Aleta Bellazer has

been a central figure

in her grandchil-

dren’s lives since they were

born. Her daughter’s four

children lovingly call her “Momo.”

When she moved from Louisiana

to Oklahoma, they stayed with her

for the summer and never wanted to

leave. That was more than four years

ago.

Aleta and her four grandchildren

now live together in a four-bedroom

house with an extra living area in the

back for them to play and do their

homework. Their home gives the kids

plenty of personal space.

HUD posted the final fair market rents

for Oklahoma effective December 11,

2015, allowing OHFA to review its pay-

ment standards.

Since then, OHFA has increased many

of the payment standards to 100% or

more of the fair market rents to assist

its clients in finding affordable units.

Updated payment standards that went

into effect April 1, 2016, are posted at

www.ohfa.org on the Housing Choice

Voucher Resources page.

Visit the shortcut http://tinyurl.com/Se-

c8Resources and click on the Payment

Standards link.

A Newsletter for Section 8 Rental Assistance Landlords and Tenants Published Twice Yearly by Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency

Summer 2016 | Volume 15 | Number 1

OHFA Increases Payment Standards

onNewsNews 88Raising A

At the same time, rental assistance

from OHFA gives Aleta room to breathe

financially.

Without it, “life would be hard,” she

said. “Rent here is $750.”

With her income from employment

in the dietary department of a nurs-

ing home, Aleta only pays half of that

amount through OHFA’s Section 8

Housing Choice Voucher Program.

“Kids are very expensive now,” she

said. “By helping me, they help them.”

(continued on page 2)

Generation

OHFA sends Notification of Changes to

HAP Contract and/or lease letters when

the annual recertification is completed.

Any change or anticipated change in

household income occurring after the

annual recertification appointment, but

prior to the current annual recertifica-

tion effective date must be reported in

writing to OHFA within 30 days of the

change.

An increase in a household member’s

income occurring during this period will

be included when calculating the fam-

ily’s income for the annual recertifica-

tion.

Report Income Changes Prior to Recertification

Second

Aleta Bellazer (far right)took on the responsibility and rewards of raising her four grandchildren.

TTY

Recertification Team 1 Alphabet A,D,G,H,K,M,O, and X

Recertification Team 2 Alphabet B,C,I,J,N,P,T,U, and Y

Recertification Team 3Alphabet E,F,L,Q,R,S,V,W, and Z

Initial Certification Team

Preapp Status line

Local Leasing line Toll-free Leasing lineFax Number

Office Operations Mary Hoock, Manager Ken Erb, Supervisor

Field Operations Kenneth Love, Manager Dodie Pool, Supervisor

FSS/ Home Ownership Specialists Kathy Stafford Ryland MooreSheila Calvin

www.ohfa.orgAA/EEO

Oklahoma Quality Award Winner

OHFA’s Administrative Plan for the Section 8 Housing Voucher Program may be viewed at www.ohfa.org or at its central office by appointment.

(405) 848-7471

(405) 419-8166 Fax: (405) 419-9166

(405) 419-8167Fax: (405) 419-9167

(405) 419-8168Fax: (405) 419-9168

(405) 419-8169Fax: (405) 419-9169

1-866-569-6306or (405) 879-6365

(405) 842-24711-800-256-1489(405) 879-8822

(405) 419-8266(405) 419-8233

(405) 419-8268(405) 419-8230

(405) 419-8236 (405) 419-8197(405) 419-8171

Street Address: 100 N.W. 63rd Street, Suite 200 Oklahoma City, OK 73116

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 26720 Oklahoma City, OK 73126

Executive DirectorDennis Shockley

Rental Assistance Director Deborah Jenkins

NEWS on 8 Editor Diana Rogers Jaeger, APR

Contact List

P2

In an effort to provide more flex-

ibility to Section 8 Housing Choice

Voucher families and to allow them

to find housing during the term of

their voucher, HUD requires that the

time on the voucher be stopped

(suspended) upon the family sub-

mitting the scheduling appointment

request form.

The time is started again when

OHFA notifies the family in writing

whether the request has been ap-

proved or denied.

The signing of the lease is approval

of the request. Denial is when the

family or owner decides they do not

want to rent the selected unit or the

owner is unwilling to lower the rent

so the family can qualify under the

40% affordability rule.

It is still important for the family

to submit a written request for an

extension before the voucher expira-

tion date if the family is not able to

locate a unit during the term of their

voucher.

New HUD Requirement Gives Families More Time to Find a Unit

5 Useful Tips for Landlords

All four grandchildren, Acura, 14;

Ladamilin, 12; Akliah, 10; and Akayla, 10;

play sports and the cost of their shoes

and uniforms adds up.

Aleta’s days can be long and tiring.

Still, she comes home to take care of

her grandchildren, making memories at

the same time. All four kids encourage

her to go outside with them to shoot

basketball in the driveway.

“They don’t let you be tired,” she said.

“They keep me going.”

It’s no secret that raising a teenager

and preteens comes with challenges.

But the rewards outnumber them.

“They can be a pain in the butt at

times, but they’re mine,” Aleta said with

a smile.

GENERATION... [CONTINUED]

After moving to Oklahoma two

years ago, Mike Overby found

success in the rental market. He

currently owns 50 homes in the Mid-

west City and Del City area. He oper-

ates his business, Prime OKC Proper-

ties, by certain standards and believes

following them can help other landlords

find success as well.

Do It for More Than Money

Mike takes

pride in reno-

vating a home

so that everyone

would want to live

there.

“You have to make a profit, but you can’t be all about that. You will lose.”

Respect Your TenantsMike doesn’t rent out a single house

that he wouldn’t live in.

“Just because they’re Section 8 doesn’t mean you lower your standards and doesn’t mean they’re a lower class people.”

Use Quality Appliances and FixturesMike doesn’t install anything that is

used or recycled in any of his rental

properties. Everything is brand new.

“Put quality stuff in there.”Develop a Solid ReputationMike renovates his properties so that

the quality of his work speaks for itself.

People hear about Mike’s rental proper-

ties through word of mouth.

“I don’t advertise.”Surround Yourself With a Good TeamFrom his financiers to his contractors,

Mike carefully selects them because

they play key roles in his business.

“I can’t be successful without them.”

Mike Overby

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Springtime HQS Checklist

Spring triggers the need for spring

cleaning, tornado preparation, and

Housing Quality Standards (HQS)

maintenance checks. Below is a sug-

gested to-do list to ensure your dwell-

ing is a safe and sanitary place to live.

1. Change smoke detector batteries

and test for proper operation.

2. Change air filters and clean air vent

covers.

3. Declutter belongings away from

outlets, windows, walkways, and

water heaters.

4. Clean central air conditioner unit

coils and fan of dirt and debris.

5. Check weatherstripping along both

sides, top, and bottom of all exterior

doors (front and back doors).

6. Check roof for loose or lifting

shingles.

7. Walk around the unit to check exte-

rior siding, fascias and soffits for any

rotting or deteriorating wood.

8. Clean out gutters of leaves, dirt,

and debris.

9. Remove all coverings from win-

dows. Make sure windows that are

designed to open can open, close,

lock and stay open without the use of

a prop or device.

10. Check windows for any air infil-

tration.

11. Check the foundation and exte-

rior brick walls of the unit for settling

cracks and/or missing mortar.

12. Make sure your family is familiar

with the layout of your home. Design

and practice your family’s fire and

tornado safety drills.

Completing this suggested HQS

checklist will help ensure your home is

a safe and sanitary place to live.

Learn more about HQS requirements

at http://tinyurl.com/Sec8Resources

and click on the Briefing Book, Housing

Quality Standards, and Administrative

Plan links.

Connect2Compete is a national

not for profit initiative, aimed at

bringing students and families

nationwide online by providing low cost

computers and high-speed Internet,

and free digital literacy training.

Families that qualify for the National

School Lunch Program are eligible to

receive Internet services at $9.95 per

month.

During the two years of the program,

there are no price increases, no activa-

tion fees, and no equipment rental fees.

Through Connect2Compete, families

have the option to purchase a refur-

bished laptop for $202 or a refurbished

desktop computer for $162.

Both systems come with

Genuine Windows 7, Micro-

soft Office 2010 Home and

Business, a 90-day warran-

ty, and free shipping.

Since many teachers assign Internet-

based homework and require comput-

ers for school projects, access to a

computer and high-speed Internet at

home has become essential to helping

students connect and succeed in the

classroom and beyond.

Visit www.everyoneon.org to learn

more about participation in Connect-

2Compete.

Connect2Compete

• Chris AndersonFloater Agent

• Luke BrooksEast Oklahoma

• Senna FranklinFloater Agent

• Christina HinesFloater Agent

• Jack HowellEast Oklahoma

•Corey KingFloater Agent

• Rhonda MurrellFloater Agent

• Philippe JametFloater Agent

• Sandy LindsleyEast & NE OK

• Debbie MauldinFloater Agent

• Shannon OgleSE Oklahoma

• Shawnta WardFloater Agent

• Judi WrightFloater Agent

Field Agents

Report concerns or questions regarding rental assistance payments to (405) 848-1144, Ext. 2898. Leave a detailed message and a phone number where you can be reached.

Housing Assistance Payment Line

Changes to Phone Number, Email & Mailing Address

Please immediately notify OHFA in writing every time your telephone number, email or mailing address changes.

Visit http://ohfa.gosection8.com to view or list available units for free or call (866) 466-7328.

Listing of AvailableRental Properties

Property owners may access payment history 24/7 at www.hapcheck.com.

Housing Assistance Payment History

Offers Low-Cost Computers and High-Speed Internet

Presort StandardU.S. Postage

PaidPermit No. 2000

Okla. City, OK

SEE WHAT’S INSIDE!

Holidays (Offices Closed)May 30, Memorial DayJuly 4, Independence DaySeptember 5, Labor DayNovember 11, Veterans DayNovember 24 & 25, Thanksgiving December 26 & 27, Christmas

Landlord MeetingsSeptember 22 - LawtonOctober 6 - TulsaOctober 20 - Oklahoma City

Rental Assistance Trainings (Staff Unavailable)

June 9, September 8 & December 15 2016 Homebuyer Education Classes (Current FSS Clients Only)

June 25, September 17 & December 3

Resident Advisory Board Meetings

May 27, August 19 & November 8

Program Coordinating Committee Meetings

July 29 & October 28

OHFA Increases Payment Standards

Springtime HQS Checklist

Connect2Compete Offers Low-Cost Computers

5 Useful Tips for Landlords

P.O. Box 26720Oklahoma City, OK 73126www.ohfa.org

Important Dates

A Newsletter for Section 8 Rental Assistance Landlords and Tenants Published Twice Yearly by Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency

onNewsNews 88

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Free Summer Meals Available to Children

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) provides free breakfast, lunch and snacks to all children, regardless of their family’s income. To apply for SFSP, individuals must contact a participating site. To find nearby SFSP sites, visit https://cnp.sde.ok.gov/SponsorLocator/ or call the Oklahoma Child Nutrition Office (405) 521-3327.

Searching for Work? Quality Jobs Available

Free job training, career coaching,

continuing education and more

are available to qualifying indi-

viduals through Work Ready Oklahoma.

If you have been seeking work for six

months or longer, Work Ready Okla-

homa may be able to provide resources

and connections to help you get hired!

To be eligible, individuals must be

unemployed or underemployed, be at

least 18 years old, have a high school di-

ploma or GED, and have some post-sec-

ondary education or work experience.

Career opportunities are available in

good-paying sectors such as manage-

ment/business, IT/computers, financial

services, architecture, teaching, health-

care, and engineering.

Work Ready Oklahoma services are

FREE to both job seekers and employ-

ers. Visit www.workreadyoklahoma.com

or call (405) 418-3923 to learn more.