As of 1/11/2021, the WAITING LIST FOR RIVER BEND COURT IS OPEN AT THIS TIME.
Applying for Multifamily Housing
You may obtain an application for a housing unit by using one of the following methods:
1. Download the application at Housing Application Form 91; or
2. Visit our Main Office to obtain an application packet; or
3. Visit our Main Office and complete the application packet in our office
4. If you are unable to visit our office or print out the documents required, call our office to have them sent to you.
When completing an application be sure to indicate your 1st and 2nd choice for the preferred location of housing. If you do not indicate a preference, you will be placed in the first available unit when you are next on the waiting list.
In addition to the Housing Application, the documents listed below collectively make up the “Application Packet” and must all be submitted in order for the application to be processed. These forms will need to be downloaded, completed and then returned to our office with the application.
Program Interview Checklist (form 102)
Participant Screening Consent (form 103
Declaration of Citizenship 214 Status (form 104)
HUD Race and Ethnic Data Reporting (form 105) (for River Bend Court)
HUD Multifamily 9887 Release of Information (form 108)
If you need any assistance in completing or understanding the application process or documents and/or to schedule an in-person interview time, please call 240-362-9225 and ask to speak to the Property Manager for the Development in which you are interested in.
The “application packet” can be submitted to the Cumberland Housing Group by:
1. Electronically scanned and emailed to housing@cumberlandhousing.org
2. Dropped off anytime at our drop box located outside to the left of the entrance to the River Bend Court office, 50 Lamont Street.
3. Mailed to River Bend Court, 50 Lamont Street, Cumberland MD 21502
Our documents are uploaded in PDF format. If you cannot view these documents, please download Adobe Reader.
Qualified Applicants – Once all application documents are received, each application undergoes a series of phases to determine program eligibility.
Participant Screening Phase
The Cumberland Housing Group and HUD have stringent rules regarding previous drug and criminal activity, housekeeping abilities, income reporting, previous rental payments, unauthorized occupants in the rental unit, etc.
The Cumberland Housing Group has contracted with MRI Software and Resident Check LLC to perform a thorough screening process on all applicants and participants in our affordable housing programs. This screening process is conducted in accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Fair Housing Act. The screening process utilizes records and reports gathered from banks and financial Institutions, credit bureaus, law enforcement agencies, state and federal courts, government agencies, past/present landlords, Registered Sex Offender Registries, subsidized housing agencies, or other entities to confirm the accuracy of representations made on housing documents or undisclosed information. Based upon nationally determined parameters acceptable to HUD, Resident Check will determine if the applicant is acceptable or is to be denied.
The current and previous landlords will be contacted to obtain a history of the applicant’s ability to maintain the unit in a clean and nondestructive manner, interact with other tenants in an acceptable manner and pay rent on time.
A check will be made with the HUD database to determine if you have previously participated in any HUD subsidized housing programs. If you have had problems with a housing agency in the past or owe money for rent or damages to any housing agency, your application to reside in public housing would likely be denied.
A visit to the existing location where the applicant resides may be conducted to better understand identified issues, to further determine eligibility or to qualify for other programs.
Income Qualification Phase
Once the Participant Screening Phase is completed, approved applicants will then proceed through the Income Qualification Phase. The Public Housing and Project Based Rental Assistance programs provides government subsidized rental units for low-income families as defined by HUD annually through the published Program Income Limits. A current chart displaying the maximum family income limits by family size for these Programs can be reviewed by selecting the “About Us” tab at the top and then selecting the “Income Limits for Programs” in the menu.
Income of all family members must be identified and verified by our Property Managers through methods determined by HUD as part of the screening process to identify the total family income.
Rent Determination Phase
Once the Income Qualification Phase is completed, applicants who have been determined qualified will then proceed through the Rent Determination Phase.
If a family is determined to be ineligible, they will receive a letter stating the reason and an opportunity to meet with Property Management staff to better understand the reasons and present any special circumstances.
The rent for our units is an affordable rent which is well below the HUD market rate established for the City of Cumberland. The rental payment is based upon 30% of the total family income less HUD approved adjustments for a child, elderly household, certain medical expenses and others. This adjusted rent then has a Utility Allowance deducted for any tenant paid utility. The Utility Allowances are updated annually by an Energy Performance Contracting Firm.
Waiting List Placement
Once the Rent Determination Phase has been completed, the resident will be notified of the results of the qualification process, what the rent will be and if they will be placed in a unit or on a waiting list.
If there are no available units at the time of qualification, the applicant is placed on a waiting list for the development(s) which the applicant indicated interest in residing based upon the date of the completed application was received and the number of preference points assigned to the applicant. Preference points are assigned for working families, City or County residents and other factors.
If you have been notified of your placement onto the waiting list, you may check your status 24 hours a day by calling 301-724-6606 and select option #2. During the period on the waiting list, the position status may change to move an applicant up or back depending on other applications filed and the amount of preference points assigned. Applicants are pulled from the waiting list in the order they appear. Failure to accept a unit when offered may place you at the bottom of the list to start over.
The following documents provide more in-depth explanations as what and how the qualification process is conducted:
Application & Initial Processing Policy
Rejected Applicant Grievance Policy
Unit Offers and Placement Procedures