Participating in the Voucher Program
The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program (formerly known as Section 8) is a federally-funded rent subsidy Program for low-income individuals and families to enable them to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private rental housing market.
How to get Started
- List your property as a vacancy.
- Families are given a copy of the list of available units, but this does not guarantee that an eligible family will rent your unit.
- The landlord interviews and screens prospective families.
- The landlord selects a family based on the landlord’s screening criteria and fair housing law requirements.
- Each eligible family is given a move-in paperwork packet. The landlord completes the family’s move-in paperwork and returns it to the family.
- The landlord or family submits the move-in paperwork to the Housing Choice Voucher Program office. A housing Specialist will contact the landlord to offer the total rent amount. Once the landlord accepts the total rent amount, the request for inspection is sent to the inspections department. The inspection will be scheduled within 3 business days.
- The landlord and inspections department arrange the date and time of the inspection.
- Once the unit passes inspection and the move-in date is established, the landlord and family sign the lease and contract documents, then the family shall receive keys to the unit.
- After all documents are signed, the family must pay their portion of the rent established by the Authority.
- Finally, the family moves into the unit. The landlord has sole responsibility for the management, maintenance and lease enforcement of the unit from this point forward.
- The owner or family must provide copy of the executed lease.
- The Authority prepares Housing Assistance Payment Contract (HAP) and collect signatures.
- Once the HAP is executed payment is released to the owner on behalf of the family.
- HAP payments are only released on the 1st and the 15th of the month.
Housing Choice Voucher Landlord Handbook
A Guide on the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program for residential rental property owners.