The United States Housing Act of 1937 authorized states to pass legislation enabling establishment of local public housing agencies (PHAs) to receive federal assistance. The Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998 (QHWRA) was enacted to reform public housing by:

• Reducing the concentration of poverty in public housing;

• Protecting access to housing assistance for the poorest families;

• Supporting families making the transition from welfare to work;

• Raising performance standards for PHAs;

• Transforming the public housing stock through new policies and procedures for demolition and replacement and mixed-finance projects;

• Merging and reforming the Section 8 certificate and voucher programs; and

• Providing for HUD management reform through deregulation and program consolidation.

Approximately 3,300 local PHAs own and operate public housing developments nationwide, assisting over 1.3 million households. The Housing Authority of the City of East Orange (EOHA) manages just fewer than 250 units of public and other affordable housing properties at two sites located in East Orange, NJ.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) administers Federal aid to local housing authorities (HAs) that manage the housing for low-income residents at rents they can afford. HUD furnishes technical and professional assistance in planning, developing and managing these

ELIGIBILITY 

The head of the household must be:

• 18 years of age or older;

• A "family" as defined by HUD; and

• Your annual gross income must be within the current limits set by the HUD. The income limits are based on the current median household income in Essex County

For Senior and Disabled Citizens, The head of the household must be:

• 62 years of age and older;

• Certified disabled; and

• Your annual income must be within the current limits set by the HUD. The income limits are based on the current median household income in Essex County as follows: