The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program is actually a three way partnership between the Housing Authority, the landlord and the tenant. The Housing Authority inspects and qualifies privately owned rental units for subsidy. The qualifying family selects their own rental unit providing that it is suitable for subsidy with the Housing Authority. The assisted single or family will pay up to 40% of their adjusted gross income toward their rent and utilities.

After submitting a completed application, you will be placed on our waiting list. Program participants are selected through waiting list management and must meet income and occupancy guidelines to qualify.

Once an applicant surfaces to the top of the waiting list, you will be scheduled for a briefing at our office where final eligibility will be determined. Once eligibility is established, you will be issued a Housing Choice Voucher and can begin to search for an eligible unit.

Any unit that the assisted family chooses must pass a Housing Quality Standards inspection that is conducted by Housing Authority staff and the rent must be reasonable and within certain guidelines as determined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The owner must be willing to enter into a contract with the Housing Authority and comply with program rules and regulations. It is the owners responsibility to determine suitability for tenancy. Once the contract is executed, Housing Assistance Payments will be sent directly to the owner as well as the tenants’ portion of rent.

Erie County Section 8

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