Housing Choice Voucher, Section 8
Program Status
The Section 8 Application waitlist is CLOSED.
Pre-applications are NOT being accepted at this time for the HAMC Housing
Choice Voucher, Section 8 program.
The Waiting List was last open from March 7-11, 2011. All applications received
in that period are being processed. All applicants were
sent notification letters postmarked November 10, 2011 to the address provided on
the application. The letter acknowledges the reciept of an application,
the applicants ACTIVE waitlist status, indicated "Preference(s) Claimed"
and included a form with instructions for reporting changes now or in the future.
IMPORTANT: It is your responsiblity to
report address and preference changes within 10 working
days using the Section 8 Wait List Change Report. Click
here for our Form
Library.
Please be aware that we are unable to inform applicants of how long it will take
before they are called for a briefing.
CHECK STATUS OF PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAM
Updates and Notices
Important Notice: Effective immediately, The Housing Authority of Maricopa County will not approve any rent increases for clients with Housing Choice Vouchers, due to funding restrictions (posted 7/11/2012).
The Housing Authority has partnered with www.GoSection8.com , which provides an enhanced program to list rental properties online. Listings are available to potential Housing Choice Voucher tenants seeking apartment units, duplexes, single-family homes or townhomes in the private market. Perspective tenants may view rental listings here and landlords can add their properties here. It is recommended that Landlords add photos to their listing for better advertising and faster lease up!
We are pleased to announce that effective Monday, January
9, 2012, the Housing Authority of Maricopa County (HAMC) will be serving our Housing
Choice Voucher participants living in the East valley from our satellite office
located at 710 W. 8th Avenue, Mesa, Arizona, 85210.
In creating this change, we reach another level of our goal to improve and enhance
our customer service, supporting our clients with better access to their Housing
Specialist, improve productivity, and minimize the travel time for customer appointments.
We have created several 'Question and Answer' pages with common questions asked
by the public.
Click here for
information for applicants. This is for people already on the Wait List
but have not been called for a briefing. Note that this can take years.
Click here for
information for voucher holders. This for those people that have received
a voucher and are looking for a home to rent.
Click here for
information for landlords. This is a simple guide to the most common
questions asked by landlords and perspective landlords.
Click here for
information on how the voucher is calculated and about how much HAMC
will pay of your rent. This page also includes information on Payment Standards.
More information on vouchers and landlord issues can be found on our FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) page, available here.
HAMC has a page with online forms and information sheets that may be of use to the
public. Click here for our Form Library.
Program Overview
The Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCV), also known as Section 8, is a rental assistance
program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). It
is designed to assist low-income families rent apartments or homes in the private
market. The lease amount is established based on rents paid for comparable unassisted
units in the private market in the neighborhood where the unit is located. Rents
may not exceed the Fair Market Rent (FMR) amounts established by HUD. If a person
is eligible, he or she is placed upon a waiting list. When available, a voucher
is issued which the person uses to find an appropriate unit in an area served by the Housing Authority of Maricopa County
(HAMC). Utilizing the voucher, a person or family pays approximately 30% to 40%
of their income toward rent and utilities and HAMC pays the difference.
For a list of cities and communities served by HAMC please click
here.
Eligibility
The Housing Authority of Maricopa County (HAMC) screens applicants to determine
they meet the federally mandated qualifications for the Housing Choice Voucher Program.
This includes verification of eligibility and income information provided on the
pre-application form. Income limits for program eligibility are adjusted according
to family size and deductible allowances specified in federal legislation. HAMC
only serves the needs of specific areas of Maricopa County. As a general rule, HAMC
only operates in areas and cities that do not have their own housing department
or are unincorporated. If a person wishes to live in Phoenix, Glendale, Mesa, Tempe,
Scottsdale, or Chandler he or she must contact the local housing departments. A
list of contact information for those cities may be found here.The
Housing Authority of Maricopa County does not discriminate on the basis of Race,
Color, Religion, Sex, Disability, Family Status or National Origin. The Housing
Authority of Maricopa County is an Equal Housing Opportunity provider.
How to Apply
Families wishing to apply for the Housing Choice Voucher Program with the Housing
Authority of Maricopa County (HAMC) must complete a written application and submit
it to the main office by mail. When the wait list is open, application forms
may be downloaded from the Form Library (form not available as this time).
Understanding the Applicaiton Process: When the wait list is open note no
new applications will be taken until the next open period. Print out the form, fill
in the information requested, and then sign it. Mail it to the Housing Authority
of Maricopa County, 2024 N. 7th Street, Suite 101, Phoenix, AZ 85006. Applications
will be screened to determine if you are eligible to apply, based upon the information
you provided. All information on the form is subject to verification. If you pre-qualify,
a letter will be sent notifying you of your status, and providing more information
about the application process. Your name will then be added to the wait list.