What is housing choice vouchers (Section 8)?
The Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) previously known as the Section 8 Program is a federally funded program that helps needy, disabled and elderly families with their monthly rental payments. The low income families receive a voucher to go out and look for a place of their choice to live in the City of Weslaco.
The housing choice voucher program is the federal government’s major program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Since housing assistance is provided on behalf of the family or individual, participants are able to find their own housing, including single-family homes, townhouses and apartments. The participant is free to choose any housing that meets the requirements of the program and is not limited to units located in subsidized housing projects.
Housing choice vouchers are administered locally by public housing agencies (PHAs). The PHAs receive federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to administer the voucher program.
Who is eligible?
Eligibility for a housing voucher is determined by the PHA based on the total annual gross income, family size, is limited to US citizen and specified categories of non-citizens who have eligible immigration status. In general, the family’s income may not exceed 50% of the median income for the county or metropolitan area in which the family chooses to live. By law, the PHA must provide 75 percent of its voucher to applicants whose incomes do not exceed 30 percent of the area median income. Median income levels are published by HUD and vary by location. The PHA serving your community can provide you with the income limits for your area and family size.
How do I apply?
Applications for assistance are taken every 2nd Tuesday of every month from 8:30am – 11:00am at 600 N. Airport Dr., Weslaco, TX 78596. Families may also request an application by telephone to be mailed, faxed,or email. Applications can also be downloaded from our site and submitted in person on the designed date of application. Applications will be sent to families making such request on the day applications are taken.
How much do I pay?
Payment – the formula used to determine the tenants rental payment is the following:
- 30% of monthly adjusted income (after allowed deductions)