Caribou Housing Agency was established in February 1979 and has been playing a key role in the lives of many of Caribou’s low-income citizens, assisting with their monthly rental payments. Many may think that we are funded with local tax dollars, we are not. We are under contract with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to administer the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program.
The Section 8 Program enables low-income families to obtain decent, safe and affordable rental housing on the private market. Eligible participants generally pay 30 percent of their monthly adjusted household income towards the rent, and then the Caribou Housing Agency pays the difference directly to the Landlord on a monthly basis.
Unfortunately, in today’s financial times and lack of employment in our community, more families are needing rental assistance. Since HUD only allows the Caribou Housing Agency to assist 193 families per month, and sends a limited amount of money, there is a waiting list for applicants. The average wait time for the Caribou Section 8 Program can range anywhere from 8 to 12 months, or even longer.
After patiently waiting for the family’s name to reach the top of the waiting list, and have been found to be eligible for the program, they have 60 calendar days to find a suitable rental unit that is affordable for them, and passes HUD’s housing quality standards; within Caribou Housing Agency’s jurisdiction (city of Caribou and surrounding communities).
Many of our voucher holders are finding a lack in the housing stock, whether it be an apartment, single family home, or mobile home; there just are not enough rentals on the market to meet the needs of those looking.
After the search is over and the family is leased up with a landlord, the family has the option to participate in two elective programs that can help them with their future plans; the Family Self-Sufficiency Program and the Homeownership Program.
The Caribou Housing Agency wants to personally thank each and every landlord who chooses to participate with the program. If it weren’t for your participation, we wouldn’t have the success that we do, keeping families from leaving the area is one. Some of the benefits that landlords can receive are: guaranteed rent payments, extra cushion in case of tenant’s inability to pay, low turnover, third party initial inspections, strict limits on occupancy, criminal history checks on all tenant families, and landlord protection. On an average, the Caribou Housing Agency pays over $700,000 to over 70 property owners each year in rental payments.
Whether you are a family who is looking for rental assistance or a landlord with rentals, our door is always open! We are located at: 25 High Street, 2nd Floor, Caribou; phone number: (207) 493-4234, or e-mail lplourde@cariboumaine.org, if there is anything that we may be able to help you with.
Lisa Plourde is the executive director of the Caribou Housing Agency.
