What is Public Housing?
Public Housing is a federal program designed to house eligible persons in affordable, decent, safe and sanitary apartments that are owned by the Cortland Housing Authority (CHA). What happens after I submit the application?
Each application is stamped with the date and time when it is received in the CHA office. A preliminary eligibility determination is made based on the total annual income, household size and Federal Housing Assistance history. Eligible applications are placed on the waiting list in the order they are received and based on any preferences. A letter is sent to the applicant to notify them of whether or not they are eligible.
What are the preferences for the Cortland Housing Authority?
The Authority has established certain preference categories and all applicants meeting one or more of those preferences will be assisted before those applicants who do not have a preference. CHA preferences are: elderly, handicapped/disabled, families, and Cortland County residents.
What if you tell me my household is not eligible and I do not agree?
There is a hearing process for ineligible applicants. If your eligibility letter tells you that you are not eligible, it will also tell you how to request a hearing.
How long before I get an apartment?
It is not possible to tell you how long it will take before you are contacted for an interview. The waiting period depends on the location site and the bedroom size needed for your household.
Where are the apartments located?
We have efficiency and one bedroom apartments for Elderly/Handicapped/Disabled individuals located in Cortland, Homer, McGraw, Marathon, Cincinnatus and Truxton. We have two, three, four and five bedroom apartments for Families located in Cortland, Homer, McGraw, Cincinnatus and Truxton.
How is the rent calculated?
Under the Public Housing Program, tenants pay no more than 30 % of their income for rent. Revised 4-6-20
What if my address, income or household composition changes?
You must notify the CHA, in writing, if your mailing address changes, because our notifications are done by mail. If we cannot reach you by mail, your application will be removed from the waiting list. You would then have to re-apply and be placed at the bottom of the list.
You should also notify the CHA, in writing, if your household composition changes, as this may affect your position on the waiting list.
In most cases changes in income do not need to be reported while you are on the waiting list, since income will be verified when you are called in off the waiting list. You only need to report a change in your income if you have met with someone from our office and they have told you to do so.
What if I am a victim of domestic violence?
Section 6 of the U.S. Housing Act of 1937 states: "The Public Housing Agency shall not deny admission to our programs to any applicant on the basisthat the applicant is or has been a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, applicant otherwise qualifies for assistance or admission, and that nothing in this section shall be construed to supersede any provision of any Federal, State or local law that provides greater protection than this section for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking."
Confidentiality Information you provide to the housing agency relating to the fact that you or another member of your household is a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking will be retained by the housing agency in confidence. This information will not be shared or disclosed by the agency without your consent except as necessary in an eviction proceeding or as otherwise required by law.
Should I call the CHA to ask questions?
We ask that you save your questions about how the program works for the interview that you will attend
when you are called in off the waiting list.
Please do not call to ask about your position on the waiting list. We do not give out waiting list numbers, and we cannot predict how long you will be on the list. When there is apartment available that meets your criteria, you will be notified by mail.
You should call if you have not received an eligibility letter within three weeks of submitting your application.
We will periodically update our waiting list to determine if you remain interested in Public Housing. It is your responsibility to respond to these mailings within the deadline date or your name will be removed from the waiting list.