Note from the Chief HCV Officer, Cheryl L. Burns |
What do you think about Owner News as a monthly e-newsletter? We hope you are enjoying the new format and find the information useful as you navigate the ins and outs of the HCV Program. Each issue includes a short how-to, an answer to a common question and a timely program reminder ... plus links to news you may have missed and helpful resources.
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How to Access Housing Resources on the HCV Owner Portal |
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Did you know the HCV Owner Portal is home to dozens of essential resources for housing providers?
To access the full list, just log in to your HCV Owner Portal account and click on the RESOURCES tab in the menu bar. From there, you'll be able to view HCV Program forms, guides, newsletters, HQS information, upcoming events, information on HCV Policies and initiatives, and more.
Note: If you don't currently have an HCV Owner Portal account, you will need your vendor number and the associated email address on file with CHA to sign up. To get started, visit chahcvportal.org and click on the “Sign Up” button at the bottom left of the screen.
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FAQ Corner: Improving Building Security |
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Property owners often ask ... “What are safety measures I can take to make sure my property is safe and secure?”
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Building safety is not only a key responsibility as a property owner, it's also part of CHA's mission to provide low-income families with safe, decent, and sanitary housing. Property owners play a crucial role in ensuring their tenants feel safe. Below are some of the ways that you can help improve building safety. |
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Secure Locks and Bolts
Make sure building locks are secure and pick-proof. Consider using high security keys that can't be easily duplicated. These keys can only be duplicated by the manufacturer and typically require identification in order to be copied. Similarly, there are high security bolts that can add an additional layer of protection.
Keep Interiors and Exteriors Areas Well-Lit
Housing providers are encouraged to maintain well-lit walkways surrounding the property, as well as hallways inside the property, especially at nighttime. Doing so can help prevent accidents and make potential intruders feel as though they are being watched.
Talk to Your Tenants about Safety
Encourage your tenants to stay alert and aware of their surroundings. Double-checking to make sure their doors are locked and being mindful of who they're letting into the building are preventative safety measures they can take to keep themselves and other tenants safe. Advise them to carefully look after their belongings. Leaving certain items, such as bikes or toys, in front of the building or in plain sight can attract thieves onto the property.
Install Security Cameras
Cameras help give tenants a sense of safety, deter crime and help with investigation if there are any incidents on your property.
Maintain Landscaping
Overgrown greenery can create a hiding place for intruders and it also suggests the building isn't well-maintained, which could be more inviting to intruders. Planting thorny bushes such as roses or bougainvillea under windows or along fences can help prevent intruders from hopping fences or breaking in through windows.
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Incentive Payments
Did you know CHA offers Landlord Incentive Payments to first-time property owners? A property owner who has never participated in the HCV Program and leases their Mobility Area unit to a CHA voucher holder is eligible to receive a one-time, lump sum payment equal to the monthly Contract Rent of the unit.
Landlord Incentive Payments were implemented to further the goal of deconcentrating poverty and provide greater access to all neighborhoods
throughout the city of Chicago.
There is no need to apply. If eligible, CHA will automatically issue the incentive payment within 30 days of the first monthly Housing Assistance Payment.
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Health and Wellness Corner: Celebrating Community Kindness |
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By Doreen Green, LCPC, Clinical Support Specialist, CHA's HCV Health & Wellness Program
We live in a world that can bring immense joy as well as suffering. Some people may find themselves struggling to make sense of it all or just trying to cope and get through the day. We never truly know what someone may be experiencing in their daily lives ... regardless of how they appear. Challenges with managing well-being or mental health are not limited by age, gender, ethnicity or social status, and can impact anyone at any time. For these reasons, acts of kindness can go a long way in offering positive mental health support.
An act of kindness does not need to be a grand gesture. Kindness can be given by supporting activities in your community, by volunteering, or by donating what you can, when you can. Kindness can be given in subtle ways through our daily interactions with others by simply acknowledging someone’s efforts or presence.
Engaging in acts of kindness can help create a sense of connection between you and others within your community. You may not know everyone in your community personally but acts of kindness can create a positive rapport with people you may frequently encounter. Wouldn’t it be nice to see a friendly face at some point in your daily life, even if for a brief moment?
Giving or receiving acts of kindness can help with relieving feelings of loneliness or isolation by opening the door for conversation about shared experiences. Showing kindness can contribute to emotional safety and normalize the idea of asking for help or acknowledging not being okay. This can prompt someone to seek support for their well-being or mental health. Acts of kindness can help us to slow down and notice each other in a more meaningful way. The quality of life in a community can be positively impacted by those who live in the community being mindful of the well-being of others. Why not start now with a simple smile while talking with a neighbor?
Be Kind 💚
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OS23 Webinar Series: Evictions ... Finding a Path Forward for Housing Providers
If you’re making the difficult decision to evict your tenant, there are many rules and regulations you have to follow as a property owner in the city of Chicago. Learn from a legal expert about the necessary steps in the evictions process including notices, documentation, court dates and more.
OS23 Webinar Series: Fostering Relationships to Secure Long-Term Tenancy
Fostering strong relationships with your tenants is an essential component in successful property management. This session will cover starting the relationship off on the right foot, effective communications and proactive problem solving that will make your tenants want to stay for the long haul!
In-Person Owner Networking Event
Join fellow property owners in person at the FIC to share experiences, discuss best practices and learn from each other. CHA staff will be on hand to help facilitate the event, but the evening is all yours.
Stress and Anxiety Management
Stress and anxiety can have a negative impact on both your emotional well-being and physical health. Join us to learn strategies for managing these challenging feelings.
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Introducing CHA's New Owner Bootcamp Webinar Series!
This four (4) session online webinar series will cover the ins and outs of the HCV Program including how to get started, HQS inspections, rent determination and rent increases, and HCV Program enforcement.
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Getting Started with the HCV Program
Learn how you can join the ranks of over 13,000 Chicago property owners who are providing safe, decent and affordable housing to Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) participants. In this session, we will guide you through the tenancy approval process, clarify CHA policies and procedures as well as highlight new HCV Program initiatives. Attendees will walk away equipped with essential resources for success on the HCV Program and as a property owner in the city of Chicago.
HQS Inspections for Housing Providers
Join us as we methodically walk through a typical HQS inspection, highlight common fail items, and discuss HUD policy updates.
Rent Determination & Rent Increases
Learn about the many factors that play a role in rent calculations, including unit location, utilities and more. This session will also cover the ins and outs of the rent increase process and how to avoid pitfalls that can cause substantial delays.
How CHA Enforces HCV Program Rules
In this session, we’ll discuss how CHA monitors contract compliance, investigates complaints and ensures that HCV families and property owners are meeting their obligations to the program (and to each other). HCV staff will also review what can happen during the different stages of program enforcement through a series of real case studies.
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How Pre-Inspections Can Help You Pass Your HQS Inspection |
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Do you have an HQS inspection coming up? Consider conducting a pre-inspection beforehand to prepare. A pre-inspection can make all the difference when it comes to passing or failing your HQS inspection.
When conducting a pre-inspection, it's important to carefully inspect for any HQS violations in all areas the participant family has access to on both the interior and exterior of the building. Be prepared to make repairs, if necessary. Important items to look out for include garbage, debris, deteriorated paint and infestation. If a child under six (6) resides in the unit (or a household member is expecting) and the unit was built before 1978, any deteriorated paint must be touched up. Why, you ask? Lead-based paint! Units built before 1978 are likely to have lead-based paint, which can be hazardous and cause a range of health problems, especially in young children.
Additionally, property owners are responsible for eliminating any pests in the unit. So, if you notice infestation during the pre-inspection, it's best to start the extermination process as soon as possible.
CHA conducts HQS inspections to ensure that the unit has adequate living space for the family and presents no conditions that endanger the family’s health and safety. The unit must be in safe and sanitary condition throughout. If one item fails the inspection, the entire inspection fails. If the unit fails, the responsible party (property owner and/or participant) has 30 days to make the required repairs (24 hours for emergency items) and to pass re-inspection (automatically scheduled for most inspection types).
Click here for more information on HQS inspections, including guidelines and procedures.
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Resources for Property Owners |
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We want to hear from you! Especially if you’ve never attended one of our educational sessions before ... please take a minute to share what you'd like to see from HCV education and events.
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Have leasing-related questions, or want to request a 1:1 consultation? The HCV Owner Outreach team is here to help. Email owneroutreach@thecha.org.
¡También ofrecemos estos servicios en español!
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Bookmark some of our other favorite online resources
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Affordability Calculator (for non-Mobility area units): chahcvportal.org under the MOVES menu.
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Check your inspection appointments and results: chainspections.org
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Search the interactive Mobility Area Map: thecha.org/mobility and scroll to the bottom.
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Add comparable units to CHA's rent reasonableness database: affordablehousing.com (free account required), log in and click COMPARABLES in the left-hand menu.
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View/download HAP Statements or submit a rent increase request: chahcvportal.org under the FINANCE menu.
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We appreciate your continued partnership! If you liked this newsletter, or have topic suggestions for newsletter articles or webinars, reply to this email and let us know.
Looking for past editions of Owner News? Find them on the HCV Owner Portal chahcvportal.org under RESOURCES.
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