Participant Information

What is the Housing Choice Voucher Program?

The Housing Choice Voucher Program (commonly known as Section 8) is a rent subsidy program that assists eligible low-income persons and their families in obtaining decent, safe and sanitary housing by paying a portion of their rent. Eligible applicants locate a unit in the private rental market. Rent must be within the current allowed Payment Standards.  Landlords are paid the difference between 30% of the tenant's income and the payment standard. More information is found in the Participant Guide to Housing Choice Voucher Program. Please CLICK HERE for Guide.

 

Searching for Housing

The participant is free to choose any housing that meets the requirements of the program and is not limited to units located in subsidized housing projects. For a list of Interested Landlords in Garfield County, Colorado, please CLICK HERE.

 

Portability (Transferring Assistance)

Housing Choice Vouchers may be transferred to another Public Housing Authority's (PHA) service area, if you have lived in your home for at least one year. However, the housing authority that covers the area you are moving to must currently be accepting vouchers. Please contact that office for more information. All applicants of the Housing Choice Voucher waitlist must meet the Residency preference in Garfield County, Colorado before they are eligible for Portability to another PHA. For more information about Portability, please CLICK HERE.

 

National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE)

A family that is issued a housing voucher is responsible for finding a suitable housing unit of the family’s choice where the owner agrees to rent under the program. This unit may include the family’s present residence. Landlord properties are required to meet National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (INSPIRE). The unit must pass inspection before the family can move into the unit. If the family moves into the unit before the unit is inspected, the tenant is responsible for the rent unit the unit passes inspection. For more information on INSPIRE, please CLICK HERE.

Housing Quality Standards (HQS) effective until September 30th, 2025:

A Good Place to Live (HUD)

Carbon Monoxide Safety Act

Lead Based Paint

Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control

 

Reasonable Accommodation

A Reasonable Accommodation is a modification or change GCHA can make to its policies or procedures that will assist an otherwise eligible applicant/participant with a  disability/handicap to fully take advantage of GCHA’s programs, provided that the change does not pose an undue financial and/or administrative burden to GCHA or require fundamental change in its program. If you or any member of your household have a disability and you would like to request a Reasonable Accommodation, you may request in writing at any time in the application process or after admission. For more information about Reasonable Accommodations, please CLICK HERE.

Right to Reasonable Accommodation & Reasonable Accommodation Request

 

Housing Discrimination Under The Fair Housing Act

The Fair Housing Act protects people from discrimination when they are renting or buying a home, getting a mortgage, seeking housing assistance, or engaging in other housing-related activities. Additional protections apply to federally-assisted housing. Please CLICK HERE for more information about Fair Housing.

Learn about the History of the Fair Housing Act, and read Examples of the many forms of housing discrimination.

 

Sources of Income Protections for Housing Choice Voucher Holders

Refusing to accept housing vouchers to pay rent, and other policies that disadvantage otherwise qualified voucher-holders, can constitute “source of income discrimination.” Disadvantaging voucher holders can occur through practices such as requiring additional references, imposing additional or unreasonable screening criteria, requiring a larger security deposit, or imposing other additional fees or penalties. It can also include ignoring voucher payments when determining if an applicant has enough income to afford the unit. For more information, CLICK HERE.

 

Violence Against Women's Act (VAWA)

The Violence Against Women Act of 2013 (VAWA) provides special protections for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and/or stalking who are applying for or receiving assistance under the housing choice voucher (HCV) program. VAWA protections are not only available to women, but are available equally to all individuals regardless of sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Please CLICK HERE for more information about VAWA.

 

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