How to Apply for Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) (2024)

To apply for housing, click here, then follow the online instructions.

Once you have submitted the preliminary application, you will be provided with a confirmation number as proof of the date and time of your application. You must keep this confirmation number to check your status in the future. When your name is nearing the top of a waiting list, you will be contacted for an orientation or interview.

You will be able to check your application status at any time by calling our automated status line at 330-252-9284. This status line will inform you of the date of your application, the wait lists you applied for, and the current wait time for those lists.

To be eligible for subsidized housing, the head of household must be at least 18 years of age and your income must be below the following guidelines:

Income Limits
Number of Persons in FamilyLow Income (Public Housing)Very Low Income (HCVP - Section 8)
1$44,900$28,050
2$51,300$32,050
3$57,700$36,050
4$64,100$40,050
5$69,250$43,300
6$74,400$46,500
7$79,500$49,700
8$84,650$52,900

In addition:

  • If you have previously lived in AMHA housing or have received housing assistance through the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) and owe a balance, the balance must be paid in full before we can offer you housing.
  • All adult household members must pass a criminal history background check.

Persons with disabilities needing assistance should contact the AMHA RA coordinator at 330-762-9631.

Housing Programs offered by AMHA

  • AMHA does not provide emergency housing.
  • Family Public Housing
    • Estimated wait time is 6-18 months, depending upon family size.
    • Housing for families and singles that is managed and maintained by AMHA. Family public housing includes 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom units. The offer for housing will be based on family composition and bedroom size and may be anywhere in Summit County. When your name reaches the top of the wait list, you will be contacted by phone and given one offer. If you refuse the offer your refusal date will become your new application date for this program. The security deposit for all units is $50.00. You will be responsible for the following utilities: gas and electric.
  • Senior Public Housing
    • Estimated wait time is 12-18 months.
    • Includes 1 and 2 bedrooms units for families/individuals where the head of household is 62 and older or disabled. The offer for housing will be based on family composition and bedroom size and may be anywhere in Summit County. When your name reaches the top of the wait list, you will be contacted by phone and given one offer. If you refuse the offer your refusal date will become your new application date for this program. The security deposit is $50.00. All utilities are included for these units.
  • Spicer Terrace
    • Estimated wait time for this program depends on vacancies.
    • Housing for individuals that is managed and maintained by AMHA. Spicer Terrace is located near the University of Akron. Spicer Terrace consists of 1 bedroom units for youth ages 18 to 25 who are homeless and disabled. When your name reaches the top of the wait list, you will be contacted by phone and given one offer. If you refuse the offer your refusal date will become your new application date for this program. The security deposit is $50.00. All utilities are included for these units.
  • Housing Choice Voucher Program (previously Section 8)
    • Estimated wait time is 24-36 months.
    • This program consists of housing that is owned and operated by private owners/agents. The client will be contacted by the HCVP Department by mail when his/her application comes to the top of the wait list. Once contacted, you will be issued a voucher to search for housing. The voucher is active for 120 days. The voucher holder is responsible for finding housing during this time. Residents of Summit County are able to port (transfer) the voucher to another county or state. Security deposits are determined by the owner/agent and are usually equivalent to rent for one month. Utility responsibility is also determined by the owner/agent.
  • Project-Based Vouchers
    • The client will be contacted by the owner/agent once their name reaches the top of the wait list.

      Choose from the following:

  • Arlington Veterans Housing - one bedroom units for homeless veterans. Estimated wait time for this program depends on vacancies.
  • Cascade Village - one, two and three bedroom units for all family configurations. Estimated wait time is 12-18 months.
  • Commons at Madaline Park - one bedroom units, permanent housing for disabled households. Estimated wait time for this program depends on vacancies. Preference is given to clients referred by Community Support Services.
  • Edgewood Village - one and two bedroom units in a non-smoking building for elderly households 62 and over. Estimated wait time for this program depends on vacancies.
  • Retirement Residence of Green - one bedroom units for elderly households 62 and over. Estimated wait time is 24-36 months.
  • Stoney Pointe Commons - one bedroom units, permanent housing for disabled households. Estimated wait time for this program depends on vacancies. Preference is given to clients referred by Community Support Services.
  • Summit County Liberty House - fully furnished two bedroom units specifically for veterans. Estimated wait time for this program depends on vacancies.


Waiting List Preference Points

Local Preference Points are used to establish the order that applicants are placed on our wait lists. Among applicants with equal preference status, the wait lists will be organized by date and time.

  • Resident: 1 point
    - Given to clients living, working, or attending school full time within Summit County.
  • Emancipated Youth and FUP Youth/Families: 2 points
    - Given to youth 18 years of age to 24, who are working with Summit County Children Services (SCCS) to overcome or prevent homelessness or families working with SCCS for whom the lack of adequate housing is a primary factor in the imminent placement of the family’s children in out-of-home care or the delay in the discharge of the children from out-of-home care.
  • Full Term First Birthday Preference: 2 points
  • - Given to applicants referred by the Full Term First Birthday Greater Akron program, which works to promote healthy full-term pregnancies and ensure every child celebrates a first birthday.
  • Veteran: 2 points
    - Given to veterans or spouses of veterans. This status is also given to family members of veterans living in the same household.
  • Transitional/Homeless Non-Elderly Disabled Preference: 2 points
    - Given to families that are composed of one of more non-elderly persons aged 18 to 61 with disabilities who are eligible for services through a partner agency with whom AMHA has executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and are:
    • transitioning out of an institutional or other segregated setting,
    • at serious risk of institutionalization,
    • homeless,
    • at risk of becoming homeless, or
    • previously experienced homelessness and are currently a client in a permanent supportive housing or rapid rehousing project.
  • Involuntary Displacement by Government Action: 3 points
    - Given to clients who have been involuntarily displaced by government action.
  • Rent Burden or Homeless: 7 points
    - Given to clients who are paying more than 30% of their income for rent and utilities or living in substandard housing.
  • Moving On Preference: 8 points
    - Given to current supportive housing program participants (Shelter Plus Care, Family Unification Program, and Continuum of Care Permanent Supportive Housing with whom AMHA has executed an MOU) who have volunteered and meet the eligibility requirements to obtain a tenant based housing choice voucher.
  • Supportive Housing Preference: 15 points
    - Given to disabled families in need of supportive services and with a referral from Community Support Services (specifically for vacancies at Madaline Park and Stoney Pointe). This preference is only available for applicable Project-Based Voucher wait lists.
  • Canceled Voucher Preference: 20 points
    - Given to families that were issued a voucher by AMHA, but the voucher was recalled due to insufficient funding for the HCVP Program. If this preference is utilized, no other preferences will be given.
  • Insufficient Funding Preference: 30 points
    - Given to families that were leased in a unit under HAP contract and the HAP contract was terminated by AMHA due to insufficient funding for the HVCP Program. If this preference is utilized, no other preferences will be given.
How to Apply for Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) (2024)

FAQs

How do I get an emergency housing voucher in NJ? ›

Identify as homeless, recently homeless, in imminent risk of homelessness; or must be fleeing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking. Have a government-issued identification card. Have birth certificates for everyone in the household (or proof they were ordered).

How do you get vouchers? ›

Families apply to a local public housing agency (PHA) that administers this program. When an eligible family comes to the top of the PHA's housing choice voucher waiting list, the PHA issues a housing choice voucher to the family.

How long is the section 8 waiting list in NJ? ›

The wait time to receive a voucher is approximately 7 years. Important note: Applicants will receive a confirmation number when either applying, or being placed on the waiting list, depending on housing authority policy. It is important to keep that number in a safe, easy to access place.

Is HCV the same as HUD? ›

Housing choice vouchers are administered locally by public housing agencies (PHAs) that receive federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to administer the HCV program. This means that the tenant, landlord and PHA all have obligations and responsibilities under the HCV program.

Who qualifies for housing assistance in NJ? ›

Income Eligibility Guidelines

HUD sets the lower income limits at 80% and very low-income limits at 50% of the median income for the county or metropolitan area in which you choose to live. Income limits vary from area to area so you may be eligible at one housing authority but not at another.

How can I get Section 8 fast in NJ? ›

The best way to speed up the process is to apply with more than one PHAs. When you qualify for a Section 8 voucher, you will select a housing unit that meets your family requirements and you can afford to pay up to 30% of its rent. Your local PHA will pay up to 70% of the rent to ease the financial burden on you.

What are the steps to get a voucher? ›

The preparation of vouchers includes various supporting documents, which are as follows:
  1. The invoice that the supplier receives from the firm.
  2. The details of the supplier like name, address and contact number.
  3. The details of the payment like the amount, discounts or the due date of payment.

Where can I get vouchers? ›

Our Full Range of Gift Cards and Vouchers
  • VEX Gift Card. Discover over 150 brands with the VEX Gift Card. ...
  • John Lewis & Partners Gift Cards. ...
  • Boots Gift Cards. ...
  • Marks & Spencer Gift Cards. ...
  • ASDA Gift Cards. ...
  • Morrisons Gift Card. ...
  • Waitrose & Partners Gift Card. ...
  • Sainsbury's Gift Cards.

How to get one voucher? ›

Welcome to the new cardless way to pay
  1. Buy a 1Voucher at any of the below stores, online at www.1Voucher.co.za or via the 1ForYou app.
  2. Visit one of the brands in our extensive redemption partner network.
  3. Select 1Voucher as your top-up or payment method.
  4. Enter the 16-digit PIN number on your 1Voucher to pay or top-up.

What is the most Section 8 will pay? ›

The maximum housing assistance is generally the lesser of the payment standard minus 30% of the family's monthly adjusted income or the gross rent for the unit minus 30% of monthly adjusted income.

What state has the shortest waiting list for Section 8? ›

Nebraska, Puerto Rico, Wyoming, and North Dakota also reported shorter waiting times, ranging from six to eight months. Public housing in the U.S. is owned by local agencies, which receive allocations by the Department of Housing and Urban Development to build, operate, and improve the housing conditions.

How long is the waiting list for Public Housing in PA? ›

Eligibility is determined by income and family size. Approximately 1-2 year waiting list.

What does HCV stand for in housing? ›

Housing Choice Voucher Program. The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program is the federal government's major program for providing housing assistance to over 2.3 million American families.

What is the meaning of HVC? ›

The term “highly vulnerable children” (HVC) generally refers to individuals under age 18 whose safety, well-being, and/or development is at significant risk due to inadequate care, protection or access to essential services.

Is Section 8 open in NYC in 2024? ›

Section 8 HCV is a federally funded program administered by NYCHA that provides rental subsidies for eligible low-income families to rent housing in the private market. The waitlist will be open from Monday, June 3, 2024, at 12:00 AM, through Sunday, June 9, 2024, at 11:59 PM.

What is the rapid rehousing program in NJ? ›

Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing (HPRP) funds are intended to provide shallow, short-term financial assistance to prevent homelessness, and to quickly re-house those that have recently become homeless.

What is a hope program in NJ? ›

This program provides the homeless community with mental health, addiction, housing, and other socioeconomic services.

What is the mainstream voucher program in NJ? ›

Mainstream Vouchers assist non-elderly persons with disabilities and are administered using the same rules as other housing choice vouchers. Funding and financial reporting for Mainstream Vouchers is separate from the regular tenant-based voucher program.

Who can help me pay my rent in NJ? ›

The State of New Jersey Rental Assistance Program (SRAP) is a state funded program that provides housing subsidies on behalf of very low-income New Jersey residents, for decent, safe, and sanitary housing. Persons applying must meet all applicable SRAP income and eligibility requirements.

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