Oskaloosa Municipal Housing Agency

Section 8 Rent Assistance

Currently the OMHA administers 230 Section 8 Existing Housing Vouchers. This program provides assistance to qualified applicants that rent privately owned houses and/or apartments within the City of Oskaloosa . Households wanting rent assistance within Mahaska County , but outside the city limits of Oskaloosa, need to contact the Area XV Multi-County Housing Authority in Agency, IA., at 1-800-848-9438.

To be considered income eligible, a household must have an annual income of not more than 50% of the Mahaska County Median Income Limits. The program requires the tenants to pay at least 30% of their adjusted income (minimum of $50) toward rent with the assistance program picking up the balance. All tenants are required to have their incomes reviewed at least annually.   

The OMHA maintains a waiting list for the rent assistance program. Applications are taken in the office during normal business hours (M-F 8-12 & 1-5). To make application you must know the legal name, birth date, Social Security Number and source of income of each member of the household. Also needed, is the current rent amount and if the unit falls within the sub-standard housing guidelines.

Applicants are taken off the waiting list as others drop off the program and as assistance is available based upon the date and time of their application.

Landlords are required to maintain their properties so they meet the Minimum Housing Quality Standards (HQS). This requires annual inspections of all assisted properties and most of the time a second inspection to verify the noted repairs have been completed.

For additional information on rent assistance contact Housing Specialist, Carolyn Rice at 641/673-8362 or crice@mahaska.org .

FREQUENTLY ASKED FOR INFORMATION/PHONE NUMBERS

FAMILY UNITS WITH RENT ASSISTANCE

Santa Clara Apartments   1305 Santa Clara              673-8526

Meadowbrook Apts.          510 South M                   967-8526

Southern Hills                  202 18 th Ave E               673-6656

SENIOR UNITS WITH RENT ASSISTANCE

Wells Apts. (Inglenook & Norwich)  309 North D       673-8508

Oskaloosa Park Apts.      1210 So. F                      673-0364

Oskaloosa Retirement Homes (Shady Lodge) 1102 So. 11 th

673-6323

Highland Park Senior Housing 109 18 th Ave. E        673-4599

New Sharon Elderly (Sharon Mathis) Prairie Homes   641-236-6151

SERVICE AGENCIES

Human Services                                                    673-3496

County Relief                                                        672-2625

SIEDA                                                                  673-8758

Imagine The Possibilities                                       673-3459

Crisis Hotline                                                        673-5499

SCIC for Independent Living                                    672-1867

Mahaska Co. Habitat for Humanity                       

673-5219

P.O. Box 583

Oskaloosa , IA 52577

AREA XV

417 North College                                               

1-800-848-9438

Box 276

Agency, IA 52530

(Provides rent assistance in Mahaska, Wayne, Wapello, Jefferson, Van Buren Davis Lucas, Keokuk & Appanoose Counties)