Vouchers
Section 8 Rental Assistance
About Section 8
Section 8 Rental Assistance, also called the Housing Choice Voucher Program, is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and administered by Housing Authorities. The program allows qualified applicants the freedom to choose quality privately owned housing throughout their community while maintaining rent payments that they can afford. Vouchers are issued to participants in amounts based upon composition of income, and family size. Participants can choose any type of housing as long as it meets HUD’s Housing Quality Standards, and the rent charged is found to be reasonable as compared to the fair market for a comparable unit.
As with any renter, participants may be screened by landlords, are responsible for security deposits and enter into a formal lease agreement. Participants are responsible for paying a predetermined portion of their rent directly to the landlord. Generally, participants are required to pay 30% of their adjusted income toward rent. Participants are not permitted to pay more than 40% of their adjusted income toward rent. The PCHA pays the remainder of the rent directly to the landlord each month in the form of a (HAP) Housing Assistance Payment.
Click here for details for HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher Program
www.hud.gov/offices/pih/programs/hcv
Eligibility
Eligibility for a housing Voucher is based on annual gross income and family size and is limited to U.S. citizens and specified categories of non-citizens who have eligible immigration status. Please refer to the table below.
Number of persons in household Income
Click the link below for the current year 2024 income limits.
*These income limits are subject to change as directed by Congress.
Waiting List
The PCHA administers approximated 125 Section 8 Vouchers. A waiting list is maintained for the program.
Eligible individuals are removed from the waiting list as Vouchers become available.
If your name is currently on the PCHA Section 8 Waiting List it is important that we have accurate contact information for you. Changes to your contact address and phone number must be submitted in writing only and delivered to Polk County Housing Authority, 509 South Morrow Street, Mena, AR 71953
What Happens Once I Am Contacted?
When the family is contacted regarding their status on the Wait List, they must provide eligible citizenship status documentation on all family members for the following: birth certificates, social security cards and verification of all household income. A criminal background check is made on all of the household members 18 years of age or older. Once the family is determined eligible for the program, a Housing Choice Voucher is issued. The family can now search for a suitable housing unit of their choice – as long as the owner agrees to rent to them under the Section 8 program.
What Should I Expect Once I Have Found Housing?
Once the participating family selects a suitable housing unit, a Request for Tenancy Approval (RFTA) is completed by the landlord and the participating family and then is submitted to the Housing Authority. PCHA reviews the proposed owner’s lease to ensure it does not contain any prohibited provisions. PCHA will then conduct a Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspection of the unit. The landlord and participating family then enter into a lease and PCHA and the landlord enter into a Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) contract.
Section 8 Housing application : 2024 Application
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VAWA Emergency Transfer Plan — HUD 5383
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Click here for our Housing Choice Voucher COVID updates
For more information on Section 8 housing contact us at d.shrader@housingpolkar.com
or call us at 479-394-1565