Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers

Since 1976, the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program has been the primary operating program to provide decent, safe and affordable housing to lower income families in Klickitat and Skamania Counties.

Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers are designed to help small and large families and singles with special needs such as disabled, and elderly households afford a decent place to live.

You decide where to live.

If you like where you are living, you may not have to move to receive housing assistance, or the program can help you afford better housing. Either way your part of the rent will be approximately 30% of your monthly income., The Housing Authority pays our part direct to your landlord. You pay the rest.

How the Program Works:

• Step 1 Application: You complete an application. If you are determined eligible you will be notified by mail and your name will be placed on a waiting list. At least 75% of all new admissions must be extremely low income., (Chart A) But, you may still qualify as low income if your gross annual income falls below the limits shown in Chart B.

• Step 2 Certification: When your name comes to the top of the waiting list we will verify your eligibility. You will attend a meeting where you will receive your voucher,.

• Step 3 Housing Selection: Under the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program you have sixty days to locate suitable housing that meets your needs. For example, families may want to locate close to transportation or jobs. Housing Assistance is designed to help lower income households obtain adequate non-luxury housing. The dwelling unit can be a single family home, an apartment or even a mobile home.

  There are only two conditions for locating a place to live:

  1. The dwelling unit must be in good condition;
  2. The rent must be reasonable

• Step 4. Negotiation: You come to an agreement with the landlord on the terms of the lease.

• Step 5 Agency Review: - The Housing Authority will inspect the dwelling and review the lease to make sure both meet program standards. If approved, the Housing Authority enters into a Housing Assistance Payments Contract with the landlord in order for payments to begin.

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