County Housing is committed to ensuring equitable, flexible rental assistance for Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) participants. Starting January 1, 2025, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires County Housing to adopt Small Area Fair Market Rents (SAFMRs), a policy change designed to better reflect local housing costs and increase access to opportunity-rich neighborhoods.
What Are SAFMRs?
SAFMRs are a localized version of Fair Market Rents (FMRs) calculated at the ZIP code level instead of across the entire metropolitan area. This approach ensures that payment standards align with housing costs in specific neighborhoods, providing more accurate assistance to participants.
Why Is County Housing Adopting SAFMRs?
By implementing SAFMRs, County Housing can:
- Ensure rental assistance matches local housing costs.
- Provide families with greater access to neighborhoods with better amenities, schools, and job opportunities.
- Create a more equitable distribution of resources to meet diverse resident needs.
What Does This Mean for Residents?
For HCV participants, SAFMRs may lead to adjustments in rental assistance:
Higher-cost areas: Residents may receive more assistance, expanding housing options in neighborhoods with greater opportunities.
Lower-cost areas: Assistance may adjust to reflect actual housing costs in these ZIP codes.
To protect residents, County Housing has implemented a “hold harmless” policy:
Current Units: Your rental assistance will not change as long as you remain in your current unit and your voucher size does not change.
Moving Units: If you decide to move, the new SAFMRs will apply to your rental assistance for the new unit.
Important Notes for Residents
No Immediate Rent Changes: These changes do not affect your rent immediately. Adjustments may only occur during annual recertifications or if your family composition, income, or utility allowance changes.
Flexibility in Housing Choices: Residents are not required to move, but SAFMRs may offer more opportunities to relocate to neighborhoods that better suit their needs.
Community Impact
SAFMRs will allow County Housing to respond to the diverse housing costs across the community, ensuring that participants can thrive in neighborhoods that best meet their needs while promoting equitable resource allocation.
County Housing is dedicated to ensuring all participants have access to safe, affordable housing and the support they need to succeed.
