Accessible Housing

Housing with certain features needed by persons with physical disabilities.

Affordable Housing

Commonly understood as housing that costs no more than 30% of a household's annual income. May also be understood as housing that costs no more than 30-40% of a household's annual income.

Area Median Income (AMI)

An "average" income for an area. Used to calculate eligibility for certain affordable housing programs. One half of the incomes in the area are above the amount and one half are below. Sometimes referred to as County Median Income (CMI), MFI, or Metro Median Income (MMI). 

Bridges

Temporary rental assistance payments and security deposits paid directly to property managers/owners for people with serious or persistent mental illness who are on a waiting list for a permanent rent subsidy. Bridges is operated by a local housing agency and a local mental health authority.

Certificate of Rent Paid (CRP)

A statement given by a property to a renter which indicates the amount of renter's rent paid towards property taxes during the previous year. A CRP is used by the renter to calculate the renter's rent credit or rebate, in conjunction with state tax policies.

Chronic Homelessness

For an individual: A chronically homeless person is an unaccompanied homeless individual, with a disabling condition and who has either: a) been continuously homeless for a year or more; or b) has had at least four episodes of homelessness over the past three years. For a family: A Chronically Homeless family includes the above individual, but who is also accompanied by at least one dependent child.

Conciliation Court

Small claims court. Allows citizens to bring their legal claims before the court without expensive costs, attorneys fees, or complicated legal procedures

Credit

Trust that goods and services received now will be paid for in routine and timely payments in the future.

Credit History

A summary of an individual's past financial record.

Crisis Housing Assistance

A flexible pool of money to provide short-term housing assistance to persons receiving in-patient psychiatric care.

Deposit

Money given as security for the performance of a contract, which is to be forfeited if the depositor fails in the undertaking.

Disability

For the purpose of establishing eligibility for SSI and MA, the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity as the result of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment. The condition must be expected to last at least 12 months or result in death, except that for children the test is one of functional impairment.

Disability

The civil rights definition is if s/he: (1) has a physical or psychiatric disability which limits a person's daily activity in a major way; (2) has a record or history of a disability which limits a person's daily activity in a major way, even if the person no longer has the disability or if the disability no longer limits the person; or (3) if someone thinks s/he has a disability.

Discrimination

To treat a person differently because of their race, color, creed, sex, marital status, family status (having or not having children), sexual orientation, religion, disability, national origin, ancestry, age, or receipt of public assistance.

Energy Assistance

A federal program administered by nonprofits that pays a portion of the heating costs for very low income households in the cold weather months.

Evict or Eviction

A summary court proceeding to remove a renter from or otherwise recover possession of real property by the process of law.

Eviction Action/Unlawful Detainer

Legal process to force a renter who has violated his/her lease to move from his/her rental unit. New term for an Unlawful Detainer.

Expungement

Sealing public record of a court action

Extremely Low Income

Household income less than or equal to 30% of AMI. See also Low Income and Very Low Income.

Fair Housing

The prohibition of housing discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, family status, or disability when trying to buy or rent a home or rent an apartment. (Some areas may include other protected classes).

Fair Market Rent (FMR)

Rent guidelines for various size units (1 bedroom, 2 bedroom, etc.) set by HUD for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program.

General Assistance (GA)

A state program that provides cash assistance to needy persons who do not qualify for any of the Federal programs (MFIP, SSI, or MSA) and who meet the GA eligibility criteria

Home Share

A program that matches single mothers who have children with other single mothers who have children or single adults who need rental housing with seniors who would like someone to live with them in exchange for various services/assistance.

Homeless

A person or family lacking a fixed, regular nighttime residence, residing in a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter, doubled up with another household for temporary living accommodations, or within a week of being homeless due to court action and lack of other resources. (The definition of "homeless" varies for different federal and state programs).

Housing Support

Supportive services for persons with mental illness to allow them to live in safe, stable, and affordable housing.

Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA)

An organization given power under state law to provide program development and implementation in the area of public housing, rental assistance, housing, rehabilitation, and housing development.  Established to operate in a city, county or multi-county area.

Housing and Urban Development

(HUD)

A cabinet agency of the federal government established for the purposes of providing affordable housing, and overseeing housing, economic, and community development.

Indoor Air Pollutant

Natural or man-made particles of dust, fibers, mists, bioaerosols, gases or vapors.

Inspector

The person charged by the governing body in which a residential building is situated, with the responsibility of enforcing provisions of local law, the breach of which could constitute a violation.

Joint and Several Liability

Allows a property manager/owner to hold each individual renter or roommate responsible for the entire rent, damages, or lease violations.

Landlord

A property owner who rents part or all of his/her property to one or multiple other individuals.

Lease

Legal agreement between a property manager/owner and renter giving the renter right to occupy the unit in exchange for paying the rent and agreeing to various standards of conduct. It can be oral or written.

Low Income Housing

Housing targeted for those below 50% of Area Median Income.

Market Rate

The contract rent of an apartment without any subsidies applied or assistance used.

Net Income

Income after deductions.

Occupancy Standards

The number of people that can occupy a particular sized unit as specified by city, state, federal, or other codes or regulations.

Order to Vacate

A notice or sign posted by a government agency on a condemned property that orders residents to move out by a specified date.

Payment Standards

A rent limit for using a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher. Payment standards are set by each housing authority. They differ for bedroom size and property location.

PHA Waiting List

Waiting list administered by a Public Housing Authority for seekers wanting to live in public housing units; not to be confused with "Section 8 Waiting List.”

Project-Based Subsidy

This subsidy is attached to the building and stays with the unit. Eligible individuals apply directly at the building. Common project-based subsidies are Sections 8, 236, 515, and 811.

Proper Notice

Statement given in writing by a property manager/owner or renter informing the other of lease termination as of a specified date. This statement must be given a certain number of days before the actual ending of the lease, as specified within the lease itself (possibly thirty or sixty days). In absence of a written lease, proper notice is equal to one rental period plus one day.

Public Housing

Public housing is a federal rental assistance program. Public housing is owned and operated by a Public Housing Authority (PHA). Qualified individuals usually pay 30% of their adjusted gross income for the combination of rent and utilities. Individuals apply for public housing at a PHA.

Public Housing Authority / Agency (PHA)

The organization that owns and operates public housing. A PHA may also administer a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program.

Reasonable Accommodation/ Modification

Legal requirement that housing features, procedures, etc., are adjusted to the needs of persons with a disability.

Rent

The consideration received from a lessee for the use of the occupied space.

Rent Assistance

A subsidy, such as Section 8, that helps those who qualify pay housing expenses.

Rent Reasonable

The rent for a private market unit being leased under the Section 8 Housing

Senior Housing

Age restricted housing for people either 55 or 62 and older. Age restrictions are dependent on whether the housing is state or federally financed.

Single Room Occupancy (SRO)

Housing with shared bath or kitchen facilities that is made available to income eligible individuals at reduced rates.

Sublease

The renter transfers his/her duties and responsibilities surrounding the rental unit (including occupancy of the unit, paying rent, and conduct standards) to a third party, while remaining legally responsible to the property manager/owner.

Supportive Housing

Housing designed to help people transition from homelessness to being independent by providing housing and services.

Subsidy

A portion of rent paid by a third party. Mostly public funding awarded to qualifying candidates.

Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)

Federal program providing financial assistance and social services for needy families with dependent children. In the state of Minnesota TANF is called MFIP.

Tenant

The person who has entered into a lease and is legally responsible for the fulfillment of the terms of the lease (He/she usually occupies the rental unit). May also be called a renter or occupant.

Transitional Housing

Housing that provides time-limited, safe, and affordable housing with supportive services for homeless people who indicate a willingness to participate in developing and implementing a case plan working towards a goal of self-sufficiency. 

Universal Design

Design of products or space that is useable for all persons without changes or special products.

Utility Allowance

A deduction from a renter's rent to assist in paying his/her utilities (used in conjunction with certain subsidized housing programs like Section 8). The allowance is an average utility cost by unit size (1 bedroom, 2 bedroom, etc.) set by the administering agency and does not include telephone and cable.

Very Low Income

Household income between 31-50% of AMI. See also Low Income and Extremely Low Income.

Violation

A violation of any state, county or city health, safety, housing, building, fire prevention, or housing maintenance code applicable to the building; a violation of any of the covenants; a violation of an oral or written agreement, lease, or contract for the rental of a dwelling in a building.

Visitability

The principle of a building with a no-step entrance, a half-bath on the first floor, and 36-inch clear doorways- making the property generally accessible for anyone.

Writ of Recovery

New legal term to describe the legal document that allows a landlord to recover possession of the unit. This document is usually enforced by the sheriff to physically remove a tenant who has lost an Eviction Action.