About the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program

The HCV program was designed to expand housing choices for low-income families by allowing them to search for rental housing in the private market. Once a low-income family is invited to participate in the program, the ACOH issues that family a housing voucher. The voucher identifies the size of unit the family qualifies for, as well as the maximum amount of monthly rent the family can afford to pay. Using the voucher information as a guideline, the voucher holder then searches for an affordable rental unit that best matches their family’s housing needs including apartments, condominiums, townhomes or single-family homes.

Types of Voucher Assistance

ACOH offers several types of voucher assistance:

Housing Choice Vouchers: Participants in the HCV program receive assistance to rent private market apartments, meaning they find their own unit to rent. Participants pay approximately 30% of their adjusted income towards rent, which is paid directly to their landlord. ACOH pays the remaining balance directly to the landlord.

Mainstream Vouchers: Mainstream vouchers are similar to traditional Housing Choice Vouchers but are reserved solely for a person with disabilities, or a family unit that has a person with disabilities, in between the ages of 18 and 62. If you are awarded a Mainstream Voucher, you will be entitled to a rental subsidy which helps you secure a rental unit that fits your needs and is within your budget. You are responsible for paying a security deposit and a portion of rent and utilities based off of your household income level, while the Office of Housing pays the remaining amount of rent directly to the landlord.

Project-Based Vouchers: A PBV is rental assistance tied to a specific rental unit. There are an allocated number of these units that are located in our service area and each property has its own waiting list. You are responsible for paying a security deposit and a portion of rent and utilities based off of your household income level, while the Office of Housing pays the remaining amount of rent directly to the landlord.

Am I Eligible for HCV assistance?

Applicant families must meet the following eligibility requirements to qualify for the program.

• Meet the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) definition of a family:
• A household’s total income must not be more than 50 percent of the Area Median Income:

• Qualify on the basis of citizenship or eligible immigrant status: At least one member of the household must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national or have eligible immigration status.
•  Provide social security number information: All members of the household must provide a complete and accurate social security number (SSN). This requirement does not apply to non-citizens who do not have eligible immigration status.
•  Sign required consent forms.
• Pass screening process: If any household member has ever been convicted of producing or manufacturing methamphetamine, or any other crime that requires them to be registered as a lifetime sex offender under a state sex offender registration program, the individual is not eligible.

How Much Rent Do Vouchers Cover?

ACOH pays the landlord the difference between 30% of family income and the unit’s gross rent (rent amount plus the cost of utilities). Landlords participating in the HCV program must set unit rents at an amount no more than the annual program payment standards that are approved by HUD. For 2024 our payment standards are: 

 How Do I Apply for a Voucher?

Since there are more families who need rental assistance than there are funds available, ACOH uses waiting lists to administer our voucher programs. Currently, the HCV wait list is closed. For more information on our waiting lists, please visit our Waitlist page.