Eligibility

• Local public housing authority offices determine eligibility for their area's Housing Choice Voucher Program. The income criteria are based on your area's gross median income. Your income must be less than 50 percent of the median to qualify, and your income may need to be 30 percent or less, depending on the rules of your local area. Your public housing authority will also look at and confirm your assets and the number of members in your household.
  
  

Applying

• Contact your local public housing authority office to apply for a Housing Choice Voucher. Be prepared to provide them with proof of your income, proof of assets, and Social Security numbers and dates of birth for all members of your household. Even if approved, you may be placed on a waiting list until a voucher is available.
  
  

Using a Voucher

• If you've been awarded a Housing Choice voucher, your next step is to find a rental property. Once you've found a rental, your public housing authority office must inspect it to confirm that it's safe and healthy for you and your family. The amount of your voucher is determined by the public housing authority office; at a minimum, you must pay 30 percent of your household's income as rent. The voucher is paid directly to your landlord, and you're responsible for any additional rent due after the voucher is applied.
  
  

Other Considerations

• You and your family can move to another unit or state if you notify your public housing authority office. You will need to confirm your eligibility as required by the public housing authority office. If your situation changes significantly, or if you violate the terms of your lease repeatedly, you may lose your voucher, making you fully responsible for your rent.