Housing Choice Voucher Program

It is a program funded by Congress and the President under the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD), and administered by the Montgomery County Housing Authority (MCHA) to provide safe, descent, and affordable housing for residents of Montgomery County. The MCHA assists families by paying a portion of the rent to the landlord and the family pays a portion of the rent to the landlord. Families pay approximately 30 percent of their monthly income as their portion of the rent.

Families with income that is 50 percent or less of the median income for the family size may qualify as very low income families. An eligible family can be a single person household, elderly or disabled, as well as families of two or more.

Preference is given to people who live, work, or have notification of a job in Montgomery County. However, anyone can apply but must meet income guidelines.

No. MCHA will notify you in writing whether or not you have been added to the waiting list. When housing subsidies become available, MCHA will contact applicants for more detailed and current information.

You will receive written notification from MCHA if you have been accepted.

It is impossible to predict how long you will wait because MCHA does not know when housing subsidies will become available.

Typically, tenants pay a minimum of 30% of their gross income for rent and utilities.

As part of the process, MCHA is required to conduct criminal background history checks for all applicants over the age of 18 and require specific paperwork such as: birth certificates, social security cards, utility bills, proof of income, etc. for all applicants.

Any existing rental housing may be eligible: single family homes, condominiums, apartments, townhouses, duplexes, etc. All rental units must conform to Housing Quality Standards (HQS) and meet local code requirements.

It can be located anywhere in Montgomery County.

The rental units are inspected prior to the signing of the HAP contract.  All units entering the HCVP for the first time are inspected initially and  then all units are inspected at  least bi-annually thereafter.

Contact your Contract Control Specialist (caseworker) for specific information concerning moving.

NO. Emergency housing is only by referral through the Montgomery County Office of Housing and Community Development. Upon approval, a person may be referred to MCHA for emergency housing under the Tenant Based Rental Assistance Program (TBRA), a county transitional housing program.