Housing Choice Voucher Program

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) sets income limits that determine eligibility for assisted housing programs. HUD develops income limits based on Median Family Income estimates and Fair Market Rent areas. You may qualify for the Housing Choice Voucher Program if your household does not exceed the very low-income limit.

Most rental housing, including single-family homes, apartments and mobile homes, qualifies for the HCV Program as long as it is in decent, safe and sanitary condition, as defined by regulation.

Housing Quality Standards

Virginia Housing partners with local housing agencies across the Commonwealth to administer the HCV Program. The local housing agency works directly with you to determine your eligibility and oversee your participation.

Find an administrator

If you do not see an administrator in your area, please click here to view HUD direct administrators.

Once you are admitted to the Housing Choice Voucher Program and lease a unit, Virginia Housing makes a monthly payment to your landlord on your behalf based on a percentage of your income. As a program participant, you are responsible for paying any remaining amount not subsidized by the voucher.

• Fair Market Rents: Virginia Statewide FMR Summary
• Small Area Fair Market Rents
• Housing Choice Voucher Payment Standards
• Small Area Voucher Payment Standards

Generally, you must apply for the HCV Program when there is an open waitlist. Each of our agencies maintains a separate waiting list that covers their service areas. You must apply online when a waiting list opens. Our local housing agencies advertise waiting list openings in local area newspapers.

Waiting list openings are also posted to our website: VirginiaHousing.com.

• HCVP FAQs

The briefing videos below will provide you with an overview of how to get started as well as the roles and responsibilities of being in the HCV Program.

• HCV Program Initial Lease Up Video Series
• HCV Program: Initial Lease Up Information for Participants
• HCV Briefing Video (English)
• HCV Briefing Video (Español / Spanish)

If you’re an HCV participant, our Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program is designed to help families set and achieve goals, such as purchasing a home. You can apply for the program and work towards creating an escrow account with the help of a coach. For more information email FSS@VirginiaHousing.com.

• Family Self-Sufficiency Application
• Virginia Housing Family Self-Sufficiency Action Plan
• Program Overview (Video)
• Completing the Family Self-Sufficiency Program Application (Video)
• Completing the FSS Individual Training and Services Plan (ITSP) Form (Video)
• 
  Family Self-Sufficiency on HUD

Virginia Housing receives its funding for the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Documents

• Administrative Plan
• Family Certification of Income Sources Form
• Interim Reporting Form
• Landlord Tenant Notice in Good Standing
• Live-in Aide Form
• Reasonable Accommodation Request Form
• VAWA Certification Form
• Carbon Monoxide Detector Alarm Requirement
  All HCV Program Landlords must comply with this requirement. Please read.

Resources

• Utility Allowance
• Public Housing Agency Plan
• Program Requirements for Tenants and Landlords
• Resources for Renters
• Search for Housing
• Energy Assistance (EA) - Virginia Department of Social Services

Landlords and Participants Lease-Up Information

• Initial Lease-Up Process
• Best Practices for Initial Lease-Up

The program provides rental assistance payments to qualified landlords on behalf of eligible tenants.

• HUD Landlord Resources
• Initial Lease-Up for Landlords