March - May 2024 Newsletter
BOLIVAR HOUSING AUTHORITY NEWSLETTER
March - May 2024
From the ED's Desk:
Yes, spring is coming. Although the winter gave us some really cold and damaging weather, the temperatures have risen and it feels good to get outside.
Bolivar Housing Authority (BHA) has completed the interior improvement project at Hatchie Haven. The next planned project is for a similar improvement at Northside Heights and some units at Eastside Court. Residents in those developments will be notified when the plans are completed and work will start.
The month of March 2024 saw some of Bolivar Housing Authority's most senior residents decide to relocate. We wish them all good luck and happiness.
Within the next several weeks the maintenance team will begin grass cutting and other outside work. There is some work on the playground equipment that needs attention, and we plan to get that done.
Finally, the 2024 HUD rent schedule has been published and Bolivar Housing Authority has developed their "flat rent" schedule. The rents have increased as, they have done every year. Some residents may be affected by the new rent schedule, however, most residents will not. Most BHA households pay "income-based" rents and may not see much increase.
HUD has complained for several years that many public housing authorities, including Bolivar Housing Authority, have not followed the HUD rent schedule as published and are now required to do so (more will be discussed within this newsletter).
UNDERSTANDING THE NEW HUD RENT SCHEDULE
For many years Bolivar Housing Authority did not fully apply the HUD rent schedule in order to keep the rents low.
The calculation used by HUD to determine "flat rents" for public housing is to determine the Fair market Rent for Hardeman County, multiply that amount by .80 (80%) and deduct HUD determined utility allowance.
Example: Fair Market Rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $100.00; multiplied by .80 is $80; subtract $40.00 in utility allowances; the rent is $40.00.
BOLIVAR HOUSING AUTHORITY 2024 FLAT RENT SCHEDULE TO BEGIN APRIL 1, 2024
In 2014 HUD issued guidelines for the public housing and Section 8 program participants to more closely adhere to the HUD "flat rent" formula.
It allows a "Phase In" process where residents that are paying "flat rent" will have to be fully charged for the proper rent within three years.
Based upon where the resident lives, the following are the new "Flat Rent" charges for Bolivar Housing Authority. *Please remember, most residents are "Income Based" rent payers and will NOT pay the "Flat Rent" rates.
- One Bedroom - $337-$362
- Two Bedroom - $470-$500
- Three Bedroom -$718-$758
- Four Bedroom - $744-$748
- Five Bedroom - $865
What is Fair Market Rent (FMR)? It is the average rent in the open market charged in each county according to HUD calculations. As a comparable, see below the FMR for various counties in Tennessee including Hardeman, Shelby and Davidson. These are NOT public housing rents but the average unsubsidized rent charged in the following counties of Hardeman, Shelby and Davidson. Hardeman Shelby-Memphis Davidson-Nashville.
Hardeman:
- One bedroom - $651
- Two bedroom - $655
- Three bedroom -$861
- Four bedroom - $1,025
Shelby-Memphis:
- One bedroom - $1,146
- Two bedroom - $1,298
- Three bedroom -$1,711
- Four bedroom - $1,995
Davidson-Nashville:
- One bedroom - $1,442
- Two bedroom - $1,619
- Three bedroom - $2,035
- Four bedroom - $2,482
BOLIVAR HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS AN IMPROVED WEBSITE AND LOGO
Bolivar Housing Authority has improved their website to better communicate with residents and the public. Go to Bolivarhousing.com and visit it.
The plan is to have all or most communication with residents and the public on the website or through Facebook. Become friends with Bolivar Housing Authority and get all the latest information.
New Logo:
BOLIVAR CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL MAKES IT TO THE TSSAA SECTIONALS
The Bolivar Central High School Tigers had a successful 2023-24 men's basketball season getting to the TSSAA Sectionals before losing to Memphis Ridgway High School.
They were runner-up in the district and regional tournaments and had to travel to Memphis to face the Ridgway Roadrunners, one of the best teams in Tennessee. Bolivar played a tough game but came out on the short end of the score. Nonetheless, congratulations on a good year!
Two members of the Tigers team are Bolivar Housing Authority residents, Tometric Harris and Markeveron Cross.
HUD SAYS NO SMOKING IN OR AROUND THE APARTMENT UNIT - IT'S THE LAW!
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