Housing Choice Voucher

The Housing Choice Voucher Program is funded through the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. The program is designed to help very low-income families afford decent, safe and sanitary housing.

The program issues to eligible applicants a housing choice voucher. The voucher allows families to rent housing at a price that they can afford. Eligible families pay at least 30% but no more than 40% of their income towards rent. The balance of the rent is paid directly to the landlord.

Applicants for the program are taken from the Programs waiting list, based upon the date and time of their application in accordance with the preferences established in the programs administrative plan.

Once a voucher is issued the applicant looks for suitable housing. Once the applicant finds housing a request for tenancy approval is submitted to the program by the applicant. The program will determine if the unit rent is within the Fair Market Rents established by Housing and Urban Development and will, send a packet of information to the landlord and then schedule a Housing Quality Inspection to assure that the unit is free of any serious health and safety issues.

If the housing unit passes inspection, a Housing Assistance Contract will be executed between the applicant and the landlord. This document will outline the portion of rent paid to the landlord by the program. Rental payments made to the landlord will be paid directly to the landlord.

Annually, the applicants will be recertified to assure that they are still eligible for the program.