Housing Choice Voucher Program

The Housing Choice Voucher Program is a federally funded program that helps lower-income families pay their rents. The program is administered by local housing agencies who set their payment standard based upon Fair Market Rents established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The local housing agency issues a voucher to an eligible family that is the difference between the payment standard and thirty percent of the family's adjusted income. A family pays the difference between the total rent for the unit and the voucher amount.

Who is Eligible for Housing Choice Voucher Assistance?

Each local housing agency determines who is eligible following both local and federal guidelines.

Each housing agency establishes its own preferences, which determines the family's priority on the waiting list.

The federal government sets the income limit, which determines whether the family is income eligible based upon the median income of the area.

How Do Families Sign Up?

Low-income families can apply for Housing Choice Voucher rental assistance by contacting their local housing agency. The local housing agency can further explain the program and indicate whether it is taking applications or not.