Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program
Our Housing Choice Voucher Program, also known as Section 8, offers eligible individuals and families the flexibility to choose their own housing while receiving rental assistance. This program empowers participants to live in safe, decent, and affordable homes, fostering a sense of community and stability.
The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) or Section 8 Program provides assistance for low-income families in the private rental market through the Housing Assistance Payments Program. Housing Choice Voucher holders select a unit from the private rental market. Rental assistance makes market rate housing affordable. Program participants normally pay no more than 30% of their monthly-income and HHA pays the remainder directly to the landlord. As part of a family’s monthly rental allowance, HUD also includes a utility allowance. Utility allowances can be small or large, ranging from less than $10 to over $200 for a resident household per month, depending on the number of utilities and uses covered, and the dwelling unit and/or household size.
The Huntsville Housing Authority administers approximately 1,606 vouchers. With a voucher, a family is able to select a home in the private rental market. If the family chooses to move, the assistance is transferable. All housing must be inspected by HHA and meet Housing Quality Standards.
Eligibility
- An applicant must qualify as an individual or family as defined by [EHA].
Head of household must be at least 19 years of age at the time of this pre-application or an emancipated minor by a court of competent jurisdiction, consistent with Alabama laws. - Family must have annual income at the time of admission that does not exceed the established income limits at the time of admission according to the maximum income by family size established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development HUD). To view income limits, click here.
- Applicant and all adult members of the family must pass a criminal background check.
- Applicant or any member of the family that has ever been convicted of manufacturing or producing methamphetamine on the premises of any federally-assisted housing or any family household member that is subject to a lifetime registration requirement under a state sex offender registration program will not be eligible for housing assistance.
- Applicant and all members of the family must provide documentation of social security numbers for all family members or certify that they do not have social security numbers at the time of initial eligibility interview.
- Applicant and all members of the family must meet HUD requirements on citizenship or immigration status.
- Applicant or any member of the family who currently owes rent or other amounts to [EHA] or any other housing authority will not be offered assistance until the outstanding balance is paid in full.
Applicant and all adult members of the family must pass a criminal background check. - Applicant or any member of the family that has ever been convicted of manufacturing or producing methamphetamine on the premises of any federally-assisted housing or any family household member that is subject to a lifetime registration requirement under a state sex offender registration program will not be eligible for housing assistance.
- Applicant and all members of the family must provide documentation of social security numbers for all family members or certify that they do not have social security numbers at the time of initial eligibility interview.
- Applicant and all members of the family must meet HUD requirements on citizenship or immigration status.
- Applicant or any member of the family who currently owes rent or other amounts to [EHA] or any other housing authority will not be offered assistance until the outstanding balance is paid in full.
WAITING LIST
THE HCV PROGRAM IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS.
Applicants must update their address in the Applicant Portal, if you have a change of address! If you cannot log into the Portal, you may call HHA for assistance or submit a change of address in writing.
As stated by the Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan, Chapter 4-III.D. NOTIFICATION OF SELECTION, If a notification letter is returned to HHA with no forwarding address, the family will be removed from the
waiting list. A notice of denial (see Chapter 3) will be sent to the family’s address of record, as well as to any known alternate address. As stated by the Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan, 4-III.E. THE APPLICATION INTERVIEW,
PORTABILITY INFORMATION
HHA Policy
PORTABILITY INFORMATION
WHAT IS PORTABILITY?
An eligible family that has been issued a Housing Choice Voucher may use that voucher to lease a unit anywhere in the United States where there is a housing agency operating a Housing Choice Voucher program. This feature of the program is referred to as portability.
The public housing authority/agency (PHA) that issues a voucher to a portable family that wants to move to a different jurisdiction is referred to as the “initial” PHA. The PHA in the jurisdiction in which the family wishes to relocate to is referred to as the “receiving” PHA.
The receiving PHA has the option of (1) administering the family’s voucher for the initial PHA or (2) absorbing the family into its own voucher program. Under the first option, the receiving PHA bills the initial PHA for the family’s housing assistance payments and the fees for administering the voucher. Under the second option, the receiving PHA pays for the family’s assistance out of its own program funds, and the initial PHA has no further relationship with the family.
PORTING IN PROCESS
Housing Choice Vouchers program participants from another jurisdiction within the United States can use their vouchers to port in to the Huntsville Housing Authority’s voucher program. In order to do so, the voucher participant must notify the PHA where they currently receive assistance that they want to utilize the portability option of the voucher to transfer to the Huntsville Housing Authority.
Once the portability request is approved, the initial PHA will issue a voucher and must contact the Huntsville Housing Authority on the voucher holder’s behalf. The initial PHA must promptly notify the Huntsville Housing Authority to expect the incoming family. This means the initial PHA contacts the Huntsville Housing Authority on your behalf either by phone, fax or e-mail. Simply referring the family to HUD or to a website for information on the Huntsville Housing does not fulfill the obligations of the initial PHA.
All portability paperwork should be submitted by the initial PHA using one of the contact methods below:
- Mail: Huntsville Housing Authority, Attn: Portability, P.O. Box 486, Huntsville, AL 35804.
- E-mail: dmiller@hsvha.org
- Fax: 256-539-5982
- Attention: Portability/Dasheka Miller
- Phone: 256-532-5636
We are currently accepting/absorbing incoming portable vouchers.
The required paperwork should include the following:
- HUD-52665 Family Portability Information form
- Client’s current voucher
- Current 50058 form
- Current E.I.V report
- Client’s current income verifications
- Client contact address, email and phone number
- Birth Certificates of all members of the household
- Social Security cards of all members of the household
- Driver’s license/Photo ID for all of age (18 or older) members of the household (if applicable)
Please note, per Huntsville Housing Authority’s Administrative Plan, if any member of the household has a history of drug-related criminal activity within the last five (5) years or a history of violent criminal activity within the last years five (5) years, program assistance will be denied. The five years shall begin on the date of the last reported act, completion of sentence and/or probation period, whichever is later. Drug related criminal activity defined by HUD as the illegal manufacture, sale, distribution, or use of a drug, or the possession of a drug with intent to manufacture, sell, distribute or use the drug [24 CFR 5.100]. Violent criminal activity is activity defined by HUD as any criminal activity that has as one of its elements the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force substantial enough to cause, or be reasonably likely to cause, serious bodily injury or property damage [24 CFR 5.100]. Criminal background checks will be conducted for all families including those porting into the Huntsville Housing Authority’s jurisdiction
In addition, the voucher size the family is eligible for may change based on family composition and Huntsville Housing Authority’s occupancy standards.
The following rules shall apply in determining what size unit assistance to be issued:
- Only infants (under 1 year) will be required to share a bedroom with a parent, and that children of the opposite sex under the age of 6 may share a bedroom until the oldest child reaches the age of 6 years.
- Children of the same sex, regardless of age, may share a bedroom.
- The bedroom size assigned shall not require more than two (2) persons to occupy the same bedroom;
Before visiting or contacting the Huntsville Housing Authority, please allow our Portability Department to contact you via mail, phone or e-mail. After all the portability paperwork has been received by Huntsville Housing Authority, our Portability Department will contact you to set up an appointment to come into our office.
HHA Policy
- Families selected from the waiting list are required to participate in an eligibility interview. All adult members of the household are required to attend the interview.
- The interview will be conducted only if the head of household or spouse/cohead provides appropriate documentation of legal identity. (Chapter 7 provides a discussion of proper documentation of legal identity). If the family representative does not provide the required documentation, the appointment may be rescheduled when the proper documents have been obtained.
- In all circumstances, if a family does not attend a scheduled interview, HHA will send another notification letter with a new interview appointment time. Applicants who fail to attend two scheduled interviews without HHA approval will be denied assistance based on the family’s failure to supply information needed to determine eligibility. A notice of denial will be issued in accordance with policies contained in Chapter 3.
- Your application for the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) will be withdrawn from our waiting list if you fail to provide all required/requested information. In accordance with 24 CFR 960.259(a) and 24 CFR 982.551(b), the family must supply any information that the PHA or HUD determines necessary in the administration of public housing and Section 8 programs. And in the Housing Choice Voucher Program Administrative Plan, Chapter 4, Section 4-III.E.
ASSISTED HOUSING OFFICE
Carmisa Danson
HCV Director
cdanson@hsvha.org
Office : (256) 532-5650
Mobile: (256) 539-5982
P.O. Box 486 (35804-0486)
200 Washington Street
Huntsville, AL 35801
What is the difference between Section 8 and Project-Based Vouchers?
The biggest difference between Section 8 tenant voucher and project-based Section 8 vouchers is that project-based housing vouchers cover all or most of the monthly rents on one particular apartment complex whereas section 8 vouchers allow tenants to use their voucher for any home or apartment that accepts them.
Tenants benefit from both programs by receiving financial assistance which helps decrease cost burden associated with renting apartments. Cheaper rates allow tenants to use their income towards other necessities such as food, clothing, savings goals, etc. without sacrificing lifestyle. This creates healthier circumstances both short and long term for low income tenants. Which program you choose will ultimately depend on your individual needs, budget constraints & preferences. Ultimately, availability is one on of the most important factors. While section 8 vouchers allow for a bit more flexibility, project-based vouchers can provide more immediate solutions to housing needs.
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Huntsville, Al 35801
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