Information about Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers

The New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program provides rental assistance and home ownership option to extremely low, very low and low income households in New York State. The program also provides assistance to senior citizens and disabled persons on fixed incomes, displaced families, and homeless individuals with disabilities.

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One goal of the HCV Program is to enable eligible households to rent or purchase decent, safe and sanitary housing in the private housing market. After a voucher is issued it remains with the family or individual as long as they remain eligible, even if they change residence. The dollar amount of HCV Program Housing Assistance Payments will vary depending on the income of the family or individual and the approved rent/mortgage for the unit.

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Once a completed application is submitted and the applicant is determined to be eligible, the applicant is placed on a waiting list. When a subsidy becomes available, the household is issued a Housing Choice Voucher. The voucher certifies that the applicant is eligible for the HCV Program and also specifies, based on the number or people in the family, the size of the unit the family is authorized for. 

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The regulations for the HCV Program are set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Households must meet eligibility requirements and the apartment to be subsidized must meet federal Housing Quality Standards (HQS). The unit must pass the HQS inspection before the PHA can approve monthly Housing Assistance Payments. HCV Housing Assistance Payments are sent directly to participating owners or authorized managing agents.