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1. How do I know if my family (if any) and I are eligible for the Housing Choice Voucher program?

ELIGIBILITY

The PHA is responsible for ensuring that every individual and family admitted to the HCV program meets all program eligibility requirements. This includes any individual approved to join the family after the family has been admitted to the program. The family must provide any information needed by the PHA to confirm eligibility and determine the level of the family’s assistance.

To be eligible for the HCV program:

• The applicant family must:
  • Qualify as a family as defined by HUD and the PHA.
  • Have income at or below HUD-specified low-income limits. 
    • Current HUD income limits are available online at https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il.html
    • click the current year and click the button for Individual Income Limits Areas
    • you will then be able to choose the state and city/town to know if you are eligible. 
  • Qualify on the basis of citizenship or the eligible immigrant status of family members.
  • Provide social security number information for household members as required.
  • Consent to the PHA’s collection and use of family information as provided for in PHA-provided consent forms.
• The PHA must determine that the current or past behavior of household members does not include activities that are prohibited by HUD or the PHA.

More information and definitions are available in Chapter 3 of the Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan.

2. How do I apply for a voucher?

To apply for a Housing Choice Voucher on-line you can visit the Maine Centralized Section 8 - Housing Choice Voucher Waiting List. Read the information for the wait list and follow the instructions. If you would prefer to receive an application to complete and submit you can call 207-773-4753 and request an application and it will be mailed to you or you can come to our office at 14 Baxter Boulevard, Portland ME 04101 to pick one up. YOU ONLY APPLY ONCE. You may meet the preferences under several Housing Authorities.

3. Is there a waiting list for a voucher?

Yes

there is a waiting list for vouchers (see "How do I Apply for a Voucher?"). 

The PHA will use the following local preferences, as well as date and time of the application, establish placement position on a waiting list. Families who have also applied for Project Based Vouchers will be selected according to Chapter 17 of the Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan.

Preferences:

The following preference groups are prioritized and offered vouchers based on qualification for funding, availability of vouchers, and the administrative need to for PHA to utilize available vouchers. All households must be on the Centralized Waitlist prior to receiving a voucher.

1. The PHA will offer a preference to any participating family that has been terminated from its HCV program due to insufficient program funding.
2. PHA, under the direction of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, may give preference for tenant-based assistance to persons displaced by natural or national disaster as designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) until such time that funding designated for this preference has been committed.
3. The PHA may offer a preference to families who include victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking who are seeking an emergency transfer under VAWA from PHA’s public housing program or other covered housing program operated by PHA.
4. The PHA may offer a preference to FYI-TPV recipients who have successfully completed 36 months with the FYI-TPV Program and can demonstrate an ongoing need for assistance. *
5. The PHA may offer a preference to current Bridging Rental Assistance Program recipients
6. The PHA may offer a preference to VASH recipients who no longer qualify or choose to receive VASH services if HCV’s are currently available. *
7. The PHA may offer a preference to First-Place recipients. *
8. The PHA may offer a preference to up to 40 families that meet the criteria for the Limited Preference Program for Chronically Homeless (LPPCC) program *

*See Chapter 19 of the Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan for details on preference groups.

For all other applicants the following Point System applies:

Portland Housing gives preference to an applicant family on the waiting list if they qualify for one or more of the preference categories listed below. Local Preference points are cumulative and are added to the applicant family’s priority points (if any) to determine an applicant family’s position on the waiting list

Local Preference	Points
Family with minor children, and/or Elderly, and/or disabled	5 points
Families with a member who lives or works within the area of PHA’s area of operation.	2 Point
Families who are currently homeless under HUD definition and/or have a Rent Burden of more than 50% of family income.	1 Point

 

The PHA will first assist families that have been terminated from the HCV program due to insufficient funding and then assist families that qualify for the VAWA preference.

4. What if I move after applying?

Once you have applied for a voucher it is your responsibility to make sure your mailing address is correct. You can make changes to your address, e-mail and preferences , etc through the on-line Waiting List system.

5. What happens when my name comes to the top of the waiting list?

When your name comes to the top of the list you will be contacted by someone from the Housing Authority who has chosen you from the Wait List. Each Housing Authority has it's own process but you will be required to complete an intake application, be able to provide verification of Social Security numbers, statuses as a Citizen of the United States or legal residency and date of birth. You will also be asked to submit income, asset, and various other verifications as required for each member in your family. PHA will also do several required checks for criminal background, sex offender status and whether you owe any money to any other Housing Authority. Your eligibility for a Voucher will be decided during this process.
If you are determined to be eligible at that time you will attend a briefing where you will be told all the details about the voucher program and be issued your Housing Choice Voucher.

6. Does the Wait List close?

The Voucher Waiting List is a combined wait list that allows participating Housing Authorities to draw a pool of applicants who meet their particular preferences. This list may be updated but it is never closed. Each Housing Authority will draw from the list based on their own program's funding and availability of Vouchers to issue. view our helpful quick links.