For immediate release
For more information, contact
Donald Keeney
or
Caitlin Jones
ST. JAMES—The Phelps County Public Housing Agency (PHA) closed its wait list, effective Nov. 26, 2024, and is no longer accepting new applications for housing assistance, announced Bonnie Prigge, executive director of Meramec Regional Planning Commission. This action came as a recommendation from the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, the federal agency that provides the rental assistance funding, to head off a projected funding shortfall in 2025.
Current participants of the HUD Choice Voucher Program, administered by the Phelps County PHA, are not impacted by this closure. Only those wishing to apply for assistance or those currently on the waitlist but have not yet received a voucher will be impacted by the closure of the waitlist
“Due to the high demand for housing assistance, higher than normal rents, and to prevent a budget shortfall, the Phelps County Public Housing Agency has closed its waitlist until further notice,” MRPC Housing Manager Donald Keeney said. “It is important to point out that this does not impact current tenants and landlords. We know that this is not an ideal time for the closure of our waitlist, however for us to be able to continue to provide assistance to those currently housed as well as those on our waitlist, this decision had to be made. We are hopeful that the waitlist is not closed for long.”
Public notice will be provided once the waitlist has reopened. Those currently on the waiting list will not need to reapply but will maintain their position on the waitlist, once the list has reopened.
“We will continue to serve those clients who have approved housing assistance vouchers and are currently looking for housing,” said Prigge. “They will not be impacted by this decision.”
There are roughly 148 families with approved vouchers looking for housing in the six-county area.
“Those clients who have submitted applications and are currently on the waiting list will stay there,” Prigge added. “However, we will not be adding any new families to the wait list until further notice.”
The Phelps County PHA provides HUD Section 8 rental assistance to about 700 families in Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Phelps (outside the city of Rolla) and Washington counties at a cost of $3.5 million annually. Persons needing more information should contact Keeney at 573-265-4200 or via email at dkeeney@meramecregion.org.
Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) provides staffing to the Phelps County PHA. Tim Schulte, presiding commissioner of Gasconade county, chairs the PHA board. The PHA also offers the Family Self-Sufficiency Program where clients develop a goal-oriented, five-year plan that moves them toward self-sufficiency and independence from government programs.
Formed in 1969, MRPC is a voluntary council of governments serving Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties and their respective cities. Mary Heywood, representing individuals with disabilities, serves as chair of the board. A professional staff of 28 offers technical assistance and services, such as grant preparation and administration, housing assistance, transportation planning, environmental planning, ordinance codification, business loans and other services to member communities.
To keep up with the latest MRPC news and events, visit the MRPC website at www.meramecregion.org or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/meramecregion/.
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