Trenton Housing Authority
- 875 New Willow Street
- Trenton, NJ 08638
- 609.278.5000
Frequently Asked Questions
What is THA's 'Selection and Suitability' Criteria in the housing admissions process?
All applicants undergo a thorough review of their current and past behavior to ensure they meet THA's 'selection and suitability' criteria. Through this behavior assessment, applicants must demonstrate their ability to comply with essential elements of a Lease to show that they are suitable for housing assistance. Specifically, their current and past behavior must show their ability to:
- Pay rent and other charges as required by the Lease in a timely manner;
- Care for and avoid damaging the unit and common areas;
- Use facilities, appliances and equipment in a reasonable manner;
- Create no health or safety hazards and report maintenance needs in a timely manner;
- Not interfere with the rights and peaceful enjoyment of others and avoid damaging the property of others;
- Engage in NO criminal activity or alcohol abuse;
- Engage in NO drug-related criminal activity on or off the THA premises;
- Not contain a household member subject to the lifetime sex offender registration requirement under a State Sex Offender Registration Program;
- Comply with rules and program requirements o HUD and THA;
- Comply with local health and safety codes
What credentials do I need when filling out an application for housing?
Applicants need to bring social security cards for the head of the household and all family members age 6 or older or provide written verification that they don't have social security cards. Birth certificates for the head of the household and all other family members are also needed at the time of application. Eligible immigrants must produce credentials such as green cards, visas, etc.
Generally, how long is the waiting list for housing for eligible applicants?
There is an average two to four year wait for public housing. For larger 3 and 4 bedroom units the wait can be even longer.
How are application ranked on the waiting list?
Applicants will be ranked on the waiting list based upon the following:
1) Date and time the pre-application is received;
2) The size and type of unit they require;
3) Employment status—preference is given to families where the head, spouse or sole member is employed and has been employed for 24 month. This preference is also automatically extended to elderly families or a family whose head or spouse meets the HUD/Social Security definition of disability (this should be linked to the actual definition-- http://www.hud.gov/offices/fheo/disabilities/inhousing.cfm).
4) Involuntary Displacement—preference will be given to families who have been involuntarily displaced and are not living in standard, permanent replacement housing.
Involuntary Displacement:
Families are considered to be involuntarily displaced if they are required to vacate housing as a result of one of the following situations:
- A disaster (fire, flood, earthquake, etc.) that has caused the unit to be inhabitable;
- Federal, State or local government action related to code enforcement, public improvement or development;
- Action by a housing owner—other than a rent increase—which is beyond the applicant's ability to control and occurs despite the applicant having met all previous conditions of occupancy.
Definition of Standard Replacement Housing:
Standard replacement housing is defined as housing that is decent, safe and sanitary and is adequate for the family size and that the family is occupying pursuant to a written or oral lease of occupancy agreement.
5) Substandard Housing—preference will be given to applicants living in substandard housing
Definition of Sub-Standard Housing:
Applicants who live in substandard housing are families whose dwelling meets one or more of the following criteria, provided that the family did not cause the condition:
- Is dilapidated, as cited by officials of code enforcement, and does not provide safe and adequate shelter;
- Has one or more critical defects or a combination of defects requiring considerable repair;
- Endangers the health, safety and well-being of the family;
- Does not have operable indoor plumbing;
- Does not have a useable flush toilet for the exclusive use of the family;
- Does not have a useable bathtub or shower unit for the exclusive family use;
- Does not have an adequate, safe source of heat,
- Has been declared unfit for habitation by a government agency; or
- Has a primary nighttime residence that is a supervised public or private shelter providing temporary accommodations (including welfare hotels, congregate shelters and transitional housing), or an institution providing temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized, or a public or private place not ordinarily used as a sleeping accommodations for human beings.
6) Welfare to Work/Education Training—preference is given to families who are graduates or participants in educational and training programs designed to prepare the individual for the job market.
7) Disability—preference is extended to disabled persons or families with a disabled member. Proof of disability will be required at time of selection. HUD regulations prohibit admission preferences for specific types of disabilities.
How does the THA determine what size apartment families require?
The THA established occupancy guidelines to ensure that housing units are appropriate for the size and needs of a family. Whenever possible, no more than two persons are to occupy one room. The size of an apartment is based on the following guidelines:
- Head of household and spouse (or significant other) share a bedroom;
- Two children of the same sex who are less than 17 may share a bedroom;
- Parents have separate bedrooms from children of the opposite sex who are more than five years of age.
Whenever possible, the THA will make reasonable accommodations to these guidelines for persons with disabilities of the need is appropriately verified.
Can applicants choose the complex or site where they want to live?
No, housing complex assignments are given based on apartment vacancy and the needs of the family. However, the THA is considering developing a site based waiting list for housing in the future.
How is rent determined for a family?
The THA offers two types of family choice rents—income and flat rent. Income based rent is based upon 30 percent of the family's monthly-adjusted income. Flat-based rent is based on the rental value of the apartment, which is determined by a market study conducted by the Trenton Housing Authority.
What is the procedure for paying rent for residents?
Each month on or around the 25th, a rent statement and return envelope is mailed to all residents. Residents are expected to mail the statement along with a check or money order for the exact rent amount by the 1st of each month. Rent is determined to be late after the 5th business day of the month in which it is due. The bank processes the individual rent statements and the information regarding the payment is submitted to THA and and credited to the residents' individual THA accounts. Residents will incur a $30 penalty fee for bounced checks and a $25 penalty fee for late rent.
Are residents allowed to have pets?
Yes, residents are permitted to have pets, as long as the animals have appropriate shot records. There is a registration fee of $10, as well as a $100 additional security deposit for pets.
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