GHA no longer eligible to issue new vouchers outside five-mile radius of Greencastle

The Greencastle Housing Authority (GHA) has recently been advised by the Indianapolis Field Office of HUD that GHA is no longer permitted to serve Putnam County residents who reside outside of a five-mile radius surrounding Greencastle through the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program.

GHA has been serving all of Putnam County since 1988. At that time a resolution was signed by the City of Greencastle permitting for the expansion of the HCV Program to the entire county. The resolution was signed by the City of Greencastle because there was not enough rental housing within city limits and the authorized five-mile radius to meet the needs of residents applying for assistance.

Although the city agreed and provided a signed resolution to have GHA serving all of Putnam County through the HCV Program, the said agreement was never approved by HUD. Thus, GHA has been serving families outside of its legal jurisdiction for 26 years.

GHAExecutive Director Nicole Christlieb was informed Feb. 4 that the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) has jurisdiction in Putnam County for those areas outside of the five-mile radius of Greencastle. That means the GHA has been serving clients in IHCDA's jurisdiction.

IHCDA has agreed that GHA can continue to serve the current vouchers in the outlying areas of the county until those families choose to move at their own will. If said families choose to move, but remain in the outlying areas, then their voucher will be reassigned and administered by IHCDA.

If that occurs, then IHCDA will conduct those recertifications and annual inspections. Families in these areas would no longer report to GHA, but instead to the Indianapolis office of IHCDA.

Current families affected would be those living in Bainbridge, Cloverdale, Roachdale, Russellville and Reelsville (24 current vouchers total) and any new families in those areas wishing to participate in the HCV Program.

New families in the outlying areas wishing to participate in the HCV Program will need to contact IHCDA in Indianapolis at 1-800-872-0371. It is unknown at this time how many families IHCDA is currently serving in Putnam County. That information has not been shared with the GHA office, but it has been informed that the Putnam County waiting list with IHCDA is currently closed.

Christlieb, as well as all board members of GHA, were surprised to learn that IHCDA has had jurisdiction within Putnam County during this same time. Again, GHA has been serving the entire county's housing needs since 1988.

Upon learning of this information, Christlieb has been working with the HUD Office to determine what action is required to continue serving all of the Putnam County residents. HUD is currently working with their legal department to determine what the proper procedure is for a City Housing Authority to transition to a County Housing Authority.

Christlieb is aware that the county's fiscal body would need to adopt a resolution for a Putnam County Housing Authority to be formed. If such a resolution was approved by the County Council, GHA would be dissolved and the new Putnam County Housing Authority would be eligible to continue serving all Putnam residents.

Christlieb asks that landlords who are within the City of Greencastle area and/or the five-mile radius to consider accepting the Housing Choice Voucher. Families who are issued vouchers will need places to live within this radius.

If you are a landlord and would like more information about the HCV program and process to accept an HCV client, contact GHA at 653-8228 or visit http://gcastleha.org/landlords.html to learn more about the program.