HCV Program (Section 8) - Frequently Asked Questions
The HCV Program (Section 8) provides tenant based assistance in the form of a voucher to low-income families for rental units of their choice in the private market. Program applicants choose from a variety of housing options, including apartments, duplexes, single-family homes, and townhomes. Vouchers can also be used to help families buy homes.
Program participants who are issued a housing voucher are responsible for finding a suitable housing unit of their choice from an owner who agrees to rent under the program. The unit may include the participant's present residence. Rental units must meet minimum standards of health and safety, as determined by the Housing Authority of San Angelo (HASA).
A housing subsidy is paid to the property owner directly by the HASA on behalf of the participant. The participant then pays the difference between the actual rent charged by the property owner and the amount subsidized by the program. A participant's rent is usually about 30 percent of their monthly income.
It is recommended that you begin collecting birth certificates and social security cards for all household members and Photo ID's for all adult household members during your wait. You will receive a preliminary meeting letter by mail when your name has come up on the waiting list.
You must notify the HASA in writing of any change of address or change of family composition. Failure to do so may result in returned mail to the HASA. Furthermore, if you do not respond to a scheduled appointment or a request for information, you will be removed from the waiting list and you will need to reapply.
It is required that either birth certificates, passports, or other method of verified date of birth be submitted for everyone in your household.
It is required that Social Security cards are submitted for everyone in your household, if they have a Social Security number. If any family member does not have a Social Security number, they must submit a signed certification that they have no number. If you cannot find your card or you've never had a Social Security number, we will accept copies of documents that show proof of eligible immigration status.
It is required that photo I.D.'s are submitted for everyone in your household over the age of 18. Failure to provide a photo ID by the requested deadline may result in your application being removed from the waiting list and you would need to reapply.
Congratulations! By receiving the letter for the preliminary meeting, your name has come to the top of the HCV waiting list. Please note this will start the eligibility process for the HCV Program. Keep the appointment letter in a safe place so that you do not lose your appointment date and time. This appointment can last up to 2-3 hours so plan your schedule accordingly.
During the meeting, the HASA will make copies of all requested documents. You will be asked to complete a certification packet that the HASA will use to review and verify your eligibility. You will meet your caseworker and she/he will review your paperwork for completion. You will be asked to return any documents that you did not provide within 10 calendar days of the meeting. Failure to provide the missing documents by that time will result in a follow-up letter with a 30-day deadline. Failure to provide the missing documents by the 30-day deadline will result in a final request with the 60-day deadline. The meeting may take up to 2-3 hours as it is typically a group meeting. The HASA asks that you do not bring children to the meeting if possible.
Your caseworker will review all of your paperwork to determine eligibility as follows:
- Household income is evaluated to determine income eligibility. The income limits for the HCV program are set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as percentages of the local area median income. These limits are the maximum household income based on the number of family members in the household. Only applicants who meet the income limits are eligible.
- A criminal background check is conducted to verify that no household members have been arrested for drug-related, violent, or sexual crimes.
- Program history will be reviewed to determine if you are banned from the program or owe a debt to a Housing Authority.
Once you have provided all requested documents, you will be placed in a pool in the order that you applied, according to date/time, until a voucher is available for you. If you are denied, you will receive a denial packet by mail with instructions and information.
If you are denied due to income, criminal history, or are currently on a ban or owe a debt, you will receive a denial packet in the mail. With the denial packet, you are given 10 calendar days from the date of the packet to request an informal review. An informal review request is provided in the packet. You must complete this request and have it submitted to the HASA by the specified deadline. Failure to request the informal review will result in your application being removed from the waiting list. You would then have to reapply.
Congratulations! By receiving this letter, you now know that you have been approved for the HCV Program. Keep the appointment letter in a safe place so that you do not lose your appointment date and time. This appointment can last up to 2-3 hours so plan your schedule accordingly.
The HCV Program (Section 8) will be explained to you in detail and you will receive all necessary documents to begin searching for a unit to include your Housing Choice Voucher, Rent Estimate Worksheet, Request for Tenancy Approval (RFTA) Packet, and a courtesy list of available units. You will also receive a folder of information for your review after the meeting.