What are tenant-based vouchers?
Tenant-based vouchers increase affordable housing choices for very low-income families.  Families with a tenant-based voucher choose and lease safe, decent, and affordable privately owned rental housing.

 What families are eligible to apply for tenant-based vouchers?
Very low-income families (i.e. families with incomes below 50% of area median income) and a few specific categories of families with incomes up to 80% of the area median income.  These include families that are already assisted under the 1937 U.S. Housing Act, such as families physically displaced by public housing demolition, and owners opting out of project-based housing assistance payments (HAP) contracts.  (HUD determines median income levels for each area annually.)

  How does a Housing Authority determine if a family is income eligible?
The Housing Authority compares the family's annual income (gross income) with the HUD-established very low-income limit or low-income limit for the area.  The family's gross income cannot exceed this limit.

How do families obtain tenant-based vouchers?
You should contact the Housing Office to first determine if the waiting list is open and if applications are being accepted.  Call (434) 296-5839 for more information.

 How does a family obtain an apartment once they have a voucher?
It is the responsibility of a family to find a unit that meets their needs.  If the family finds a unit that meets the housing quality standards, the rent is reasonable, and the unit meets other program requirements, the Housing Authority executes a HAP contract with the property owner.  This contract authorizes the Housing Authority to make subsidy payments on behalf of the family.  If the family moves out of the unit, the contract with the owner ends and the family can move with continued assistance to another unit.

How much rent does the voucher cover?
The Housing Authority pays the owner the difference between 30 percent of adjusted family income and the determined payment standard or the gross rent for the unit, whichever is lower.  The family may choose a unit with a higher rent than the payment standard and pay the owner the difference as long as the amount does not exceed 40% of the adjusted gross income.

RENTAL ASSISTANCE

Many people think that once they qualify for assistance through the County of Albemarle Housing Choice Voucher Program, they may keep the assistance for as long as they want. However, that is not the case.

Annual recertifications are done to see if each client's income is still within the legal range for assistance. At that time, any changes are taken into consideration and the specialist will refigure the rent amount.

There are specific guidelines to be followed in order to maintain rental assistance. If these guidelines are not followed, you may be terminated from the program.