Understanding Housing Lingo: Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers
By Matthew Havniear, Deputy Director
Welcome back to our Understanding Housing Lingo Series! Today, we’re diving into another important topic: Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers.
What are Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers?
Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers are financial subsidies that help low-income families afford suitable housing in the private market. Participants can choose any housing that meets program requirements and are not limited to subsidized housing projects. The government and local housing authorities provide these vouchers.
Here’s how it works.
- Apply: Families apply for Section 8 vouchers through their local housing authority.
- Approval: If approved, families receive a voucher that they can use to rent a house or apartment from a private landlord.
- Rent Payment: The family pays a portion of their income towards rent, and the public housing authority covers the rest, which is paid directly to landlords on behalf of families up to a specific limit.
- Choose Your Home: Families can choose where they want to live as long as the housing falls within the maximum rent price set by housing choice voucher rent limits.
Eligibility
Eligibility is based on total annual gross income and family size. Generally, income cannot exceed 50% of the median income for the area. Public Housing Authorities (PHA) often prioritize 75% of their vouchers for applicants earning less than 30% of the area median income.
Application Process
- Contact PHA: Apply through your local PHA, the Housing Authority of Jackson County (HAJC) in this area. The Housing Authority of Jackson County’s Main office is located at 2251 Table Rock Road in Medford, OR. or you can call them at: 541-779-5785
- Verification: HAJC will verify income, assets, and family make-up.
- Waiting List: If eligible, your name will be placed on a waiting list.
Local Preferences and Waiting List
Due to high demand, PHAs may establish preferences (e.g., homelessness, high rent burden, displacement) to help prioritize families on the waiting list. To find out the status of the current waitlist times, please contact the Housing Authority of Jackson County. Families on the waitlist must keep the housing authority updated about any changes to their family income, family make-up, and contact information, including changes in address, phone numbers, emails, or any other information they provide to the housing authority. This is important to ensure that the housing authority can reach you if you come to the top of the waitlist and to avoid starting the process over if they cannot reach you.
Functioning of Housing Vouchers
Families are encouraged to consider multiple housing options. The selected housing must meet health and safety standards, and PHAs determine a payment standard to calculate assistance.
Portability
Families can move and retain their vouchers as long as they notify the PHA, terminate the existing lease properly, and find acceptable new housing. Minimum time in housing may be required before moving a voucher to a new address.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Tenant: Comply with the lease, pay rent on time, maintain the unit, and notify the Housing Authority of changes.
- Landlord: Provide safe, sanitary housing and maintain standards.
- PHA: Administer the program, contract with landlords, reexamine family income annually, and inspect units.
- HUD: Fund the program, pay administrative fees, and monitor compliance.
Additional Information
For more information or to apply, contact the Housing Authority of Jackson County at 2251 Table Rock Road, Medford, Oregon, or call them at 541-779-5785. You can also reach the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Oregon State Office at 1220 SW 3rd Avenue, Suite 400, Portland, Oregon, or call them at (971) 222-2600.
What’s Next?
In our following blog, we’ll discuss another way people can find affordable housing: Land Trusts and how they can make homeownership more affordable.
Thank you for joining us as we explore housing options together!