Warsaw Housing Authority ended its fiscal year Sept. 30 in good financial shape, according to executive director Laura Kaufman, and the agency's board of commissioners approved a similar budget for 2003.

The expenditures for FY2002 totaled $688,405.97.

The budget for FY2003 is $665,158. This amount includes $559,080 from the Department of Housing and Urban Development for housing assistance, $86,778 from HUD for administrative fees and $20,300 from the city of Warsaw.

Among the changes from last year's budget is an expense to pay for a Spanish student intern through Sus Amigos to work part-time in the office during the next school semester to help with the language barrier between WHA staff and Hispanic clients.

Grants from various sources also support some WHA programs and expenses.

Because the agency's goal is to assist people with housing needs, the bulk of the budget is earmarked for paying rents and utilities for as many clients as possible. There are 151 families receiving rental assistance through WHA, from the agency's allotment of 175 Section 8 vouchers distributed by HUD.

The housing authority has applied to receive additional vouchers, which means the agency could help more people, but has yet to receive word from HUD as to whether those will be awarded.

In a related matter, HUD has established new fair market rents as follows: $299 per month for a no-bedroom (studio), $396 for a one-bedroom, $478 for a two-bedroom, $620 for a three-bedroom and $669 for a four-bedroom.

Current rates in Warsaw, at 5 percent above the FMR rate set range from $310 for a studio to $695 for a four-bedroom unit. The amounts include the costs for rents and utilities each month. Zero-income clients must find housing under that FMR rate to be able to have utility costs as well. Clients who are employed and can pay partial rent or utilities can choose housing at a rate above the FMR.

Kaufman said about 25 percent of WHA clients are zero-income families. The average cost for a one-bedroom rent in the Warsaw area is $400 per month. Once a client is placed on a waiting list for housing assistance, it can take eight to 12 months for suitable housing to be located and the client to actually be placed on the program.

Housing authorities can opt to allow for up to 110 percent of FMR to allow for clients to find affordable housing. However, the higher the rental rates, the fewer people who can be served.

Kaufman said keeping the rates at the HUD-established FMR base creates a quandary for the zero-income clients. "The people who are missing out are the people we should be helping the most," she said. "Getting more vouchers will alleviate this in the long run."

The board chose to amend the FMR for WHA clients to the 110 percent level, which allows the following rents: $329 per month for a studio, $436 for a one-bedroom unit, $526 for a two-bedroom, $682 for a three-bedroom and $736 for a four-bedroom.

The WHA board of commissioners meets at 5:15 p.m. the fourth Monday of each month at its office at 827 S. Union St., Suite 230, Warsaw.

Board members present Monday were Bob Kline, Dennis Cultice, Brian Grantz, Pat Ellis and Jennifer Mitchell. Absent were Tom Lemon, Joel Curry and Warsaw city council representative Bill Rhoades. [[In-content Ad]]