North Carolina, Raleigh – The Section 8 Rental Voucher program offers federally subsidized housing for very low-income, elderly and disabled households to find privately owned rental housing.
This program is from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which designated the Commission on Indian Affairs of the North Carolina Department of Administration (DOA) as a Public Housing Agency in 1976.
This designation granted the commission authority to provide rental assistance through the operation of the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program.
More than 76 thousand Section 8 vouchers
Program funds are awarded by HUD through Annual Contribution Contracts. These are used to subsidize the difference between the cost of rent and a maximum of 30% of the household's adjusted gross income.
According to HUD, in North Carolina, 76,216 Section 8 vouchers have been assigned as of June of this year. This represents an increase of just over 6,000 compared to 2021, when 70,078 had been granted by June.
What are Housing Choice Vouchers?
Because this housing assistance program is provided on behalf of the family or individual, participants can find their own housing, including single-family homes, townhomes, and apartments.
The participant is free to choose any home that meets the program requirements. Additionally, it is not limited to units located in social housing projects.
Housing Choice Vouchers are administered locally by public housing agencies (PHAs). PHAs receive federal funds from HUD to administer the voucher program.
How do housing vouchers work?
A family that is issued a housing voucher is responsible for finding a suitable housing unit of the family's choice, where the owner agrees to rent under the program. This unit may include the family's current residence.
Rental units must meet minimum health and safety standards, as determined by the PHA.
The PHA pays a housing subsidy directly to the owner on behalf of the participating family. The family then pays the difference between the actual rent charged by the landlord and the amount subsidized by the program.
Under certain circumstances, if authorized by the PHA, a family can use their voucher to purchase a modest home.
Eligibility to the Program
Eligibility for a housing voucher is determined by the local PHA based on total annual gross income and family size, and is limited to U.S. citizens and specific categories of noncitizens who have eligible immigration status.
Generally, the family's income cannot exceed 50% of the median income of the county or metropolitan area in which the family chooses to live.
By law, a PHA must provide 75% of its voucher to applicants whose income does not exceed 30% of the area median income.
Median income levels are published by HUD and vary by location. The local PHA can provide income limits for your area and family size.
The application process for the Program
During the application process, the PHA will collect information about family income, assets, and family composition.
The PHA will verify this information with other local agencies, the employer, and the bank. It will use the information to determine program eligibility and the amount of the housing assistance payment.
If the PHA determines that your family is eligible, the PHA will place your name on a waiting list unless it can help you right away.
Once the applicant's name is included on the waiting list, the PHA will contact them and provide them with a housing voucher.
How to enroll in the Section 8 Housing Program in North Carolina?
People interested in applying for a voucher to subsidize their housing rent can contact their local PHA. To find your local PHA you can go to search engine by state .
For further assistance, you can contact HUD's North Carolina office, located in Greensboro.
Local preferences and waiting list
According to HUD, since demand for housing assistance often exceeds the limited resources available to HUD and local housing agencies, long waiting periods are common.
In fact, a PHA can close its waiting list when it has more families on the list than can receive assistance in the near future.
In North Carolina, the HCV waiting list is closed, as announced on the DOA website, and applications are not being accepted at this time.
- To check your position on the waiting list, you can call: 501-404-4133
- To change the phone number, address or other personal information on the application.
- For more information you can call: 984-236-0160 Ext: 1. Email: cia.hcv@doa.nc.gov
More information about the Section 8 Housing Program in North Carolina can be found on the NC Department of Administration (NC DOA) website.
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