Section 8 HCV Overview

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What is Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher?

  

Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher icon

 

Through this program, we help low-income families and individuals with the cost of their rent. A portion of their rent is paid directly to the landlord. The purpose of the program is to assist low-income people and ensure they are living in healthy, safe housing.

For a list of landlords and units willing to participate in the rental assistance programs, please see GoSection8.com.

You are not restricted to the units on this list; you may also look for rentals on your own.

Apply for a rental assistance program.

Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher

Eligible families are selected from the waiting list. A qualified family may choose to rent a unit in any area we serve if the owner is willing to participate in the program. 

  • The low-income family must pay at least 30 percent of their adjusted monthly income for rent and utilities.
  • We will pay the rest of the rent to the landlord, as long as the total rent and utilities are at or below a certain cost, called a payment standard.
  • If you qualify for help with housing costs, you may use this Rental Assistance Calculation to get an idea of what you can receive. Your actual aid may be different. There is a maximum amount of rental assistance a family may receive and it is called the Voucher Payment Standard. These payment standards are determined by fair market rent in our region and funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
  • Market rental costs and regulations set by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) determine the amount of the payment standard.​​​​
  • If the rent is too high, the unit may not be eligible for assistance.
  • You may apply to be placed on a waiting list and your eligibility is determined after your name is selected from the waiting list.
  • Your name is selected from the waiting list according to the date and time of your application. Because of limited federal funding, you may wait 10 or more years before your name is selected from the waiting list.
  • If you are already receiving Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher assistance, your eligibility to remain on the program is reviewed at least once a year.
  • We are committed to providing services and resources to help you find a rental unit that will accommodate the needs of a person with disabilities.

 

You can find more detailed information on the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program in the Family Handbook and our Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Agency Plan (on our Plans page). Learn more from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher page.

Inspections

The unit you choose must meet certain standards. It will be inspected before any assistance is paid to your landlord.

  • The units are inspected again every one to two years.  
  • The unit must be kept be in a safe, healthy condition.

Email Updates

  • Renters: Get e-mail updates when information about our Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program is updated.
 
 
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