PARTICIPANT RESOURCES
Looking for information, resources, or forms regarding our program participation? You’re in the right place. Browse the resources below, and contact us if you have any questions.
Looking for information, resources, or forms regarding our program participation? You’re in the right place. Browse the resources below, and contact us if you have any questions.
Make changes to household:
** Please note: Emailed documents MUST be in PDF format. ICS will NOT accept photos/images of documents.
Transferring your housing assistance and/or voucher from one housing authority to another housing authority is known as Portability. If you are planning to port to or from Brown County, this page has helpful information about the process and who to contact.
Your current Public Housing Authority (PHA) must email, or mail your portability documentation prior to your arrival in Brown County area. NO HAND delivered documents will be accepted. If we have received all required documents, please allow 14 days for reviewing of your documents and scheduling your attendance to a portability appointment.
ICS is currently ABSORBING until further notice... This is subject to change at any time.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Families will not be permitted to exercise portability during the 12 month period after admission to the program. If the family owes monies to the Housing Authority, the balance must be paid in full or the transfer will be denied. Families in violation of their family obligations will not be permitted to transfer to Brown County.
Port-in Contact:
Connie Poling
portability@ics-gb.org
Integrated Community Solutions
2605 S. Oneida St., Suite 106
Green Bay, WI 54304
Contact your housing specialist for more information on porting out. You will need to fill out a Move/Portability Request form with the new housing authority's contact information and submit it to your housing specialist. The form can be located in the ICS lobby or from your housing specialist.
For general information about porting out of Brown County, view this Portability Handout.
For all Port billings, please send all 52665/50058s to:
Connie Poling
portability@ics-gb.org
Integrated Community Solutions
2605 S. Oneida St., Suite 106
Green Bay, WI 54304
The Family Self-Sufficiency Program (FSS) is an employment program available to all families receiving Housing Choice Voucher rental or homeownership assistance. It is voluntary and designed to assist families in becoming self-supporting so they will no longer need to rely on public assistance.
This program is available through Integrated Community Solutions (ICS) and the only requirement is the desire, willingness, and commitment to make a change in your life and to take the steps necessary to become self-sufficient. Hundreds of families all over the country are already making better lives for themselves through this program.
The FSS program provides quarterly learning sessions that are geared toward the FSS participants, but are open to any ICS client. Check out the upcoming Life Skill workshops below:
The FSS Program is a cooperative program that provides support and assistance to your family for up to five years. The head of household enters into an agreement with ICS in which an action plan is developed that identifies the family's employment goals. It outlines the activities and services required to achieve these goals. Regular contact with us is essential and will provide opportunities to problem-solve obstacles before they arise. An FSS Coordinator will support you, take an interest in your future, and will refer you to public agencies and resources available in Brown County. They will assist you in achieving your objectives.
By combining housing assistance with a number of other services, we can assure better coordination and provide the maximum benefits needed to reach self-sufficiency.
Gradually, as you accomplish increased degrees of self-sufficiency by working and earning more, your portion of rent may go up. Another advantage to the FSS Program is that as this happens, we will establish an escrow account that will be awarded to you when you've successfully completed your FSS Contract of Participation. This account automatically saves for you and could be a boost in reaching any goals or personal endeavors you may have. You will not have to give up your voucher when the contract is completed, but hopefully you will no longer need assistance at that point. You can even join the FSS Program if you are presently working or are in school. You are not required to be on any public assistance other than the Housing Choice Voucher Program in order to qualify.
Your FSS Coordinator is knowledgeable about many supportive services in the community. We will assess your needs and refer you for the services you need. Some of the services could include workshops in resume writing, skill building, interviewing techniques, completing or adding to your education, job training, job placement, educational programs, career counseling, physical and mental health clinics, household budgeting, credit counseling, debt management and consolidation, home ownership, nutrition, parenting and many other services. Through collaboration with other providers, we also offer many opportunities unique to FSS participants such as Life Skills workshops, a quarterly newsletter, Women's Retreats, and much more.
You must be receiving Housing Choice Voucher in order to participate in the FSS Program. To complete the program, you must meet all the goals and activities you've established for your family and be free of "welfare" (as defined by the FSS Program). Another way of completing the program is to simply increase your household income so that 30% of your monthly income is greater than the Fair Market Rent for your family size. This means that if another opportunity presents itself and leads you to self-sufficiency, the FSS contract can be considered complete.
COMMITMENT!!! You will bring your own unique talents, skills, and strengths to the FSS Program. We will require you to be determined and committed in completing the activities listed in your training and services plan. You'll need to keep in touch with us regarding your progress towards self-sufficiency. You will be asked to meet with us occasionally to discuss and update your goals and activities. You must possess motivation and initiative in your quest for economic independence.
Joining the program could be the key to your family's success. It is designed to assist families just like yours. People join the FSS Program to learn work skills and improve their ability to get and maintain employment. Along with the financial incentive is the feeling of pride when your family is free of all public assistance. Our Family Self-Sufficiency clients make impressive progress towards self-support.
FSS IS YOUR KEY TO SUCCESS!
If you are currently receiving Housing Choice Voucher housing assistance and are interested in learning about joining FSS, please contact an FSS Coordinator.
Cassi Damys: 920-496-1934
Integrated Community Solutions is proud to administer the Brown County Housing Choice Voucher Homeownership Option.
If you are currently receiving Housing Choice Voucher Rental Assistance or are eligible to receive it, you can use your Voucher subsidy toward the mortgage on your own home. Since there is a 15 year time limit on our Homeownership assistance, we will also provide Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) case-management to help you on the path toward self sufficiency!
To qualify for the Brown County Housing Choice Voucher Homeownership program you must:
Join waiting list If you think you meet the program qualifications, but are not yet on the Housing Choice Voucher Program, you must first submit an application and be selected from the waiting list. When your name is selected from the waiting list, we will contact you for an eligibility interview. Once you are eligible for a Section 8 voucher, you may proceed.
Homebuyer Counseling - Call a HUD certified Homeownership Counseling Program. Upon completion, provide ICS with a copy of your certificate.
Loan Pre-approval - Talk to a lender about pre-approval for a mortgage. The lender will determine how much you can afford and will provide you with a statement of pre-approval.
**You will need to provide the pre-approval letter to ICS.
Find a home - Start looking for a home in your pre-approved price range. The home will need to be inspected and approved by ICS.
Make an Offer - After you have received approval from ICS, you will work with your realtor to complete an offer to purchase.
**Provide a copy of the accepted offer to your homeownership coordinator once it has been signed by the seller.
Home Inspections - When you have an accepted offer to purchase, the home will need to pass ICS's Housing Quality Standards Inspection. You will also need to hire a private inspector to inspect the house.
**You must provide a copy of the 3rd party inspection report to ICS. All required repairs would need to be completed and approved before you purchase the house.
Closing - If you meet all eligibility & financing requirements you can close on your home. **Contact ICS to schedule your final appointment prior to closing on your home.
Please be aware that even if you meet the criteria for the program, it does not guarantee that you will receive a subsidy from ICS.
If you are interested in learning more about the Homeownership Program, please contact:
HOUSING QUALITY STANDARDS (INSPECTION)
Housing Quality Standards (HQS) play an important role in the administration of the HCV Program. A passed inspection is required before entering into a Housing Assistant Payment (HAP) contract. The basic purpose of the inspection is to ensure that the unit meets all the minimum inspection standards set by HUD. If the unit fails the initial inspection, all failed items must be corrected prior to the subsidy being paid on the unit. A second inspection date and time will be emailed to the landlord and mailed to the client.
The HAP contract becomes effective and payments can be authorized for the 1st of the month following a passed inspection on a unit. The unit will continue to be inspected annually to ensure that it remains in compliance with HQS.
The Pre-Inspection Checklist can be used to assess whether the unit will pass the HUD-established Housing Quality Standards used in every ICS inspection. This is NOT all-inclusive but is intended to be used as a general guide.
VOUCHER PAYMENT STANDARDS
In the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, payment standards are used in the calculation of the housing assistance payment (HAP) that the Public Housing Agency (PHA) pays to the owner on behalf of the family leasing the unit. 24 C.F.R. 982.4 defines Payment Standard as the maximum monthly assistance payment for a family assisted in the voucher program (before deducting the total tenant payment by the family).
The payment standard for a family is the lower of:
Payment standard for the family unit size indicated on the voucher; or
Payment standard for the size of the unit leased by the family.
Payment standards take into account the contract rent amount, PLUS the tenant's assumed utility responsibility. In addition to being used in the calculation of the Housing Assistance Payment, payment standards are also used to determine if a unit will be approved based affordability for the tenant.
The Utility Allowance Worksheets are here to help you determine if a unit will be approved or not. Each page of the document corresponds with the number of bedrooms in the unit. You should utilize the chart that matches the lower of your Voucher Size or the Actual Bedroom Size. Follow the instructions on the worksheet: