Policies
Security Deposits
- One month's ceiling rent for all properties
- Security Deposits may be paid in installments. Residents at Family Sites must have $200.00 at time the lease is signed. Residents of OAK and Paquin Towers must have $150.00 at the time of signing. Managers will arrange payments for the remainder of the security deposit.
Utilities
- Tenants in the Downtown and Bear Creek family sites are responsible to have utility service on in the resident’s name at all times.
- At Paquin Tower and Oak Towers, utilities are included, with the exception of air conditioning. Cable television is available at an additional cost.
Rent
- Upon move in, the initial rent will be pro-rated based on the number of days left in the month. Rent is due on the first day of the month. Rent is considered late after the fifth of the month. Checks or money orders may be mailed to the Columbia Housing Authority, P.O. Box 6915, Columbia, Missouri 65205-6915. Payment envelopes are available from the Housing Managers and at the front desk of the Administration Building.
- The first step in computing rent is to determine each family’s Total Tenant Payment. If the family is occupying a unit that has tenant-paid utilities, a Utility Allowance is subtracted from the Total Tenant Payment. The result of this computation, if a positive number, is the Tenant Rent. If the Total Tenant Payment less the Utility Allowance is a negative number, the result is the utility reimbursement, which will be paid to the utility company for the tenant by check mailed on the first business day of the month.
- At admission, and each year in preparation for their annual re-examination, each family is given the choice of having their rent determined under the income-based method, having their rent set at the flat rent amount, or paying the ceiling rent for their size of unit.
Lease
It is the Columbia Housing Authority’s policy that all units must be occupied pursuant to a lease that complies with Housing and Urban Development’s regulations and Missouri law. See proposed lease revisions here.
Pets
- Residents must have the prior approval of the Columbia Housing Authority before moving a pet into their units. Residents must request approval on the Authorization for Pet Ownership Form that must be fully completed, necessary documentation received and the pet deposit paid in full before the request will be approved.
- Dogs and cats must have current documentation of all vaccinations and be spayed or neutered.
- If the pet is a dog, it shall not weigh more than 20 pounds (fully grown) or must not be more than 18” in height.
- If the pet is a cat, the weight of the cat cannot exceed 20 pounds (fully grown).
- Prohibited Animals: Animals that are prohibited by the City of Columbia Ordinance or that are considered vicious and/or intimidating will not be allowed. Some examples of animals that have a reputation of a vicious nature are reptiles, all species of monkeys, Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, Pit Bulls, and/or any animal that displays vicious behavior. This determination will be made by a Columbia Housing Authority representative prior to the approval of the animal.
- A non-refundable fee of $5 and a deposit of $100 are required for each pet.
- Non-resident pets are not permitted on CHA property without permission of the manager.
For more information regarding public housing policies, contact your housing manager or Lee Radkte, Director of Public Housing Operations, at (573) 443-2556, ext. 1200 or mailto:lradtke@columbiaha.com.
