Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program — Tenant Resource Guide

Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development — Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Tenants page.

🏠 What Is the Housing Choice Voucher Program?

The Housing Choice Voucher Program (also known as Section 8) helps low-income families, elderly persons, veterans, and people with disabilities afford housing in the private rental market. Participants can choose eligible housing (single-family, townhouses, apartments) where the rent is partially paid by HUD subsidy.

👉 Learn more: https://www.hud.gov/helping-americans/housing-choice-vouchers-tenants

📝 Getting Started — Eligibility & Application

👪 Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the HCV program, applicants generally must:

• Have income at or below HUD’s income limits for their area — find local limits here: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il.html
• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
• Provide a valid Social Security number.
• Meet additional criteria such as criminal background screening.
  (Specific requirements vary by PHA.)

🏢 How to Apply

You must apply through your local Public Housing Agency (PHA) — find contact info and agency listings here:
👉 HUD PHA Directory: https://www.hud.gov/contactus/public-housing-contacts

Tips:

• Many PHAs maintain waiting lists because demand exceeds vouchers.
• You can apply to more than one PHA to increase your chances.

📆 After You Are Selected

📄 Orientation & Voucher Issuance

Once selected from a waitlist, your PHA will contact you for:

• Eligibility verification
• Briefing/orientation
• Voucher issuance with a timeline to locate housing (often 60–120 days)

🏡 Finding and Leasing a Home

1. Find an eligible rental unit where the landlord accepts the voucher.
2. Submit a Request for Tenancy Approval (RFTA) to your PHA.
3. A PHA inspection checks unit health and safety standards.
4. The PHA ensures rent is reasonable for the local market.
5. You, the landlord, and the PHA sign leases and assistance contracts.

💶 Rent & Payments

Your monthly rent share is normally about 30% of your adjusted income (sometimes up to 40%).
The PHA pays the rest directly to the landlord.

📜 Tenant Responsibilities

To keep your voucher you must:

• Comply with your lease and program rules.
• Live in the unit as your primary residence.
• Report income or household changes promptly to your PHA.
• Complete annual re-certification with your PHA.

🔁 Portability — Moving with Your Voucher

One key benefit: the ability to move to most other U.S. communities and continue using your voucher — ask your PHA about the portability process.

⚖️ Fair Housing & Discrimination Protections

All participating tenants have rights protected under federal housing law.

🏠 Fair Housing Act

It’s illegal to discriminate in renting housing because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or familial status — learn more here:
👉 Fair Housing Act overview: https://www.hud.gov/helping-americans/fair-housing-act-overview

🚩 Source of Income Protection

Refusing to accept vouchers to pay rent may be prohibited by state or local source-of-income discrimination laws — but protections vary by location. See HUD’s page on this topic:
👉 Source of Income Protections for Voucher Holders: https://www.hud.gov/helping-americans/housing-choice-vouchers-income-protect

📋 Report Housing Discrimination

If you believe you’ve been discriminated against:
👉 Report housing discrimination with HUD: https://www.hud.gov/reporthousingdiscrimination