What is a Housing Choice Vouchers?

Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program, formally the Section 8 Program, is a low-income program that allows families to choose and lease safe, decent, and affordable privately-owned rental units.

The family is issued a housing voucher, and they are responsible for finding a suitable housing unit of choice and the owner needs to agree to rent their unit under the Housing Choice Voucher Program. Rental units must meet minimum inspection standards as specified by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Housing Authority (HA).
A housing subsidy is paid directly to the landlord by the Public Housing Authority (PHA) on behalf of the participating family. The family then pays the difference between the actual rent charged by the landlord and the amount subsidized by the program. Under certain circumstances, if authorized by the PHA, a family may use its voucher for homeownership.

Am I Eligible?

Eligibility for the HCV Program is determined by the HA. Eligibility is based on the total annual gross income and family size and is limited to US citizens and specified categories of non-citizens who have eligible immigration status. Income levels are published by HUD and vary by location. The PHA serving your community can provide you with the income limits for your area and family size.

During the application process, the HA will collect information on family income, assets, and family composition. The HA will verify this information with other local agencies, your employer, bank, and will use the information to determine program eligibility and the amount of the housing assistance payment.

How do I apply?

The HCV Program applications are taken every 2nd Thursday of each month. Only 20 applications are received monthly. Applications are accessible online at https://harlingen.housingmanager.com. Elderly and Disabled individuals are welcome to stop by our office and pick up a paper application or one can be mailed.

The Admissions Department

Public Housing/Low Rent Program applications are available online at https://harlingen.housingmanager.com. Reasonable accommodations to the elderly/disabled are available.

The Section 8 Program was created by the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 and amended by the Housing and Community Development Act of 1981 and the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998.

In 1976 the Section 8 Program was established by the Housing Authority of the City of Harlingen, when it received the first Annual Contributions Contract (ACC) under the Section 8 Existing Housing Assistance Payments Program. The Housing Authority received 131 Certificates.  In 1999, the Section 8 certificate program converts to Voucher program. Now the Section 8 Program is known as Housing Choice Voucher Program.

In 2010, The Harlingen Housing Authority was invited to participate in a new program, The Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH).  The HUD-VASH Program combines the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) rental assistance for homeless veterans and their families with case management and clinical services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) at its medical centers and in the community.  The Housing Authority has received 82 vouchers to be able to serve our veterans.

Throughout the years, the Harlingen Housing Authority has grown and we currently serve 815 families.