+ HOW do I apply for Rental Assistance?

Download and send in the application on our Applicants Page.

OR pick up an application at our office, located at 2605 S. Oneida St, Suite 106 in Ashwaubenon WI.

+ WHO is eligible for Rental Assistance through the Housing Choice Voucher Program?

You will qualify based on your income and the size of your household:

Income Limits ($)

Only households LIVING IN Brown County, WORKING IN Brown County or HIRED TO WORK IN Brown County will receive preference.

Application rank with consideration of the Brown County residency & employment preference is as follows:

• Residents displaced by government action related to public improvements or development, or displaced due to natural disaster (and not residing in standard replacement housing)
• Households where the head, co-head or spouse meets one of the following criteria:
  1. Households that are Homeless**
  2. Veteran**
  3. Age 62 or Older**
  4. Person with a Disability**
• Households with children (age 18 and under) in the household**
• Brown County residents not meeting the Criteria of #1, #2, or #3
• Non-Brown County residents / those who are not working in Brown County

** Documentation of these preferences and the identity of all household members must be provided with your application.

NOTE: A Preliminary Application, Proof of Brown County Residence or Employment & Proof of the Preferences must be submitted for your application to be considered and placed on the correct waiting list. Incomplete applications will be returned for completion. Violent or drug-related crimes may disqualify your household for HCV program benefits.

+ HOW LONG is the wait for Rental Assistance?

Applications are accepted by time and date order under each preference. You will receive notification in the mail about the receipt of your application and your eligibility. The letter you receive will give you our best estimate of your expected wait time, based on the information available to us at the time of your application. The current waitlist time frames are listed below. Please note that the listed time frames are for those who are currently applying. If you have already applied, your wait time may not be reflected here.

ICS must be notified in writing of any address or household changes after submitting your application. Verbal notifications will not be accepted.

*Please note that these time frames are estimated and change based on a number of factors. These are listed just to give applicants a frame of reference as to what their expected wait time could be so they can plan accordingly.

*For more information on which households qualify for these preferences, see the "WHO is eligible to apply" section above.

+ Who is my Housing Specialist?

That will be determined at your initial interview, but may change later. If you are ever unsure you can contact customer service by email at info@ics-gb.org, or at (920) 498-3737 and they will be able to direct you to your Specialist. Or you can email your question to Customer Service who will forward it to your Specialist.

+ How does the program work?

Generally, you pay 30% of your income toward your housing expenses. ICS will pay the difference up to the Voucher Payment Standard for which you are eligible. If you choose to rent a unit where the rent plus an allowance for tenant-paid utilities is greater than the Voucher Payment Standard, you will then also have to pay that extra, as long as your portion of the housing expenses do not exceed 40% of your income.

A Housing Specialist will determine the rent amount that you will pay. This amount will be determined by such factors as assets, income, deductions, and housing expenses. We are required to verify all your assets, income and deductions with your banks, employer, child support agency, childcare provider, medical provider, etc.

Once your share of the rent has been determined, your unit passes a housing quality inspection, and a one-year lease has been submitted, ICS will pay the Housing Assistance Payment directly to your landlord each month. You will also pay your portion directly to the landlord.

+ Can I choose my own housing?

Yes! One of the unique features of the Housing Choice Voucher program is that it allows you to choose a new housing unit or remain in your current rental unit.

If you have a Project Based Voucher, you are contacted when a unit that you are eligible for becomes available. With Project Based Vouchers, you do not get to choose your unit.

+ How do I find housing that accepts the assistance?

ICS can provide a partial list of landlords who already accept rental assistance. This is called our Places to Rent Guide. Many landlords who own only one or two rental units choose not to be included on this list to avoid calls when they have no openings.

If you are interested in a particular unit for rent by a landlord not on this list, we recommend that you inquire with the landlord about the unit, fill out any rental application the landlord may require, allow him or her to screen you just as other tenants would be screened, and then if the unit is offered to you, ask the landlord if he or she is willing to participate in the Housing Choice Voucher Program.

+ Will my current housing unit qualify?

Some questions need to be answered first before a definite decision can be made:

1. Is your landlord willing to accept housing assistance?

2. Does your housing unit qualify according to Housing Quality Standards?

   Your housing unit must be in a decent, safe, and sanitary condition. The Pre-Inspection Checklist will help you determine if your unit will qualify or what repairs may be needed. You must have a kitchen and living room, a private enclosed bathroom separate from the bedroom, a shower or tub, hot and cold running water, adequate heat and ventilation, and an adequate number of rooms to accommodate your household. A bedroom requirement exists and is based on the age and sex of the occupants as to how many bedrooms must be in the unit. Generally, the rule is two people per bedroom but there are several exceptions to this rule.

3. Does the cost of your housing unit, including utilities, fall within the limit set by the Housing Choice Voucher Program? The Voucher Payment Standards for 2024 are:

4. Is the rent charged for your housing unit reasonable compared to other similar units?

+ How does the program work?

This change has to be reported using a change of address form (can pick up at our front desk). If you applied while living in another county and have moved to Brown County, a lease or bill (electric, cable, etc.) must be provided as proof of residence to move you to the Brown County waiting list.

+ What happens if my landlord changes my rent?

Your landlord must provide you with a written notice 60 days in advance if he or she wishes to raise your rent. A copy must also be sent to ICS 60 days in advance of the change. The notice must state the amount of the increase and when it will be effective. You are not obligated to pay the increase if you are not given sufficient notice. After we receive the notice, we must do a rent reasonableness comparison. If the rent increase is reasonable, you and your landlord will be notified in writing of any changes to your Housing Assistance Payments.

+ How do I report an additional household member?

You must obtain approval from both ICS and your landlord before any additional people may join your household. To request ICS approval, first provide the necessary information by completing and submitting a Household Change Packet. A criminal background check will then be conducted on any adult to be added to the household. If the background check shows no history of drug or violent criminal activity in the past 5 years, we will verify any assets, income and deductions of the new member and adjust your housing assistance accordingly. You and your landlord will then be sent a letter notifying you of the approval of the new member and any change in your assistance.

+ What if I change or lose my job or have another change of income?

If there has been a loss of or change in household income you will need to complete an Income Change Form. You can download one from our Participants Page, pick one up at our office, or request one from Customer Service. If you will be applying for/receiving unemployment, please be sure to indicate that on your change form. Please allow 45 days for ICS to process your change. You will be notified in writing when the review is complete.

+ I am receiving assistance and want to move. What do I do?

A complete move review will need to be completed. Please plan in advance to allow enough time for ICS to process the move review. First submit the Move Request & Tenancy Termination paperwork. After receiving those documents, your Housing Specialist will determine if you are eligible to move. If so, a move appointment will be scheduled for you. You and your specialist will discuss your household composition and income, and will review the program policies. After your move appointment, you should begin searching for a new unit.

You and your new landlord will need to complete the Request for Tenancy Approval, the new unit must pass a Housing Quality Standards Inspection, ICS needs to re-verify your income, you and your landlord must sign a one year lease (and provide a copy to ICS) and your landlord must sign a Housing Assistance Payment Contract. After all these steps are completed, you and your landlord will receive a payment authorization letter.

Remember to leave your previous unit in a clean and re-rentable condition, pay all utilities from the old unit, and do not break your lease. If you are moving suddenly and have not yet submitted the Move Request and Tenancy Termination to ICS, you MUST submit written notification of the date you will be moving out BEFORE you vacate your unit. If you move out of your assisted unit without notifying ICS in writing, your move will be denied and your housing assistance will be terminated.

+ When will I know if I am accepted?

After your interview and verification of income is received, qualified applicants will be issued a Voucher to confirm participation in the program. After this time, participants will have 60 days to locate a housing unit and submit the required forms. If you are unable to locate a housing unit, you may wish to contact your Housing Specialist to find out what your options are. If you are still unable to locate a unit, you may submit a written request for an extension on your Voucher. After the maximum two extensions have expired, your case will be closed if you have not yet secured a housing unit.

+ When can I expect the assistance to begin?

Generally, the assistance can be made effective for the first of the month after the unit passes the housing inspection. Often times however, the final steps are completed too late in the month for us to send the first payment to the landlord for the beginning of the next month. When this happens, the payment is usually sent mid-month. (Be aware however that you are still responsible to pay the landlord the full amount of the rent by the due date. He or she can reimburse you or credit you for the following month after our check is received. Any late fees incurred because you only paid a portion of the rent will by your responsibility).

+ What if I can't pay my rent?

You may want to contact Salvation Army at (920) 593-2364 or St. Vincent De Paul at (920) 435-4040 to check for short term, immediate assistance. If you are already receiving rental assistance and there has been a change in income, please contact Customer Service or your Housing Specialist for an Income Change Form.

+ I am a building owner/manager - can I post an apartment opening with ICS?

Yes, you may do so by contacting April Clark at aprilcl@ics-gb.org. Please provide the information about the units, as you would like it to be listed. The information will be posted on a listing that is distributed at ICS Places to Rent Guide and is also available on the website.

+ How do I report fraud?

Learn what constitutes fraud, guidelines for reporting fraud, and how to report fraud with our guide: Guide for Reporting Fraud

Call: ICS Fraud Hotline: (920) 496-1934

Please be as specific as possible in your voicemail message. If you prefer to talk to us, please leave your name, phone number and the best time to contact you. All calls are confidential and you may choose to remain anonymous.

OR

Fill out the Fraud Referral Form and submit by:

Mail:

Referral Form Integrated Community Solutions Attn: Fraud Specialist 2605 S. Oneida St, Suite 106 Green Bay, WI 54304

Fax:
(920) 592-1434 Attn: Fraud Specialist

Email: cassida@ics-gb.org

Edit the form, save to your computer, and send an email with the saved form attached

All reports of fraud are kept confidential. Please provide as much detail as possible in your report, such as: The tenant's name and address, names of any unreported household members, whether unreported members have income and what type, where they are employed, etc. If you are reporting that they have a violent criminal offense or drug related activity, please indicate the state and city in which the offense was committed and the dates, if know. Your name and contact number is also helpful in case the fraud investigator needs to contact you for additional information, but this is optional.

+ Who can I contact if I have additional questions about the Housing Choice Voucher Program?

Call (920)498-3737 or email info@ics-gb.org and a Customer Service Representative will either answer your question or direct it to someone who can.

+ How can I get proof of my rental assistance for another agency?

You can request a summary from Customer Service or your Housing Specialist.

+ What if I have legal questions?

ICS cannot provide legal advice. Please contact The Tenant Resource Center at 1-877-138-RENT (7368) or online at www.tenantresourcecenter.org. Or you may contact Wisconsin Consumer Protection Bureau at (920)448-5110 or 1-800-422-7128, or Legal Action at (920)432-4645.