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.