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Housing Choice Voucher (HCV)/Project Based Voucher (PBV)

Housing Choice Voucher & Project Based Voucher Programs are CLOSED for applications.
Those that applied to the Project Based Wait List would have received an email by June 13, 2018 as to eligibility. The HCV wait list was opened in March 2019 and is also closed.


Housing Choice Voucher Program Details & Information

The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program is a federally funded rental assistance program which allows income eligible households to rent housing on the private market. Program participants are required to pay 30% to a maximum of 40% of their adjusted household income for rent and a calculated utility allowance. DHA will pay the remaining amount for rent and utility costs in the form of a subsidy payment in accordance with program rules.

Program participants may choose to remain where they are living now or move elsewhere, providing the housing is in decent, safe and sanitary condition and the owner is willing to participate in the program. Most types of rental housing are eligible for the program including single family houses, apartments, townhouses, mobile units and some condominiums and co-operatives. Property owners retain all normal ownership and management rights and responsibilities including tenant screening, rent collection, property maintenance and lease enforcement.


Project-Based Voucher (PBV) Program
The project-based voucher (PBV) program helps pay for rent in specific privately owned buildings or units. This means that if you get a project-based voucher, you don’t get to choose the unit you live in. If you qualify for the PBV program, 30% of your income will be spent on your housing and your DHA will pay the rest.

The PBV program is for people with low income who are willing to live in specific housing units that offer the PBV Program. DHA contracts with the owners of these units and when one of them is available, the DHA will offer it to someone who is on the PBV waiting list. This is different from the HCV program, because with PBV assistance, you do not get to choose the unit you live in nor do you get to keep your PBV benefit if you move.

Project-Based Voucher Program vs. Housing Choice Voucher Program
The biggest difference between PBV and HCV vouchers is:
If you get a project-based unit, you will be offered affordable housing in a specific apartment and won’t get to choose the apartment. If you move out, you may lose your benefit and have to pay full rent at your new unit.