Housing Choice Voucher (HCV)
Information about the Housing Choice Voucher Program, eligibility, applications, landlords and payment standards.
Program Overview
The Housing Choice Voucher Program, previously known as Section 8, 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 where the landlord is willing to accept the voucher payment. Housing Choice Vouchers are administered locally by the Victoria Housing Authority (VHA). VHA receives federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to administer the voucher program.
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 Victoria Housing Authority 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.
The Housing Choice Voucher Program Administrative Plan establishes guidelines for applicant eligibility and continued rental assistance.
FAQs
The Housing Choice Voucher Program provides housing assistance in the form of vouchers to families. The HCV Program offers the opportunity for low-income families to rent from a landlord in the private rental market. A family issued a housing voucher is responsible for finding a suitable housing unit where the owner agrees to rent under the program.
Program participants who are issued a housing voucher are responsible for finding a suitable housing unit of their choice from an owner who agrees to rent under the program. The unit may include the participant's present residence. Rental units must meet minimum standards of health and safety, as determined by VHA.
A housing subsidy is paid to the property owner directly by VHA on behalf of the participant. The participant then pays the difference between the actual rent charged by the property owner and the amount subsidized by the program. A participant's rent is usually about 30 percent of their monthly income.
- Qualify as a family.
- Have a combined income under the established income limits.
- Disclose and verify Social Security Numbers for each household member.
- Be a U. S. Citizen or National or meet eligible non-citizen immigration status.
- Have no history of drug/alcohol abuse and/or have record of violent crime.
- Have no household member that is subject to lifetime registration under any State sex offender law.
- Have no household member that owes money to any housing authority.
- Each household member must comply with the requirement to sign release information authorization and/or consent forms.
- Full Eligibility Criteria and Details can be found in the Administrative Plan
It is required that Social Security cards are submitted for everyone in your household who has a Social Security number. If any family member does not have a Social Security number, they must submit a signed certification that they have no number. If you cannot find your card or you've never had a Social Security number, we will accept copies of documents that show your proof of eligible immigration status.
You will need to organize all documents so that you can bring them with you when you apply. If you will need assistance with reading/writing, please contact the VHA in advance to ensure that someone will be available to assist you when you arrive. When you bring in your application, the associate assisting you will make copies of all required documents. The associate will review all of your paperwork to make sure that everything is complete.
- An associate will review all of your paperwork to determine eligibility.
- A criminal background check is conducted to verify that no household members are ineligible. Your income is evaluated to make sure that you are income eligible.
- Those who are over income, Registered sex offenders, anyone who does not meet the criminal screening criteria, and those who owe any Housing Agency money, are not eligible.
- Once you have provided all requested documents, you will receive a determination letter by mail within 30 days.
If you are denied due to income, you will be removed from the waiting list as you are not eligible for the program. If you are denied due to criminal background, you may request an informal hearing in writing by the deadline stated on the letter. You must complete this request and have it submitted to our office by the specified deadline.
Eligibility for a rental voucher is determined by the total annual gross income and family size and is limited to U.S. citizens and specified categories of non-citizens who have eligible immigration status. In general, the family's income may not exceed 50% of the area median income. Median income levels are published by HUD and vary by location. During the application process, the Housing Authority will collect information to determine program eligibility and the amount of the rental assistance payment. If the Housing Authority determines that your family is eligible, The Housing Authority will then put your name on a waiting list. Once your name is reached on the waiting list, the Housing Authority will contact you and issue to you a rental voucher.
Once your family has been issued a Housing Choice Voucher by the Housing Authority, you can search the private rental market in your community for a housing unit that is decent, safe and sanitary according to Housing Quality Standards (HQS) established by HUD and the local Housing Authority. (The HA will provide you with a copy of the HUD booklet "A Good Place to Live!" to guide you in finding a unit that meets these standards.) When you have found a suitable unit and the owner agrees to lease the unit to your family under the housing choice voucher program, the Housing Authority will inspect the unit to assure that it is suitable. After the unit passes HQS Inspection and the rent has been approved, the landlord and tenant enter a lease for an initial term of one year. The Housing Authority and the landlord sign a Housing Assistance Payments Contract through which the rent is assisted on your behalf. You will be responsible for the monthly payment of the difference between the total rent and the Housing assistance payment.
A family's housing needs change over time with changes in family size, job locations, and for other reasons. The Housing Choice Voucher Program is designed to allow families to move without the loss of rental assistance. Moves are allowed as long as the family notifies VHA ahead of time, terminates its existing lease within the appropriate provisions, and finds acceptable alternate housing.
Under the voucher program, new voucher holders may choose a unit anywhere in the United States if the family lived within the jurisdiction of VHA at the time the family applies for rental assistance. Those new voucher holders not living within the jurisdiction of VHA at the time the family applies for rental assistance must initially lease a unit within that jurisdiction for the first twelve months of assistance. A family that wishes to move to another Housing Authority's jurisdiction must consult with the Housing Authority that currently administers its rental assistance to verify the procedures for moving.
New voucher holders must lease the first unit for a one-year period. After the initial year, you may renew the lease for a specified time period (ex. month-to-month, six months, etc.). You may vacate after the term of the initial lease expires with a written notice to the Housing Authority and the landlord (See you landlord lease agreement for term of notice required). If you remain in the unit, you are recertified for eligibility and the unit is inspected for Housing Quality Standards annually, at which time the landlord may request a rent increase. This request must be submitted by your landlord in writing to both the Housing Authority and to you sixty days prior to renewal.
Application & Eligibility
Eligibility
To Participate in the Housing Choice Voucher Program, applicants must:
- Qualify as a family.
- Have a combined income under the established income limits.
- Disclose and verify Social Security Numbers for each household member.
- Be a U. S. Citizen or National or meet eligible non-citizen immigration status.
- Have no history of drug/alcohol abuse and/or have record of violent crime.
- Have no household member that is subject to lifetime registration under any State sex offender law.
- Have no household member that owes money to any housing authority.
- Each household member must comply with the requirement to sign release information authorization and/or consent forms.
- Full Eligibility Criteria and Details can be found in the Administrative Plan.
Income Limits
Income eligibility limits for the voucher program are set by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as percentages of the local area median income. The incomes below are the maximum household income based on the number of family members in the household. Only applicants who meet the following income limits are eligible.
FY Income Limit Area: Victoria Housing Authority, Texas
30% Limits
- 1 person $15,400
- 2 persons $17,600
- 3 persons $19,800
- 4 persons $21,950
- 5 persons $23,750
- 6 persons $25,500
- 7 persons $27,250
- 8 persons $29,000
Very Low Income
- 1 person $25,650
- 2 persons $29,300
- 3 persons $32,950
- 4 persons $36,600
- 5 persons $39,500
- 6 persons $42,500
- 7 persons $45,400
- 8 persons $48,350
60% Limits
- 1 person $30,780
- 2 persons $35,160
- 3 persons $39,540
- 4 persons $43,920
- 5 persons $47,460
- 6 persons $51,000
- 7 persons $54,480
- 8 persons $58,020
Low Income
- 1 person $41,000
- 2 persons $46,850
- 3 persons $52,700
- 4 persons $58,550
- 5 persons $63,250
- 6 persons $67,950
- 7 persons $72,650
- 8 persons $77,300
How to Apply
When and Where to Apply
- Housing Choice Voucher/Section 8 (HCV/S8) applications are accepted when waiting list is open.
- Applicants can apply in person at 4001 Halsey Street, Victoria, TX 77901; between 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays; except the first seven (7) days of each month and holidays.
- Persons with disabilities or Limited English Proficiency may call to make special arrangements to complete application.
- Applications are only mailed to person who reside outside of the City of Victoria.
- If requested, the application will be mailed in an accessible format.
Process
- Applicants must submit a pre-application. The applicant will complete the application on their own whenever possible.
- The head of household, and all household members over eighteen (18) years of age must sign the application and all required forms.
- Applications are date and time stamped when submitted, fully completed and signed.
- Applicants will be pre-screened and placed on the waiting list in the order that they applied according to date and time.
Being Called from the Waitlist
- Applicants will be called in the order that they applied when vouchers are available to be leased.
- The Housing Authority (HA) will schedule an applicant interview. Appointments will be scheduled by mail or telephone with at least five (5) calendar days' notice.
- If the applicant cannot attend, it is the applicant's responsibility to inform the HA, prior to the scheduled interview. The HA will reschedule and notify the applicant in writing.
- If the applicant fails to attend the scheduled interview and does not contact the HA to reschedule, the application may be denied admission. The applicant may reapply at a later date.
- All family members eighteen (18) years of age or older to attend the interview.
- All information provided by the applicant will be verified to determine applicant eligibility before the applicant is issued a voucher or placed on the waiting list.
- After verification, a final determination of eligibility will be made. The HA will inform the applicant of their eligibility in writing.
- The applicant will be issued a voucher.
Applicant Responsibilities
- Applicants must inform the HA, in writing or in person, of changes in contact or any other information.
- Applicants must respond to requests from the HA to update information on their application.
- Applicants must confirm continued interest in applying by contacting the HA every six (6) months.
- Failure to provide information or to contact the HA every six (6) months to confirm continued interest will result in the applicant being removed from the Waiting List.
- Mail that is returned by the U.S. Postal Service may result in removal from the Waiting List.
- Applicants who are removed from the Waiting List may reapply for assistance when the Waiting List is opened.
- Exception: If the applicant did not respond to the HA request because of a family member's disability, the HA will reinstate the applicant in his/her former position on the Waiting List.
Landlords
The role of the landlord in the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) / Section 8 (S8) program is to lease decent, safe, and sanitary housing to a tenant at a reasonable rent. The housing unit must pass the program's Housing Quality Standards (HQS) and be maintained up to those standards as long as the owner receives Housing Assistance Payments (HAPs).
Payment Standards
Payment standards are used to calculate the rent portion the HA will pay, also known as the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). The payment standard reflects the maximum payment the HA can pay based on the Fair Market Rents (FMR), which are established by HUD annually. The Housing Authority of the City of Victoria has established the following payment standard amounts by bedroom size.
Final Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 and Final Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Fair Market Rents (FMR) By Unit Bedrooms
FY 2024 FMR
- Efficiency $1,010
- One-Bedroom $1,016
- Two-Bedroom $1,276
- Three-Bedroom $1,588
- Four-Bedroom $1,753
FY 2023 FMR
- Efficiency $876
- One-Bedroom $949
- Two-Bedroom $1,180
- Three-Bedroom $1,503
- Four-Bedroom $1,696