12101 Woodcrest  Executive Drive, Suite 180,
 St Louis, MO 63141
866-760-6000
   Monthly e-Newsletter
Our Commitment to Housing: Quality - Customer Service - Expertise
May 2016
MAY is Foster Children MONTH
elbow-children-line.jpg
  and
National Military Appreciation 
MONTH


Notes from the Editor

Affordable Housing Matters

With the month of May being National Military Appreciation Month as well as National Foster Care Month, we want to take a moment to say thank you. Thank you to all of our military members of past and present; you are our heroes!

We also appreciate those Foster Parents and the workers who dedicate their lives to take care of the children in the foster care system; the need is vast and we thank you for all that you do!

Sincerely,
Christine Hilsman
Executive Vice President
Fair Housing Design & Accessibility
Article 16

Overview: Seven basic requirements of fair housing accessibility
  1. Accessible entrances & property routes
  2. Accessible and usable public and common use areas
  3. Usable doors
  4. Accessible unit routes
  5. Accessible controls
  6. Grab-bar reinforcements
  7. Usable kitchens and bathrooms

Accessible Entrances & Property Routes 
Buildings With Common Entrances
Fair Housing Act Design Manual Chapter 1 
Page 1.31 -1.

In the previous issues we discussed the design requirements for buildings with separate entrances.  As we continue our discussion about fair housing design requirements for accessible entrances and property routes, we will now focus on BUILDINGS WITH COMMON ENTRANCES.  Below is the listing of the types of buildings with common entrances as discussed in the Fair Housing Act Design Manual:

Buildings with Common Entrances
  • Buildings with Ground Floors Over Shops or Garages
  • Buildings with One or More Common Entrances
  • Buildings with Common Entrances And a Single Ground Floor
  • Buildings with Common Entrances And Clustered Dwelling Units
  • Buildings with Split-Level Ground Floors
  • Buildings with Common Entrances And More Than One Ground Floor
  • Buildings Floors Having Common Entrances Served By Elevated Walkways
by Randy McCall
Trainer


Question from Client


 


Where can I find the dates that HUD 4350.3 Change 3 and Change 4 were effective? Do I actually need to know these dates?

by Breana Thomas
Trainer



Discounted Package Programs Available
 
"Trusted, reliable service for all your 
compliance needs."

If you need more than one of our services then let us offer them at a discount in one package.
  • Training
  • File Reviews
  • Capital Needs Assessment
  • Accessibility Assessments
  • Transition Plans
  • Utility Allowance Calculations

Click HERE to read more about these services
National Foster Care Month

May is National Foster Care month and to celebrate, we are dedicating an article to all our foster adults and foster children ("fosters")!  We are going to discuss areas in affordable housing where we come across our foster folks.
 
In the past, fosters were only included as part of the household when determining unit size.  They were not included for income limit purposes and their income was not counted.  HUD implemented Change 3 of the 4350.3 on August 1, 2009, which required that the income of fosters be included (this does not mean foster care payments - keep reading), but they were still not allowed for income limit purposes.

Change 4 of the HUD 4350.3 was effective on August 7, 2013.
                                             By Breana Thomas
Trainer 
 




In This Issue
Industry Updates
2016 HOME Income and Rent Limits Have Been Published - 
Effective June 6, 2016
Webinars


June 21   AFHMP
Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing Plan
June 22   VAWA 
June 23   HUD/EIV Basics
June 28   LIHTC Basics 
Part 1
June 29   LIHTC Basics
Part 2
July 13    Fair Housing:
Focus on Reasonable Accommodations & Modifications
July 14    Avoiding Top Errors in Affordable Housing Files
August 3   LIHTC - Acquisition/Rehab
Basics Part 1
August 4   LIHTC -
Acquisition/Rehab
Basics Part 2
September 27  HUD Basics Part 1
September 28  HUD Basics Part 2
October 5  A "Tour" of the IRS form 8609
October 6  To Protect and Serve
 
LIHTC
June 2      Trenton, NJ
Sponsored by NJHMFA  

June 12-14   Lansing, MI

July 20-21  Flagstaff, AZ
Sponsored by ADOH

July 26-28  St. Louis, MO

August 9-11   
                   Knoxville,TN

Sept. 14-16   Houston, TX
HUD
Click HERE for online Training modules
HOME
Check our Online HOME Funds training module
and Webinars
Join Our Mailing List
     www.zeffert.com

Quizzle

To celebrate Memorial Day, in honor of our veterans and those that currently serve in the military, our Quizzle this month will focus on these individuals.
  
Questions
 
1. When verifying military income from wages, we should try to collect which document?
a.  VA Benefit Letter
b.  Working and Earnings Statement
c.  Leave and Earnings Statement
d.  Coming and Going Statement

    2. Of the following, which type of military income is excluded?
a.  Hazardous Duty Pay
b.  Hostile Fire Pay
c.  Hardship Duty Pay
b.  Imminent Danger Pay

3. For Section 8 tenants only, any deferred Department of Veteran's Affairs (VA) disability benefits received in a lump sum or prospective monthly amounts are excluded as income.
True     or     False
 
4. Military members deployed on active duty must be counted as part of the household if they leave which family member(s) in the unit?
a.  Any Immediate Family Member
b.  Spouse
c.  Child
b.  Both B and C

5. The annual Cost-of-Living-Adjustment (COLA) can affect VA benefit amounts in addition to Social Security benefits.
True     or      False
 
6. The HUD Handbook 4350.3 covers HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing.
True      or      False 
By Breana Thomas 
             Trainer 
 Click HERE for the ANSWERS                                                                    
* Training * File Reviews
* Utility Allowance Calculations * Capital Needs Assessments
* Accessibility Assessments  * Transition Plans

Contact Us:
P: 866-760-6000
F: 866-204-8083