Addendum A

VINALHAVEN HOUSING INITIATIVE

TENANT SELECTION POLICY

 

1. Eligibility criteria

1.  Household Income

   • There is a required household income limit to rent homes built with funding assistance from the State of Maine. It is a specific percentage of the area median income (AMI) for Knox County, as assessed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. (HUD categories are: low income=up to 50% of AMI, moderate=51% to 80%, medium=81% to 120%). The AMI is adjusted for family size and is updated each year. Percentage of AMI for the VHI houses are as follows: 

     • 80% of AMI for _________.

     • 120% of AMI for __________.

     • 160% of AMI for___________. 

   • Household income levels are verified prior to signing an initial lease; thereafter, they are not monitored.

2. Financial viability

   • Household has income that is at least three times the monthly rent amount. 

   • Household does not have a debt load that would affect the ability to pay rent

3. Appropriate house size

   • Household size is a good match for the size of the house

 

 2.   VHI Tenant Selection Criteria

1. Applicant currently lives or works year-round on Vinalhaven.

2. Committed to live on Vinalhaven for 10 months / year.

3. Brings needed workforce skills to the island.

4. Family / Individual size is good fit for housing being applied for.

5. Inability to manage current living situation.

6. Applicant has desire to participate in and contribute to the life of the island.

 

3.   Selection Process

1. VHI announces a rental apt/house opening on its website and through public information channels (fliers, posters, VH FB Page).  Folks are directed to the VHI website for full information and application form, with a deadline for application.

2. Application form can be downloaded from the website; it is also available in hard copy from Tenant Selection Committee chair and/or committee members.

3. A Tenant Selection Team, made up of members of the Tenant Selection Committee (or other board members if needed), will be appointed from time to time by the President.

4. Selection Team screens applications in the order received (first come, first served) for basic eligibility; applicants who do not meet the eligibility requirements are informed, including the reason for their non-eligibility.

5. Selection Team considers additional selection factors for applicants meeting eligibility requirements.  Applicants are interviewed by the Selection Team for clarifying information,

6. If the Selection Team is unable to decide between two or more eligible applicants, the decision is made by lottery (picking a name out of a hat) in a manner that is deemed transparent and fair by the applicants.

7. The Selection Team recommends the successful applicant to the Tenant Selection Committee. The Tenant Selection Committee endorses the recommendation to the full Board for a final vote or vetoes the selection and the Selection Team is tasked with redoing the selection process. The Board has the final vote. 

8. Successful and unsuccessful applicants are notified.

9. Unsuccessful, but otherwise eligible, applicants are notified by VHI when another vacancy is available, and they can apply again if still interested.  No waitlist will be kept.

 

VHI reserves the right to decline all applications.  In that event, applicants will be informed of the reason(s)