Moderate Rehabilitation Single Room Occupancy
The Moderate Rehabilitation Single Room Occupancy (SRO) is a federal program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The program provides assistance to low-income families. The Lawrence Housing Authority (LHA) administers this program by making rental assistance payments to participating owners on behalf of homeless individuals who rent the rehabilitated dwellings. Presently, the LHA has a housing assistance payment (HAP) contract with the YMCA and YWCA in the city of Lawrence.
The LHA administers the funding of about 83 single room units. The rental assistance provided is tied to the unit. Tenants pay no more than 30% of their adjusted income for rent. Utilities are included.
Applicants interested in applying for the LHA SRO Program may do so by contacting our office:
Contact information for LHA is as follows: Lawrence Housing Authority, Department of Occupancy & Admission, 353 Elm Street, Lawrence, MA 01841 or call 978-683-2751.
Waitlist
Eligible families are placed on a separate SRO Program waitlist.
Participating owners will select eligible families from the waitlist when a unit becomes available for occupancy. Applicants are placed on a waitlist according to the date and timestamp of receiving the application.
Annual Reexamination
The LHA conducts an annual reexamination of the family income and circumstances.
The results of the reexamination determine (1) continued eligibility and (2) the rent the rent to be paid.
The Lawrence Housing Authority sends a notification letter for the annual reexamination with a scheduled appointment. The letter includes instructions permitting the family to reschedule the interview if necessary. The letter tells families who may need to make alternate arrangements due to a disability that they may contact staff to request an accommodation of their needs.
At the interview, the family provides information regarding all sources of income, assets, expenses, and any other information necessary to determine the family’s share of rent. The family signs the HUD consent form and any other consent forms that may later be used to verify the family circumstances. Once all verifications are received, the Lawrence Housing Authority will determine the family’s annual income and will calculate the family share
Appeals Process
All requests for appeals should be sent to the Department of Occupancy and Admission. Also, if you or anyone in your family is a person with disabilities and you require a specific accommodation in order to fully utilize our programs and services, please contact Datanis Elias at the Lawrence Housing Authority.
If you have any questions, our office contact information is: Lawrence Housing Authority, Department of Occupancy & Admission, 353 Elm Street, Lawrence, MA 01841 or by phone at 978-683-2751.
The LHA will give an applicant for the Moderate Rehabilitation Single Room Occupancy (SRO) notice of a decision denying assistance to the applicant if found to be ineligible for the program.
The notice will contain a brief statement of the reasons for the decision, and it will state that the applicant may request an informal review within twenty (20) business days of the denial, along with information regarding the nearest local legal services organization.
When Informal Review Is Not Required
The LHA will not provide an applicant an opportunity for an informal review for any of the following reasons:
- General policy issues or class grievances.
- Discretionary administrative determinations by the LHA.
The LHA will give an applicant an opportunity for an informal review of the decision denying assistance to the applicant. The procedure is as follows:
- The review will be conducted by any person, other than the person who made or approved the decision under review or a subordinate of this person, designated by the LHA.
- The applicant will be given an opportunity to present written or oral objections to the decision.
- The LHA will notify the applicant of the LHA’s decision after the informal review within a reasonable time, not to exceed fourteen (14) days. If the LHA needs additional time for a decision which would cause the LHA to exceed fourteen (14) days’ notice, the LHA will notify the applicant regarding the delay. The notification will include a brief statement of the reasons for the final decision.
Informal Review Procedures for Denial of Assistance on the Basis of Ineligible Immigration Status
The applicant family may request that the LHA provide for an informal review after the family has notification of the INS decision on appeal, or in lieu of request of appeal to the INS. The family must request the informal review within 30 days of receipt of the Notice of Denial or Termination of Assistance, or within 30 days of receipt of the INS appeal decision.
