Housing Choice Voucher Program
(Section 8)
What is the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8)?The Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program allows eligible persons to rent privately owned, existing, safe and sanitary housing by making housing assistance payments to private landlords.
Housing Partners of Western Nebraska administers Housing Choice Voucher Program. Eligible households will receive a voucher that allows them to lease a home or apartment with rental assistance that is paid directly to the landlord. Tenants cannot pay more than 40% of their adjusted household income toward rent. Housing Partners of Western Nebraska and the Federal guidelines policies determine the size of a unit a family may rent and the maximum level of financial assistance based on bedroom size. Housing Partners of Western Nebraska will inspect the rental units to ensure that they meet federal housing quality standards. Families must first apply for the assistance. If the families meet the eligibility requirements for assistance, they are placed on a waiting list and when the family reaches the top of the list they are scheduled to come in for a briefing. Housing Partners of Western Nebraska will verify their income and perform a criminal background check. If they are still eligible for assistance, at this time Housing Partners of Western Nebraska will issue the family a Housing Choice Voucher. The family is then given 60 days look for a rental unit once they find a unit, are found to be income qualified and the unit passes the Housing Quality Standard, the family will receive a subsidy. The Housing Choice Voucher program covers and has jurisdiction in the Counties of: Scotts Bluff and Cheyenne: Towns of Bayard, Bridgeport, Kimball, Sidney, Gordon, Hay Springs, Crawford, Chadron, and Rushville. Term of Lease and ContractAfter one (1) year, the lease automatically renews month-to-month. The tenant may vacate with a 30-day written notice after the term of the lease expires. If the tenant remains in the unit, the tenant is recertified for eligibility and the unit is inspected for Housing Quality Standard annually, at which time the landlord may request an annual adjustment rent increase which must be approved by Housing Partners of Western Nebraska. This request must be submitted in writing to the Housing Authority and tenant sixty days prior to re-certification.
InspectionsThe unit will be inspected to insure that it meets HUD Housing Quality Standards. You will also be mailed a copy of the inspection repair list, if applicable.
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Landlord InformationThe Housing Choice Voucher program allows eligible persons to rent privately owned, existing, safe and sanitary housing by making housing assistance payments to private landlords.
Housing Partners of Western Nebraska administers the Housing Choice Voucher Program. Eligible households will receive a voucher that allows them to lease a home or apartment with rental assistance that is paid directly to the landlord. Tenants cannot pay more than 40% of their adjusted household income toward rent. Housing Partners of Western Nebraska has a rental list that is given to applicants. If you, the landlord, would like to be added to our list, please call Velma at 308-633-0487. Tenant ScreensYou, the landlord, must screen the prospective tenant carefully. When one of our families contacts you, we can only certify to you their income eligibility for the program. We cannot provide a reference as to their expected behavior as tenants. You may use any or all of the following screening procedures:
• Credit Check • Landlord References • Criminal Check • Home Visits We encourage all of the above screening methods as long as you do not discriminate. Discrimination includes any tenant selection based on race, color, religion, ancestry, sex, country of birth, handicap or familial status. The prohibition against discrimination based on familial status makes it illegal, in most circumstances, to refuse to allow children to live in a residential unit. |
