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Housing Choice Voucher Program (Formerly Section 8)
FAQ's New Hours Landlord Information Update From Direct Deposit Form Landlord Add Property Form Landlord Remove Property Form
The District of Columbia Housing Authority’s (DCHA) Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) rental assistance program increases affordable housing choices for very low-income households by allowing families to choose privately owned rental housing.
Over the past decade, the DCHA’s Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) has grown in both size and importance as a component of federal housing policy for low-income renters. Unlike the public housing program, which subsidizes the construction and operation of housing developments for the poor, the housing choice voucher program tenant-based program supplements what low-income families and individuals can afford to pay for housing in the private market. Thus, tenant-based assistance enables recipients to choose moderately priced housing based on the type and location that best meet their needs.
The Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) is administered by the housing authority under contract with the federal government. Participants generally contribute 30 percent of their monthly income toward housing costs, with the housing choice voucher program making up the difference—up to a locally defined "payment standard."
Today, about 1.4 million households nationwide participate in the Housing Choice Voucher Program. National analysis of neighborhood characteristics for participants in different federal housing programs has found that Housing Choice Voucher Program vouchers reduce the probability that families will live in the most economically and socially distressed areas. Thus, Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) tenant-based assistance effectively addresses some of the most serious shortcomings of traditional, project-based housing programs.
DCHA’s Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) is committing an enormous amount of its resources to making sure its clients are provided with the option to move into stable communities with good schools, transportation, public services, and employment opportunities.
For information about how to sign-up for DCHA’s housing choice voucher program, please call 202-535-1706. Or, if you are a property owner in the District Of Columbia and would like to provide housing for our clients, please call 202-435-3301.
The Section 8 Housing Program was established by Congress in 1974. In accordance with the “1998 Act” and effective October 1, 1999, the new Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) is the result of the completion of the merger of the old Certificate and Voucher programs into one single, new market-driven program. The new program is designed to make the tenant-based housing assistance program more successful at helping low-income families obtain affordable housing and increase their housing choices. The program is administered in every state throughout the country.
The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) administers the Washington, DC HCVP with funding provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A family is free to choose any private rental unit located in the District of Columbia that meets HUD’s Housing Quality Standards (HQS) and has a reasonable rent as compared to other units in the area.
The HCVP has been operating in the District of Columbia for over a decade, and more than 10,300 families are receiving assistance through various housing assistance programs. The DCHA pulls eligible families from its waiting list each month.
Who Qualifies for the HCVP and How Do They Get It?
Everyone who meets the low-income guidelines set by HUD qualifies for HCVP assistance. However, all applicants must apply at the DCHA and be placed on the waiting list.
How Do I Rent My Unit To a HCVP Participant?
First and foremost, you must always screen your tenant, whether they are in the HCVP or not. We recommend that you advertise your unit and let prospective tenants know that “HCVP assistance is accepted.” Participants in the HCVP are responsible for locating their own units and will come to you.
You must also make sure that your unit meets HQS and local codes. Once you and your prospective tenant have reached an agreement and completed minimal paperwork, we will inspect your unit. Upon the inspection approval, we will then process a Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Contract and begin monthly payments. The tenant must pay a security deposit and any portion of the rent, as we determine it, directly to you.
How Long Can I Rent To a HCVP Family?
After the first year, your lease can be renewed on a month-to-month basis. Provided that there is continued funding of the HCVP, families can remain on the program for as long as the subsidy is needed, as long as they are in compliance with their family obligations under the program. To date, no families have been terminated due to lack of funding.
Timely Monthly Rent Payments
The Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP)/Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) checks are issued by the first and 15th of each month. Enrollment in the direct deposit program is mandatory. Should the family experience a loss of income, the District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) will normally pick up the difference and may even pay the full contract rent directly to you. You don’t have to worry about slow payments and returned checks in the HCVP.
Competitive Rents
The new HCVP has rent payments that are competitive with rents charged for comparable unassisted units.
Exempt From Rent Control
Unit(s) owned or subsidized by the District of Columbia or the Federal government are exempt from rent control according to Section 205(a)(1) of the Rental Housing Act of 1985.
Abundance of Participants
With relocation efforts and recent grants awarded, new participants to the HCVP are actively looking for good landlords and quality units. You should never have low vacancy rates since there are plenty of participants to choose from. You can use your own selection criteria while remembering to stay within the fair housing guidelines. The DCHA will also provide you with the names and telephone numbers of the present and previous landlords of your prospective HCVP participant.
Minimal Paperwork
We recommend that you use your own lease, since it is tailored to your management requirements; however, the HAP Contract and Lease Addendum are prepared by the DCHA for you. You and the tenant must simply sign the forms to initiate payments.
Upkeep of the Property
Since your property will be inspected initially and annually, you will always know the condition of your property and whether it meets the standards set forth by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Tenant Caused Damages
The tenant is responsible for damages to the unit or premises (beyond normal wear and tear) that are caused by any family member or guest.
Compliance Department
The HCVP has a newly created Compliance Department charged with the task of ensuring that the tenant, owner and DCHA are in compliance with all HUD Regulations.
Housing Choice Voucher Program Landlord Responsibilities
While the lease is between you and the tenant, as a landlord in the Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP), you must:
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Maintain the contract unit and premises in accordance with Housing Quality Standards and local codes;
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Furnish all information required under the Housing Assistance Payment Contract with the District of Columbia Housing Authority;
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Collect the security deposit (if applicable) and tenant portion of the monthly rent;
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Comply with equal opportunity requirements and all fair housing laws applicable to the property;
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Provide HCVP with a copy of any eviction notice to the tenant at the same time it is given to the tenant;
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Collect the rent due by the tenant and otherwise enforce the lease; and
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Consider a tenant’s background regarding factors such as:
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Paying rent and utility bills;
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Caring for property;
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Respecting the rights of others for a peaceful enjoyment of their premises;
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Engagement in criminal activity; and
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Screen prospective tenant to determine suitability.
Family Obligations in the Housing Choice Voucher Program
Any information the family supplies must be true and complete. All families in the Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) must:
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Supply any information that the District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) or the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) determines to be necessary to complete verifications of eligibility, household income and composition;
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Disclose and verify social security numbers for all family members;
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Supply any information requested by the DCHA to verify that the family is living in the unit or information related to family absence from the unit;
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Promptly notify the DCHA in writing when the family is away from the unit for an extended period of time;
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Allow the DCHA to inspect the unit at reasonable times and after reasonable notice;
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Notify the DCHA and owner in writing before moving out of the unit or terminating the lease;
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Use the assisted unit as the only residence of the family;
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Promptly notify the DCHA of any changes in household composition and request DCHA approval to add any members to the unit;
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Promptly notify the DCHA if a family member no longer lives in the unit;
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Give the DCHA a copy of any owner eviction notice; and
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Pay utility bills and supply appliances that the owner is not required to supply under the lease.
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Own or have any interest in the unit, except in the case of a cooperative;
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Commit any serious or repeated violation of the lease;
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Participate in illegal drug or violent criminal activity;
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Sublease or sublet the unit or assign the lease or transfer the unit;
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Receive duplicate assistance for the same unit;
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Damage the unit or premises or permit any guest to damage the unit or premises; and
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Engage in threatening, abusive, or violent behavior toward any DCHA personnel.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires that all units be decent, safe and sanitary. Housing Quality Standards, commonly referred to as HQS, are guidelines to meet the standards set forth by HUD.
Generally, HQS is much less stringent than the District of Columbia local housing code. As a result, to maintain the quality of units rented in the Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) and to ensure that there are no problems that would endanger the family’s health, security or safety, the DCHA may also enforce local codes.
The DCHA will come out to inspect your unit initially, before a contract is signed, and again each year. If your unit does not meet HQS requirements or local codes, the DCHA inspector will give you a list of repairs that need to be made. If the inspector determines that any of the violations are the tenant’s responsibility, he will provide the tenant with a notice as well.
A good rule of thumb is for you to inspect your unit and make repairs before the scheduled inspection date. This will ensure no break in your payments.
We recognize that Washington, DC is filled with historical, yet very old homes. We also think you would agree that it is important that age and beauty be preserved in order to make sure that families have the opportunity to enjoy safe, decent and sanitary housing, while providing a positive impact on the communities we serve.
Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program
The FSS Program is a voluntary program that is open to participants of the Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP). The primary goal of the FSS Program is to eliminate the financial dependency of families living on government subsidy. With intensive case management and partnering with community service providers, the FSS Program attempts to effectively link public and private service providers to participants so that these participants will have the resources needed to assist them in achieving economic self-sufficiency.
Benefits of the FSS Program are career counseling, education/skills training, job readiness, employment opportunities and financial management. Based on specific criteria, money is escrowed by the District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) as an incentive for the families to complete their goals.
The Housing Choice Voucher/Home Ownership Assistance Program is an option within HCVP, which permits a family with a voucher to use their subsidy benefits to purchase, occupy and own a home. The objective of the program is to transition an assisted renter into home ownership.
Family Unification Program (FUP)
The purpose of the FUP is to promote family unification by providing housing assistance to families for whom the lack of adequate housing is a primary factor in the separation or the threat of imminent separation of children from their families, and to provide housing assistance to youths 18 to 21 years of age who leave foster care at age 16 or older and lack adequate housing.
Through a partnership effort with the Department of Human Services, the DCHA provides housing assistance through referrals from the Child and Family Services Agency to reunite children with their parents.
The DCHA has a current set-aside of 28 vouchers for disabled Veterans participating in the VASH program at the Veteran’s Hospital. The referrals are made to us through the Veteran’s Administration and DCHA provides HCVP assistance to those who are eligible.
Mainstream Housing Opportunities for Persons With Disabilities (Mainstream Program)
Through the Mainstream Program, the DCHA is able to provide rental assistance to eligible persons that meet the program requirements. The Mainstream Program allows persons with disabilities to rent decent, safe and affordable housing of their choice in the private marketplace. Referrals are received from Deaf-REACH, the Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind, DC Care Consortium, DC ARC, the DC Center for Independent Living and the Commission on Mental Health Services.
The Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) Ombudsman will investigate and report on complaints, issues and concerns about the conduct of HCVP landlords, tenants and District of Columbia Housing Authority HCVP employees. The HCVP Ombudsman will also serve as the liaison to the community on behalf of the Director of the HCVP.