Section 8 Housing Vouchers Housing Selection Criteria

Rental assistance payments are made on behalf of low-income individuals and families through the Housing Choice Voucher Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program. Households whose annual gross income does not exceed 50% of HUD's median income guidelines are eligible to receive financial assistance for the purchase or construction of a decent, safe, and sanitary home through the program. Seventy-five percent of participating households must have incomes at or below 30 percent of the area median income, as mandated by HUD. Household income, size, composition, citizenship, assets, medical expenses, and child care costs are just some of the criteria used to determine eligibility. Households that qualify can then negotiate with landlords directly to select the most suitable housing options. Direct payments to landlords from TDHCA for rent that has been approved.

The Department is one of several Texas public housing agencies that administer Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher programs. Each public housing agency is responsible for a certain geographical region. However, not all parts of the state have access to Section 8. Take a look at the Texas Public Housing Agencies list provided by HUD (www. hud Contact information for Texas PHAs can be found at www.housing.texas.gov or in the Texas Housing Association's directory. You can also dial 211 to get in touch with your neighborhood's PHA.

Not all of Texas is included in TDHCA's Section 8 program.

Access Program Project

TDHCA's Project Access program helps low-income people with disabilities find affordable housing so they can leave institutions and live in the community. The program is funded by Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers.

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People who are not elderly and have disabilities but are making the transition from an institution to community-based, independent living may be eligible for Mainstream Vouchers. Housing choice vouchers, including Mainstream vouchers, are administered in the same manner, with the exception that Mainstream vouchers serve a different population.

In November of 2018, the Department received fifty Mainstream Vouchers. In December of 2018, the Department will start issuing vouchers. These vouchers were created with the original intent of housing people who were referred to the Coordinated Entry System or a relocation specialist after being placed on the Project Access waiting list.

Prerequisites for Participation

• All applicants must be qualified to receive a Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) through the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD.gov) program.
• Include at least one disabled member, aged 18-61, in your household.
• Show proof of leaving a mental health facility.

Fifteen more Mainstream vouchers were given to the Department in July of 2020.

Program of Aid to Families of Deceased Veterans (VASH)

Case management and clinical services offered by the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) at its medical centers and in the community are combined with Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) rental assistance for homeless veterans through the HUD VASH program. Homeless veterans will have access to VA case management, health, and other supportive services at VA Medical Center (VAMC) supportive service sites across the country.

The HCV voucher program is governed by the same rules as HUD's VASH vouchers (24 CFR 982). In the HCV program, the Public Housing Authority (PHA) provides monthly rental assistance so that eligible families can afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing HUD gives the PHA the money it needs to carry out the program. The VA medical center will notify the PHA of eligible families for the HUD VASH program.

The Department of Health and Human Services runs a Project-Based VASH (PB-VASH) program at Freedoms Path Kerrville in Kerrville, Texas. In coordination with the South Texas Veterans Health Care system, twenty (20) PB VASH units were granted in November 2015.

Michael E. DeBakey Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Fort Bend and Galveston County was awarded 20 Tenant-Based VASH vouchers (TB-VASH) in 2019.

In coordination with the South Texas Veterans Health Care system, the Department was granted ten additional VASH vouchers in 2021.

HCV is a tenant-based program, meaning that participating families are responsible for finding and renting suitable housing. Monthly rent subsidies (housing assistance payments) are paid directly from the Department to the owner on behalf of the family once the VASH participant's unit and tenancy have been approved by the PHA. The VASH participant signs a lease with the property owner and sends the owner its allotted rent each month. No more than 40% of the VASH recipient family's income will go toward rent. The PHA and owner enter into a housing assistance payment (HAP) contract for one dwelling unit and one VASH participant family. The HAP agreement with the landlord will end if the family stops living there. As long as the family is meeting the program's requirements, they are eligible to move to another unit and continue receiving assistance.

HUD VASH families who are homeless are veterans. In order to receive benefits from the HUD VASH program, veterans must also engage in VA Case Management.

HUD VASH is administered by the Department, and all VA Medical Centers fall under its purview. Contact your local VA case manager or another VA contact for more information if you are a homeless veteran who may qualify for this program.

Veterans in need of housing and supportive services (HUD-VASH) should get in touch with their nearest VA medical center. Initial eligibility is determined by the local VA facility. The Veterans Administration will connect those who qualify with a local public housing agency. The Veterans Health Administration's contact information is listed here: https://www.va.gov/directory/guide/home.asp

Help for homeless veterans who have served in the military:
Call 1-877-424-3838 to be put in touch with a Tribal HUDVASH point of contact (or case manager) in your area if you are a veteran who is homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

HUD's website, at hud.gov/offices/pih/programs/hcv/vash/, has more details.

Community Resources and Referral Center (va.gov) in your area that helps veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless find permanent housing, medical and mental health care, job training and placement, and access to VA and non-VA benefits all in one convenient location.

Background and History of the Section 8 Housing Program

The Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 established the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program. U.S. federal government funding is used for Section 8. S Administration for Community Reinvestment The local government must pass a resolution committing to administer Section 8 in accordance with all rules and regulations if the community wants to participate.

Andre Adams can be reached at [email protected] for details.