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302 families avail of NMHC housing voucher program
As of February this year, the Northern Marianas Housing Corp. has 302 families under its Housing Choice Voucher program.
A total of 282 beneficiaries are on Saipan, five are on Tinian, and 15 are on Rota, according to the report prepared by Brian Bocago, Housing and Low Income Tax Credit program special assistant.
Of the 282 families on Saipan, 275 are on island while seven were issued their vouchers on island but they chose to relocate to the U.S. mainland where the voucher program is also administered.
Compared to the January totals, the number of Saipan beneficiaries increased by eight in February, while Rota went down by one.
Bocago’s report also shows that a total of 300 families are on the waiting list.
He said 295 are on Saipan and five are on Tinian.
Despite no increase in funding, NMHC still managed to issue the vouchers to 53 more families since Jan. 1, 2012, according to NMHC corporate director Jesse Palacios.
“This remarkable action is attributed to proper and effective program and good fiscal practices,” he said.
NMHC can only issue up to 363 vouchers. This program is only for those availing of privately owned scattered units that are part of the program and housing division of NMHC’s Section 8 Housing Assistance Program.
This program assists families in paying for rent, equivalent to 30 percent of their adjusted income or 10 percent of their gross income, whichever is greater. Low-income families will be required to pay a minimum rent of $25 per month unless the family requests and qualifies for a waiver exemption for the minimum rent requirement.
It is a federal program that provides housing assistance to very low and low-income families through funding from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development.
