Programs

HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER

The Housing Choice Voucher Program, formerly known as “Section 8”, provides assistance for very low-income households (single or family), the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Participants who receive vouchers search for their own housing, which may include single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments, or even the family's present residence. Housing Choice Voucher assistance is portable anywhere in the United States, including Guam, Puerto Rico, Alaska, Hawaii, and the Virgin Islands. The housing subsidy (by way of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) is paid to the participating landlord directly by the Howard County Housing on behalf of the resident. This payment is paid with the caveat that the housing unit meets the requirements of the program.

Should you need to contact the Housing Choice Voucher program with questions concerns or comments, please access the following email link: hcvhousing@howardcountymd.gov or call at 410.313.6320.

Resident Responsibilities

• Provide accurate information about your family and your income. Cooperate during your annual reexaminations with HCH’s staffers.
• As soon as your household undergoes a changes, notify HCH in writing if you or any other adult in your family has a change in income.
• Live in the unit as your primary home. You may not sublet it to someone else.
• Take care of the unit. Do not allow anyone in your family or guests damage it.
• Notify HCH in writing if:

1) you are away from home for more than a month;
2) you move out or end your lease; or
3) you receive an eviction notice.

• Allow HCH’s annual unit inspection to proceed as well as other inspections as long as they are in accordance with the lease agreement and HCH’s rights as landlord.
• Notify HCH in writing if your household composition changes, specifically if:

1) any member of your family moves out; or
2) if you add any children to your family by birth, adoption, or legal custody. 

• Request permission in writing from both the landlord and from HCH if anyone else in your family wants to move.
• Pay your portion of the rent and your utilities on time.
• Abide by all the provisions in your lease. You and your family MUST NOT get involved with crime, drugs, or violence.

APPLICATION PROCESS FOR HOUSING 

WAITING LIST FAQs 

FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY

Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) is a HUD program for Housing Choice Voucher Program participants which encourages communities to develop local strategies to help voucher holders obtain employment that will lead to economic independence and self-sufficiency. A separate program is available for public housing residents.


FSS requires that the head of household execute a FSS Contract of Participation that listing the rights and responsibilities of the voucher holder and HCH. This contract has a maximum 5-year time period and lists the goals and services need to achieve those goals to achieve their goals. The goals must be based on education, transportation, employment and homeownership. Family members must fulfill all requirements in order to obtain full benefits, including the escrow savings account.

An escrow savings account is an interest-bearing account established by HCH for each eligible participating family. The escrow amount is based on increases in the participant’s earned income, which usually results in the family paying more rent. This difference is placed in the account. Fulfillment of all requirements includes the family complying with the lease, all family members becoming independent of welfare, and the head of household seeking and maintaining suitable employment. Noncompliance with the FSS contract can result in program termination, loss of the escrow savings account, withholding or the termination of supportive services, and termination of voucher assistance.

The participant must successfully achieve all contracted goals to graduate from the FSS Program and be awarded the escrow savings account.

FSS program participants that port/transfer to Howard County may be eligible to be absorbed by Howard County to continue their FSS participation. This is dependent upon the availability of funding in Howard County. If the porting program participant cannot be initially absorbed, then they can continue to work with the sending jurisdiction until such time that funds become available.

RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

The Rental Allowance Program (RAP) is funded and regulated by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), providing grants to local governments to assist low-income families who either are homeless or have an emergency housing need with flat rent subsidies. The ultimate goal is to help families transition from homelessness or temporary emergency housing to permanent housing.


Participating families find their own housing including rooms for rent, boarding house rooms, other single-room occupancy arrangements, apartments, group homes, transitional housing (provided it is not temporary emergency housing), single-family houses, and mobile homes.\

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

The County Housing Program is a program funded and regulated by HCH. This program was created to assist lower income County residents live in affordable, decent and safe Howard County units. The family’s monthly rent payment varies based on gross income and unit size.

PUBLIC HOUSING

The Public Housing Program is a program funded and regulated by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), created to assist lower income families live in affordable, decent and safe housing. The housing agency owns the units rented to approved families. The participating families are required to pay 30% of their adjusted gross income toward rent and utilities.

Resident Responsibilities

Provide accurate information about your family and your income. Cooperate during your annual reexaminations with HCH’s staffers.
As soon as your household undergoes a changes, notify HCH in writing if you or any other adult in your family has a change in income.
Live in the unit as your primary home. You may not sublet it to someone else.
Take care of the unit. Do not allow anyone in your family or guests damage it.
Notify HCH in writing if:

1) you are away from home for more than a month;
2) you move out or end your lease; or
3) you receive an eviction notice.

Allow HCH’s annual unit inspection to proceed as well as other inspections as long as they are in accordance with the lease agreement and HCH’s rights as landlord.
Notify HCH in writing if your household composition changes, specifically if:

1) any member of your family moves out; or
2) if you add any children to your family by birth, adoption, or legal custody.

Request permission in writing from both the landlord and from HCH if anyone else in your family wants to move.
Pay your portion of the rent and your utilities on time.
Abide by all the provisions in your lease. You and your family MUST NOT get involved with crime, drugs, or violence.

The Public Housing Annual Plan - 2011