Applicants

HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER

About

The housing choice voucher program is the federal government’s major program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Since housing assistance is provided on behalf of the family or individual, participants are able to find their own housing, including single-family homes, townhouses and apartments. The participant is free to choose any housing that meets the requirements of the program and is not limited to units located in subsidized housing projects.

A family that is issued a housing voucher is responsible for finding a suitable housing unit of the family’s choice where the owner agrees to rent under the program. This unit may include the family’s present residence. Rental units must meet minimum standards of health and safety, as determined by the PHA.
A housing subsidy is paid to the landlord directly by the PHA on behalf of the participating family. The family then pays the difference between the actual rent charged by the landlord and the amount subsidized by the program. Typically, a family pays approximately 30% of their calculated income toward rent.

Housing choice vouchers are administered locally by public housing agencies (PHAs). The PHAs receive federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to administer the voucher program.

How do I apply?

To apply for a voucher, download the below application or request an application by calling (707) 443-4583 ext. 210 or by visiting us at 735 West Everding Street, Eureka, CA. 95503.

During the application process, the PHA will collect documents related to your family income, assets, and family composition. The PHA will use the information to determine your eligibility and will verify this information with other local agencies, your employer, and your bank.

HCV Application (coming soon)
Update My Application (coming soon)

Application

Income Limits

Eligibility for a housing voucher is determined by the PHA based on the total annual gross income and family size and is limited to US citizens and specified categories of non-citizens who have eligible immigration status. In general, the family’s income may not exceed 50% of the median income for the county or metropolitan area in which the family chooses to live. By law, a PHA must provide 75% of its vouchers to applicants whose incomes do not exceed 30% of the area median income. Median income levels are published by HUD and vary by location.

Waiting List

Long waiting periods are common since the demand for housing assistance often exceeds the limited resources available to HUD and the local housing agencies. In fact, a PHA may close its waiting list when it has more families on the list than can be assisted in the near future.