The Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority (GHURA) is increasing its payment standards for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program.
According to GHURA, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has approved the implementation of a “Success Rate Payment Standard.”
GHURA’s current payment standard at the maximum 110 percent for a 3-bedroom unit will increase by $124 per month, and for a 4-bedroom unit the increase will be $150 per month.
According to GHURA, it has been challenged in meeting a HUD mandate to maintain a lease up rate of 95 percent or more of its 2,582 authorized vouchers due to several factors including low payment standard amounts established using 40th percentile of the area’s Fair Market Rent.
Payment standards is the maximum housing assistance amount GHURA is permitted to pay out for rental assistance per bedroom size.
GHURA also cites the shortage of affordable housing units on Guam and the difficulty in competing with US Military/DOD and other private renters for affordable units as well as the high cost of utility hook-ups and (e) stringent federal requirements which landlords and tenants must comply with.
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