you qualify as elderly, a person with a disability, or as a family.
- U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status. If you are eligible, the Housing Authority will check your references to make sure you and your family will be good tenants. We will deny admission to any applicant whose habits and practices may be expected to have a detrimental effect on other tenants or on the development’s environment.
The Housing Authority of the City of Bessemer uses income limits developed by HUD. HUD sets the lower income limits at 80% and very low income limits at 50% of the median income for the county or metropolitan area in which you choose to live. Income limits vary from area to area so you may be eligible at Housing Authority of the City of Bessemer but not at another Authority.
How Do I Apply?
- Apply online by clicking Apply Now.
- If you are 55 years or older you may request a paper application from the Leasing Department.
How Does The Application Process Work?
- After you have completed the online portion, please check your email to see if application was accepted or denied.
- All waiting lists are 6 months to 2 years wait.
- Keep adress and phone number up to date.
- An orientation letter will be sent to you once you are close to the top of the waiting list.
- At orientation you will complete the full HUD application.
Will I Need To Produce Any Documentation?
- You may submit documentation if the system allows.
- You may still need to submit documentation at the orientation session.
- If the system does not allow you to submit documents please wait until you receive an orientation letter before submitting.
When Will I Be Notified?
- Once your online application has been accepted or denied.
- Once you are close to the top of the waiting list.
Are There Any Selection Preferences?
- If you think you may qualify for a preference please contact the main office.
- We do not have emergency housing.
How Is Rent Determined?
- Once you have accepted a unit rent will be discussed with the leasing department.
Resident Services
The Resident Opportunity for Self Sufficiency Program (ROSS): The Authority’s ROSS Program is valuable resource and an important part of the Housing Authority of the City of Bessemer’s management team. These program link residents to existing services and resources in the community assist residents to build an informal support network among themselves, encourage residents to be proactive in meeting their social, psychological and physical needs, provide conflict resolution assistance as appropriate and seek out assistance with existing community resources when needed. This program also increase the ability of residents to uphold their lease obligations such as paying rent on time, taking proper care of their unit and ensuring quiet enjoyment of the property for all residents and surrounding neighbors. The Housing Authority of the City of Bessemer’s ROSS Program provides or may arrange with other agencies any of the following services:
Adult Education Classes
Life Skill Classes
Job Preparation and Placement
Domestic Violence Awareness Classes
Food Distribution
Clothing
Senior Services
Dental Referral
Furniture Referral
The Housing Authority of the City of Bessemer’s ROSS Program is an integral part of the management team addressing the needs and difficulties of residents that can jeopardize tenancy. This program promote effective partnerships among housing providers, property managers and service providers to improve a project’s financial viability/stability, benefiting current and future residents and ultimately the community at large.
To receive services through the Housing Authority of the City of Bessemer’s ROSS Program, residents must contact one of our three Resident Service Office locations:
Family Self Sufficiency
One of the Housing Authority’s most prominent services provided to our residents include:
The Family Self-Sufficiency Program (FSS). The Authority’s FSS Program is a voluntary initiative for our Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV), Public Housing Residents, and Multifamily Properties. This program focuses on participants becoming gainfully employed and building wealth to move towards self-sufficiency. In order for program participants to become actively involved an Individualized Training and Service Plan (ITSP) must be completed. The ITSP will identify educational, personal and professional goals. A plan of action is established and an outline of specific activities and services needed to achieve these goals are identified. The Housing Authority of the City of Bessemer provides or may arrange with other agencies to provide any of the following FSS services:
Educational Instruction
Job Preparation and Placement
Home Ownership
Business Development
Credit Analysis
Legal Aid
During a five-year contract, the FSS Coordinator monitors the participant’s progress and assists them in reaching their definitive goal of self-sufficiency. As participants achieve their goals, it is likely their earnings will increase, which causes a fraction of their rental fee to increase. When this occurs, a sum equivalent to the increase is set aside in an escrow account for the participant. When the ITSP is successfully completed, the participant is rewarded by receiving all of the money in the account plus interest.
To qualify for FSS, you must:
Facilities
The primary goal of the Housing Authority of the City of Bessemer’s Facilities Department is to provide Top-Tier Service and Support to foster and enable the Housing Authority of the City of Bessemer’s Mission “to provide drug-free, decent, safe and sanitary housing for eligible families; to increase the supply of affordable rental housing for low-income families who cannot afford to pay market rents, and to provide educational opportunities and promote self-sufficiency and economic independence for all residents.”
From Maintenance, Rehabilitation and Modernization to New Construction and Site Development; the Facilities Department is charged to literally “build the community” to provide continuous improvements to the physical conditions at all of our Sites and Facilities for the enjoyment our residents and the City of Bessemer.
For more information about our projects please follow these links:
- Construction & Procurement
- Opportunities Coming Soon!
- Contractor / Vendor Registration
If you are interested in doing business with the Housing Authority of the City of Bessemer, please register for inclusion on vendors list by completing the required fields below. Please include a brief description of the contracting trades and procurement opportunities you are interested in. We will be happy to contact you when future opportunities become available.
Get In Touch
Address:
1515 Fairfax Avenue Bessemer, AL 35021
Phone Number:
205-481-4420
Business Hours:
7:30am - 3:00pm M-F
Closed from 12:00pm - 1:00pm
