Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) Program Overview

The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCV) is administered with funding provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  The HCV program is a federally-funded program offering rental assistance to very low, low-income families through the issuance of housing vouchers.  These vouchers give our families the freedom to select decent, safe and sanitary housing based on their individual needs.  Participating landlords provide our families with a greater choice and better housing opportunities for rental units located throughout Tarrant County.

Voucher holders are responsible for finding suitable housing based upon the size of the family and the requirements of the program.  Voucher holders may remain in their current dwelling if the unit is acceptable under the program.  The Housing Choice Voucher must be used within the Tarrant County Housing Assistance Office's (TCHAO) jurisdiction in the first year.  After the first year, the voucher may be transferred to any agency within the continental United States that administers the Section 8 program.

Eligibility is based on the income of the household and the number of people living in that household.  The tenant's portion is generally 30 percent of their adjusted monthly income, but may go as high as 40 percent depending on the amount authorized as a rent for the unit.  TCHAO will be responsible for the difference between the contract rent and the tenant's portion.  TCHAO will determine the extent of assistance the tenant(s) will receive and notify the owner(s) as to TCHAO's portion of the contract rent.  The participant will pay a portion of the authorized rent directly to the landlord and TCHAO subsidizes the balance to the landlord.

2016 Income Limits:
 

Tarrant County Housing Assistance Office housing Choice Voucher Program, applicant families may not exceed the following income guidelines: