Small Area Fair Market Rents (SAFMR)

 In the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program, payment standards are used in the calculation of Housing Assistance Payments (HAPs) that the PHA pays to the owner on behalf of the family leasing the unit.

Payment standards are the maximum monthly assistance that the PHA will pay on behalf of the family.

The payment standard for a family is the lower of:

• Payment standard for the family’s unit size indicated on the voucher; or
• Payment standard for the size of the unit leased by the family.

Additional factors that influence the Housing Assistance Payment to the owner include the family's size and income, utilities the family is responsible for, and the cost of comparable units in the area.

The Hawthorne Housing Authority has been designated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as a SAFMR PHA and, in accordance with 24 CFR 982.503, is required to implement SAFMR-based payment standards no later than January 1, 2025. SAFMRs are FMRs calculated at the ZIP code level, rather than for the entire metropolitan area. SAFMRs are intended to more accurately reflect the local market and provide families with access to low-poverty and high-opportunity areas by providing rental assistance at a level that makes the higher rents in such areas affordable for them.

The Hawthorne Housing Authority has determined the SAFMR amount has significantly changed from the current payment standard amount and has adopted a Hold Harmless Policy as it is below the Fair Market Value for Hawthorne’s jurisdiction. The payment standards will remain at their current level until the SAFMR standards meet the current amount. HAP may be adjusted based on changes in family household or income.

 The 2025 Fair Market Rent payment standard schedule is included below:

The mandatory SAFMR payment standard schedule effective January 1, 2025 is:

The Hawthorne Housing Authority requested and received an exception to the SAFMR payment standard schedule at 113%. The exception, in accordance with HUD regulations will last for 12 months.

The PHA’s SAFMR payment standard schedule effective January 1, 2025 is: