Housing Choice Vouchers

The Housing Choice Voucher Program is the federal government's major program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private rental market. Since housing assistance is provided on behalf of the family or individual, participants are able to find their own housing, including single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments.

Once you are approved for the program, you will be scheduled for an appointment for a briefing. At the briefing appointment, if you bring all required documentation with you, you will be issued a voucher, and you may begin looking for a unit right away. Once you have found a suitable unit and you turn in your Request for Tenancy Approval (RTA), an inspection must be scheduled. When the unit has passed the final inspection, you will be notified when your lease paperwork is ready to sign and what your portion of the rent will be.

How long is my voucher good for?
The voucher expires in 60 days. It is our policy that we are not giving extensions at this time.

How is my rent determined?
The family share of rent shall be calculated based on the following:

• 30% of the family's monthly adjusted income;
• 10% of the family's monthly income; Welfare rent: Payments for welfare assistance from a public agency and part of those payments, adjusted in accordance with the actual housing costs of the family, specifically designated by that agency to meet the housing cost of the family (specifically the portion of those payments that is so designated); or
• Minimum Rent ($50.00 per month).

How is bedroom size determined?
Two heartbeats per bedroom will be the consideration given to families without regard to the age or sex of family members.
1 Bedroom voucher = 1-2 people max
2 Bedroom voucher = 3-4 people max
3 Bedroom voucher = 5-6 people max
4 Bedroom voucher = 7-8 people max

Inspections/Housing Quality Standards
Upon initial move-in, there will be an initial inspection to determine whether the unit is decent, safe, and sanitary according to Housing Quality Standards. A redetermination of the unit's acceptability will be made at least once a year when you remain in the program.