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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

14.871:  Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers

Objectives:  To aid very low income families in obtaining decent, safe, and sanitary rental housing. For Welfare-to-Work rental vouchers, families must also meet special welfare-to-work criteria. HUD regulations merged the Section 8 Rental Voucher program (14.855) with the Section 8 Certificate program (14.857). Section 502 of the Public Housing Reform Act states that a purpose of the legislation is "consolidating the voucher and certificate programs for rental assistance under Section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (the "USHA") into a single market-driven program that will assist in making tenant-based rental assistance more successful at helping low-income families obtain affordable housing and will increase housing choice for low-income families."

PROGRAM AND AWARD	FINANCIAL AND INFORMATION CONTACTS
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS	FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO.
APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS	INFORMATION CONTACTS
RELATED PROGRAMS	ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS	POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

14.871 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  Applicants are limited to Housing Agencies. A public housing agency (PHA) is defined as any State, county, municipality or other governmental entity or public body (or agency or instrumentality thereof) which is authorized to engage in or assist in the development or operation of housing for very low income families, including an Indian Housing Authority; pursuant to the Native American Housing and Self Determination Act of 1996, IHAs are no longer eligible for the Section 8 program after current contracts expire.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  Very low income families (whose income does not exceed 50 percent of the median income for the area as determined by the Secretary with adjustments for smaller and larger families) and, on an exception basis, lower income families (whose income does not exceed 80 percent of the median income for the area, adjusted for smaller and larger families).

Credentials/Documentation:  In the Housing Choice Voucher Program, the PHA must support its application by furnishing data that the program proposed is responsive to the condition of the housing stock in the community and the housing assistance needs of very low income families (including the elderly, handicapped and disabled, large families and those displaced) residing in the community. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

14.871 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  The Department will publish a Notice of Funding availability (NOFA) in the Federal Register identifying allocation areas, amount of funds available for each area, and the selection criteria for rating and ranking applications. Applicants will have at least 30 days to submit an application. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102 and E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:  Submission of Application for Housing Assistance Payments Program (Form HUD-52515). This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110.

Award Procedure:  The local HUD Field Office generally makes the final decision based on the results of the rating and ranking process. Welfare-to-Work vouchers were awarded through a national competition in fiscal year 1999.

Deadlines:  Applications should be submitted in accordance with the time frame stated in the NOFA.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  Generally 30 days from the date of receipt and approval of applications.

Appeals:  None.

Renewals:  Expiring increments of Section 8 housing choice voucher assistance are automatically renewed by HUD.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  See NOFA.

Examples of Funded Projects:  None.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  Amount necessary for the HA to pay housing assistance payments and cover related administrative expenses. The housing assistance payment is generally the difference between the local payment standard and 30 percent of the family's adjusted income. The family may choose to rent a unit for more or less than the payment standard.

14.871 RELATED PROGRAMS:

None.

14.871 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

As of September 30, 1999, there were about 1,636,000 vouchers available under this program to assist eligible families.

14.871 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  PUBLIC AND INDIAN HOUSING, DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Type of Assistance:  Direct Payments for Specified Use.

Obligations:  FY 99 $8,079,830,000; FY 00 est $8,276,955,000; and FY 01 est $8,659,682,000. (Note: FY 99 reported under programs 14.855 and 14.857.)

Budget Account Number:  86-0319-0-1-604.

Authorization:  Housing Act of 1937, Section 8(o), as amended, 42 U.S.C. 1437(o); Department of Housing and Urban Development Act, Section 7(d), 42 U.S.C. 3535(d); Housing and Urban-Rural Recovery Act of 1983, Public Law 98-181; Housing and Community Development Act of 1987, Part 3, Public Law 100-242; National Affordable Housing Act of 1990, Public Law 101-625; Housing and Community Development Act of 1992, Public Law 102-550; Housing Opportunity Program Extension Act of 1996, Public Law 104-120; Departments of Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act of 1998, Public Law 105-65; Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998, Public Law 105-276; Preserving Affordable Housing for Senior Citizens and Families into the 21st Century Act of 1999, Public Law 106-74; Departments of Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act of 2000.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  24 CFR 982; PHA Administrative Practices Handbook for the Section 8 Existing Housing Program, 7420.7, Chapters 5 and 8; Section 8 Rental Certificate, Rental Voucher and Moderate Rehabilitation Programs Forms, Legal Contracts, and Publications Handbook, 7420.8.

14.871 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  HUD Office listed in the Catalog Address Appendix IV that has jurisdiction over the area in which the dwellings are located.

Headquarters Office:  Office of the Public and Assisted Housing Delivery, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Washington, DC 20410. Phone: (202) 708-0477. Use the same number for FTS.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

14.871 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  There are no matching requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  New funding is provided for 12 months.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  Provides housing assistance payments to participating owners on behalf of eligible tenants to provide decent, safe, and sanitary housing for very low income families at rents they can afford. Housing assistance payments are generally the difference between the local payment standard and 30 percent of the family's adjusted income. The family has to pay at least 10 percent of gross monthly income for rent.

14.871 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  Supporting Data for Annual Contributions Estimates, HUD Form 52672; Estimate of Total Required Annual Contributions, HUD Form 52673; Requisition for Partial Payment of Annual Contributions, HUD Form 52663; Voucher for Payment of Annual Contributions and Operating Statement, HUD Form 52681; Family Report, HUD Form 50058 A & B; and Report on Program Utilization, HUD Form 52683.

Audits:  Periodic fiscal, occupancy, general management and maintenance audits.

Records:  Those necessary to indicate compliance with Annual Contributions Contract/Housing Choice Voucher Contract.