Nan McKay Housing Choice Voucher Specialist Exam – Study Guide
and Practice Questions
Owner responsibilities - AnswerSelects and screens tenants
Enforces lease
State responsibilities - AnswerPasses legislation establishing PHAS
PHA administrative plan - Answerestablishes local policies for administering the HCV
program
HUD vs ADA definition of disability - AnswerHUD definition is more specific, used for
eligibility determination and allowances/deductions
ADA definition - broader, used for reasonable accommodations
Live in aide - Answerwould not be living in the unit except to provide necessary
supportive services
Occupancy cycle - AnswerIntake - preapplication, waiting list, needs estimation, final
eligibility determination
Initial lease-up - briefing & voucher issuance, RFTA and lease approval submitted, HQS
inspection, approval & execution, moves
Annual Activities - recerts, HQS (biennially), rent adjustment
Moves
Interim activities - interem recerts, HQS compliance
Terminations - HCV violation, lease termination, HAP contract termination
Certification of preference + waitlist addition - AnswerAt time of initial app, need only
certify preference eligibility (not verify)
Place on waitlist according to preference claimed
eligibility verification requirement: X number of days - Answer60 day window to obtain
verification docs
elderly family: - Answerhead or spouse is 62+
disabled family: - Answerhead/spouse is disabled
two+ people in hh are disabled
,one+ people w/ one+ live-in aides
exemptions from SSN disclosure - AnswerNoncontending family member (someone not
declaring citizenship/eligible non-citizen status)
Noncontending family member - Answersomeone not declaring citizenship/eligible non-
citizen status
exempt from SSN disclosure
Mixed family - AnswerCitizens + eligible noncitizens/non-eligible non-citizens
To declare citizenship/national status: - Answercomplete signed declaration (section
214 status)
Section 214 - Answerto declare citizenship/national status
When is income eligibility not tested? - AnswerAfter lease-up/admission
Student rule for eligibility - AnswerCannot give assistance to someone who:
• Is enrolled as a student at an
institution of higher education;
• Is under the age of 24;
• Is not a veteran of the United
States military;
• Is unmarried;
• Does not have a dependent
child;
• Is not a person with disabilities,
• Student and parents are both income eligible (80% AMI) or student is
independent/absent from their parents
Before beginning denial on basis of criminal/sex-offender status, PHA must -
AnswerNotify household and provide an opportunity to dispute
PHA must deny if applicant fails to: - Answersign consent forms
not disclose SSN
no citizens/eligible nationals
PHA may deny for - Answerdebts owed
Family obligations are listed on - Answerthe voucher
, PHA is not obligated to approve tenancy when: - Answervoucher is issued
Oral briefing must include: - AnswerDescription of how program works
Family/owner responsibilities
Where family may lease (inside and outside of PHA jurisdiction)
Explanation of portability + list of contacts at neighboring PHAs
Oral briefing must be done prior to: - Answervoucher issuance
Voucher suspension (stopping the clock) - Answermust be done by the PHA
PHA must give owner these records: - Answercurrent/prior family addresses
current/prior landlord names + addresses (if known)
Owner is responsible for: - AnswerScreening tenant's behavior/suitability for tenancy
PHA may not approve tenancy until: - AnswerUnit eligible
HQS
Tenancy addendum included
Reasonable rent
Family share !> 40% monthly adjusted income
Ineligible units - AnswerPublic housing
project-based units
health facilities
educational facilities
criminal facilities
owner occupied units
Initial lease can be less than a year if: - Answershorter term would improve housing
opportunity
shorter term is prevailing market practice
and Practice Questions
Owner responsibilities - AnswerSelects and screens tenants
Enforces lease
State responsibilities - AnswerPasses legislation establishing PHAS
PHA administrative plan - Answerestablishes local policies for administering the HCV
program
HUD vs ADA definition of disability - AnswerHUD definition is more specific, used for
eligibility determination and allowances/deductions
ADA definition - broader, used for reasonable accommodations
Live in aide - Answerwould not be living in the unit except to provide necessary
supportive services
Occupancy cycle - AnswerIntake - preapplication, waiting list, needs estimation, final
eligibility determination
Initial lease-up - briefing & voucher issuance, RFTA and lease approval submitted, HQS
inspection, approval & execution, moves
Annual Activities - recerts, HQS (biennially), rent adjustment
Moves
Interim activities - interem recerts, HQS compliance
Terminations - HCV violation, lease termination, HAP contract termination
Certification of preference + waitlist addition - AnswerAt time of initial app, need only
certify preference eligibility (not verify)
Place on waitlist according to preference claimed
eligibility verification requirement: X number of days - Answer60 day window to obtain
verification docs
elderly family: - Answerhead or spouse is 62+
disabled family: - Answerhead/spouse is disabled
two+ people in hh are disabled
,one+ people w/ one+ live-in aides
exemptions from SSN disclosure - AnswerNoncontending family member (someone not
declaring citizenship/eligible non-citizen status)
Noncontending family member - Answersomeone not declaring citizenship/eligible non-
citizen status
exempt from SSN disclosure
Mixed family - AnswerCitizens + eligible noncitizens/non-eligible non-citizens
To declare citizenship/national status: - Answercomplete signed declaration (section
214 status)
Section 214 - Answerto declare citizenship/national status
When is income eligibility not tested? - AnswerAfter lease-up/admission
Student rule for eligibility - AnswerCannot give assistance to someone who:
• Is enrolled as a student at an
institution of higher education;
• Is under the age of 24;
• Is not a veteran of the United
States military;
• Is unmarried;
• Does not have a dependent
child;
• Is not a person with disabilities,
• Student and parents are both income eligible (80% AMI) or student is
independent/absent from their parents
Before beginning denial on basis of criminal/sex-offender status, PHA must -
AnswerNotify household and provide an opportunity to dispute
PHA must deny if applicant fails to: - Answersign consent forms
not disclose SSN
no citizens/eligible nationals
PHA may deny for - Answerdebts owed
Family obligations are listed on - Answerthe voucher
, PHA is not obligated to approve tenancy when: - Answervoucher is issued
Oral briefing must include: - AnswerDescription of how program works
Family/owner responsibilities
Where family may lease (inside and outside of PHA jurisdiction)
Explanation of portability + list of contacts at neighboring PHAs
Oral briefing must be done prior to: - Answervoucher issuance
Voucher suspension (stopping the clock) - Answermust be done by the PHA
PHA must give owner these records: - Answercurrent/prior family addresses
current/prior landlord names + addresses (if known)
Owner is responsible for: - AnswerScreening tenant's behavior/suitability for tenancy
PHA may not approve tenancy until: - AnswerUnit eligible
HQS
Tenancy addendum included
Reasonable rent
Family share !> 40% monthly adjusted income
Ineligible units - AnswerPublic housing
project-based units
health facilities
educational facilities
criminal facilities
owner occupied units
Initial lease can be less than a year if: - Answershorter term would improve housing
opportunity
shorter term is prevailing market practice
