WHAT IS THE GUAM HOUSING AND URBAN RENEWAL AUTHORITY?
The Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority (GHURA)* is a lot more than just a housing agency. It’s mission and goal encompass almost every person in our island community, ** whether they are young, homeless, at risk youth, disabled, low to moderate-income families, single mothers trying to become self sufficient, or manamko (elderly), GHURA has a positive impact on their lives.
As stated in Public Law 6-135, GHURA’s purpose is to “… promote the health, safety and welfare of Guam’s people by the elimination of slum and blight conditions, by the orderly redevelopment and renewal of communities, by proper planning of community development and by provision of safe, decent and sanitary dwellings for low to moderate-income families, through all available federal and local governmental programs and through encouragement of Guam’s private enterprises to participate in the common task of improving our island community, while upholding family values.”
GHURA’s Board of Commissioners provide overall policy direction to the department, while day-to-day operations are overseen by an Executive Director, Deputy Director and 12 managers. Currently, 98 employees ensure that the department not only accomplishes its mission, but also keeps up-to-date on new and improved techniques of ‘getting the job done right.’
GHURA personnel also act as a contact for the Fair Housing Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation and American’s With Disabilities Act.
* GHURA is a unique agency within the Government of Guam because we receive 100 percent of our funding through the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
** All the grants and programs discussed on this website are meant to benefit the residents of Guam, as per United States Federal Regulations. If you need assistance and do not live in Guam, please contact your local mayor’s office to find out the agency closest to you that handles the following programs: Public Housing, Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8), Community Development Block Grant, HOME Investment Partnership Program Grant and Emergency Shelter Grant.
The following are some frequently asked questions concerning our Authority’s Programs:
PUBLIC HOUSING
1. WHAT IS PUBLIC HOUSING?
Public housing is an affordable rental-housing program for eligible low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. Public housing comes in all sizes and types, from two-bedroom to five-bedroom single-family houses and one-bedroom units for the elderly.
2. WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Public housing is limited to low-income families and individuals. The lower income limits are at 80% and very low-income limits are at 50% of the median income for Guam. GHURA’s Housing Services Division can tell you the income levels for Guam by family size, or you can also find the income limits here on the Internet. [Link to Public Housing Income Limits] GHURA determines your eligibility based on: Annual gross income;
whether you qualify as elderly, a person with a disability, or as a family; and U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status.
3. HOW DO I APPLY?
If you are interested in applying for public housing, contact the GHURA Housing Services Division at (671) 477-9851 or pick up an application at the GHURA Main Office located at 117 Bien Venida Avenue, Sinajana, Guam.
HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS (SECTION 8)
1. WHAT IS THE HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM?
The Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) is a program that provides vouchers and certificates to eligible very low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. The vouchers and certificates are a form of monetary rental assistance that helps very low-income families rent affordable housing of their choice from landlords on Guam. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) administers Federal aid to GHURA to provide rental assistance for very low-income residents to make renting housing in the community affordable.
2. WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
GHURA determines your eligibility based on: Annual gross income; whether you qualify as elderly, a person with a disability, or as a family; and U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status.
3. HOW DO I APPLY?
If you are interested in applying for Section 8 rental assistance, contact the GHURA Housing Services Division at (671) 477-9851 or pick up an application at the GHURA Main Office located at 117 Bien Venida Avenue, Sinajana, Guam.
GUMA TRANKILIDAT
1. WHAT IS GUMA TRANKILIDAT?
Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority’s Guam Elderly Project, "Guma’ Trankilidat," is financed through the Farmers Home Administration, Section 515 New Construction. Guma’ Trankilidat provides housing to very low-income elderly and persons with a disabilities. The project contains 49 one-bedroom units. Section 8 rental assistance is provided residents of Guma Trankilidat. For more information about the Section 8 program visit GHURA’s Section 8 program web page.
2. WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Guma Trankilidat is limited to very low-income families whose head of household, spouse or sole member is elderly or a person with a disability. The very low-income limits are at 50% of the median income for Guam under the Section 8 program. GHURA’s Housing Services Division can tell you the income levels for Guam by family size, or you can also find the income limits here on the Internet. [Link to Guma Trankilidat income limits.]
3. HOW DO I APPLY?
If you are interested in applying for Section 8 rental assistance, contact the GHURA Housing Services Division at (671) 477-9851 or pick up an application at the GHURA Main Office located at 117 Bien Venida Avenue, Sinajana, Guam.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD) GRANTS
1. WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT?
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) is a grant provided by the U.S. Department and Urban Development. GHURA administers the grant for the island of Guam for use in revitalizing neighborhoods, providing affordable housing, expanding economic opportunities, and improving community facilities and services.
2. WHAT IS THE HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP GRANT (HOME)?
HOME grants fund a wide range of activities that build, buy, and/or rehabilitate affordable housing for rent or home ownership or provide direct rental assistance to low-income people. HOME is designed exclusively to create affordable housing for low-income households. The program's flexibility allows States and local governments to use HOME funds for grants, direct loans, loan guarantees or other forms of credit enhancement, or rental assistance or security deposits.
3. WHAT IS EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANT?
Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG) are provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. GHURA administers ESG for Guam. ESG funds are used to improve the quality and number of emergency homeless shelters. ESG provides a foundation for homeless people to begin moving to independent living.
4. WHAT IS GUAM’S CONTINUUM OF CARE SYSTEM?
On Guam, the Continuum of Care system is made up primarily of an ad hoc committee of homeless providers, mainstream service providers and community stakeholders. The system has evolved through community experiences, economic trends and community awareness of a growing and diverse homeless population in our island. Throughout the ninety’s, ongoing dialogue among non-profit organizations, government, and other public and private agencies concerning homeless issues have centered around the need to invest in a population seen as "at-risk", along with existing homeless families and individuals in the community.