The federal government offers a range of helpful assistance programs to support citizens facing financial difficulties and struggling to meet their basic needs.
These programs provide assistance for crucial aspects of life, such as food, clothing, education, healthcare, and housing. Among these welfare systems is the Housing Choice Voucher program.
This post covers what the Housing Choice Voucher program is, who is eligible, and how you can apply for it.
What Is The Housing Voucher Program?
The Housing Choice Voucher Program, popularly known as Section 8, provides housing assistance to low-income families or people with disabilities. The Federal Department of Urban Development funds the program, but local Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) are responsible for issuing vouchers to eligible families and individuals. With these vouchers, eligible individuals can get decent, sanitary living quarters at subsidized rates.
Houses covered by the voucher aren’t limited to subsidized housing projects. They include single-family homes, apartments, and townhouses.
When a family is issued a housing voucher, they have to find a suitable house that the landlord agrees to rent under the program within a designated period. The PHA will then pay a housing subsidy to the landlord on behalf of the family while the family offsets the difference and moves in. The housing voucher covers approximately 70% of the beneficiaries’ housing and utility costs.
It’s important to note that the landlord retains the right to choose whether to rent under the program. Landlords who agree will be required to provide specified services, and the house must meet the minimum safety and sanitary conditions. If they fail to meet these requirements, they won’t be paid.
Who Is Eligible?
Firstly, the housing choice voucher is only available to US citizens and non-citizens with eligible immigration status. The next determinant of eligibility is your income and family size. Families that qualify must have an income 50% below the median income for that area.
This median income differs per state and county. Hence, eligibility for the voucher differs per jurisdiction.
Additionally, preference is given to families who are homeless, living in substantial houses, or paying inflated rent. Inflated rental costs refer to fees 50% over the regional rental average.
Housing vouchers are also available to families who have to move due to additional family members, income changes, or a change in jobs. The system is structured so families can move without losing the voucher benefits.
You should contact your local public housing agency to confirm your eligibility for a housing choice voucher.
How Do You Apply?
The first step in applying for a housing choice voucher is confirming your eligibility.
After confirming your eligibility, contact your public housing agency to help you kick-start and monitor the process.
You should note that the HUD and local housing agencies have limited resources. As a result, the waitlists and waiting periods can be long and sometimes tiring. Also, the public housing agency sometimes closes the waiting list because it has more families than housing resources available.
Wrapping Up
The Housing Choice Voucher plays a crucial role in society today. Aside from helping low-income families, seniors, and disabled people find decent shelter, it protects children from homelessness, helps reduce the number of people living in poverty, assists families in moving out of high-poverty neighborhoods, and supports low-income families in making ends meet.
The Housing Choice Homeownership Voucher can also be used to support mortgage and purchase homes. Agencies reserve the right to use up to 20% of their voucher funds for project-based vouchers that cater to specific housing development projects.