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Rental Assistance2022-12-01T11:34:48+00:00

The Brainerd HRA HCV/Section 8 program waiting list is OPEN effective February 3, 2020, at 7:00 AM.

The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV)/Section 8 program is a rental subsidy program that provides low-income families with a voucher that can be used in the private market.

The Brainerd HRA has 320 Housing Choice Vouchers. Eligible families find their own rental unit in Crow Wing County. The unit must meet Housing Quality Standards (HQS) and the landlord must agree to participate in the program.

  • Eligible families find their own rental unit in Crow Wing County
  • The unit must pass an inspection
  • Program participants pay no more than 40% of their adjusted gross income for rent and utilities
  • The HRA pays the balance of the rent directly to the landlord

Applicants

View the Income Guidelines
Payment Standards & Utilities: Effective November 1st, 2022
Administrative Plan for the Housing Choice Voucher Program Section 1 of 2  / Section 2 of 2
Download your application HERE or below to be placed on the waiting list for HCV/Section 8.
Upon receipt of a completed application, eligible applicants will be screened according to the Resident Selection Criteria.

Download Application

Briefings

Online briefing presentation is now available! Watch it now.

HCV Briefing Application – Download here.
Briefing Packet – Download here.

Landlords

ACH/Authorization for Automatic Deposit
W-9
Request for Tenancy Approval (RTA) & Lead-Based Paint Disclosure
Owner’s Handbook

Current Voucher Holders

Reporting a change? You’ll need to complete this Interim Recertification Request .
Recertification – Download your packet here.

Family Self-Sufficiency Program

The Brainerd HRA has offered the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program to its residents since 1990. The program is designed to help Housing Choice Voucher holders and residents of public housing and HUD-assisted multi-family housing to make progress toward economic security.

Resident participation in FSS is completely voluntary. Residents who choose to enroll in FSS work with an FSS program coordinator who helps them identify a series of intermediate and long-term goals and the steps they plan to take to achieve those goals.  

FSS helps participants increase their earnings and build financial capability and assets through two key features, which build on the platform of stable housing created by rental assistance.

  1. A financial incentive for participants to increase their earnings in the form of an escrow savings account that increases as residents’ earnings increase. The escrow account helps participants build savings that they can use to improve their quality of life and advance their personal goals. Escrow funds can also help participants cover the cost of services that may be needed to make progress toward goals while enrolled in the program, such as employment training or car repair.
  2. Case management or coaching to help residents access services they may need to overcome barriers to employment, strengthen their financial capability, and address other challenges holding them back from achieving their goals.

For more information

View the Family Self-Sufficiency Program Brochure»

or Contact:
Carrie Burrell, Family Self-Sufficiency Coordinator
(218) 828-3705 , EXT. #3427
cburrell@brainerdhra.org

Applicants

Download an application for the Family Self-Sufficiency Program here.

Download Application

 

Homeownership Program

Qualified program participants are now able to use their Housing Choice Vouchers to purchase their own homes. By working with local mortgage lenders, we have made it possible for families to move from rental housing into affordable homes. Once eligibility is determined, you will be required to attend homebuyer education training. When you complete this training, you will be ready to seek financing at the lender of your choice. You will be on your way to owning your own home!

Applicants

View the Home Ownership Program Brochure (PDF)»
View the Eligibility & Intake Assessment (PDF)»
Home Stretch – First Time Homebuyer Training (PDF)»

Bridges

The Bridges Rental Assistance Program is a state-funded program that provides housing assistance for people with a Serious Mental Illness (SMI) and have very low incomes (household gross income is under 50 percent of the area median).

The program’s goals are to:

  1. Provide housing subsidies for people who are experiencing housing instability in order to bridge the time until a federal or other permanent housing subsidy program is available.
  2. Maintain and foster the integration of people with SMI into their communities through a partnership of housing subsidy and supportive services.

The Brainerd HRA administers the Bridges Program through a Cooperative Agreement with Region V+ Mental Health Initiative (Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing , Morrison, Todd, and Wadena Counties Health and Human Services Departments.

Applicants

Download an application for the Bridges Program here or the link below

Download Application