Residents in group homes in 10 counties may have to pay more rent because a federal audit determined they have been receiving too much rental assistance.
Cowley County commissioners were briefed on the problem during a regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday night although no county funding is involved.
The South Central Kansas Housing Authority is administered by the South Central Kansas Area Agency on Aging. The housing authority calculates how much rental assistance each participant will receive.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development recently conducted an audit and found the calculations were being done incorrectly
“At this time, we’re not suggesting the agencies do anything,” said Jody Abington, executive director of the South Central Kansas Area Agency on Aging.
Neither the group homes or the tenants will have to repay any prior over payments from the rent miscalculations. The number of individuals affected has not yet been determined.
The counties involved include Cowley, Sumner, Harper, Kingman, Rice, Reno, McPherson, Chautauqua, Greenwood and Elk, according to Jennifer Stone, who administers the housing assistance program.
The issue involves anyone who resides in a group home living situation whether elderly or disabled, according to Abington.
“It will create some hardships,” said County Administrator Leroy Alsup. “If the tenant can not afford to pay their increased share, I am not sure what happens.”
One example Alsup cited was a case involving a tenant whose rent was $372 a month. The agency, with HUD’s assistance, was providing $207 of assistance for the rent and the tenant paid $164.
“When calculated correctly by the HUD formula, it was $2.49 the Housing Authority would provide and the tenant would have to pay $369,” Alsup said. “So, the tenant would have to come up with $205 a month.”
