The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program provides decent, affordable housing to very low- to low-income individuals and families, including people with disabilities and senior citizens.
Vouchers are distributed through Virginia Housing. in partnership with local housing agency partners. Vouchers allow qualifying prospective tenants to select from a wider range of housing options, as opposed to being limited to designated housing projects. The tenant pays the landlord a percentage of their monthly income towards the rent, with the voucher subsidizing the remainder.
What families are eligible?
Prospective tenants often represent the diversity of your local community. They may be individuals, families and people with disabilities or senior citizens. They tend to be very highly-motivated renters who pay rent in a timely manner and maintain the property.
How can a family participate?
To participate in the program a family must apply to a local housing agent and be certified as eligible. They are allowed to seek housing from landlords who wish to participate. The family may select the housing in which they currently reside or move to another home.
What type of housing qualifies?
Any rental housing, including single family homes, apartments and mobile homes, qualifies as long as it is in decent, safe and sanitary condition, as defined by program Housing Quality Standards.
How are payments made?
Every month, the landlord receives two checks: one from the family and one from Virginia Housing. Payments will be made for the term of the specified contract.
How to apply for a housing choice voucher?
Virginia Housing has 32 agencies and each agency has a separate waiting list. All waiting list openings are announced through advertisements in local newspapers. The announcement will advise the public of the date and time the waiting list will be accepting applications as well as the website to use to apply for placement on the waiting list.
On-demand Training Resources
Family Self Sufficiency Program
Starting July 2021
If you’re a Housing Choice Voucher participant, Virginia Housing’s Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program is designed to help you set and achieve goals — such as becoming stronger financially, getting a new job or additional education — or even buying a home. Once accepted into the program, you’ll be paired with a coach who will work with you one-one-one for the duration of the program and put you in touch with useful resources such as childcare, transportation and education to help you reach your goals. An escrow account will also be set up for you, similar to a savings account at a bank, which can grow as you progress through the FSS program. When you graduate from the FSS program, your escrow savings account is available to you. To learn more or apply for enrollment in the FSS program, please email your name, address and phone number to:
FSS@VirginiaHousing.com.
