Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program

The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program is available in all six counties in INRHA's service area/jurisdiction. Our jurisdiction covers Bremer, Butler, Buchanan, Chickasaw, Grundy, and Black Hawk counties with the exception of Waterloo, Cedar Falls, and Evansdale.

Families are responsible for locating a unit that is eligible for the program. The family will pay rent to the landlord based on their adjusted gross monthly income. Families should expect to pay between 30% and 40% of their adjusted monthly income on rent, while the difference will be paid by the Housing Authority. INRHA will form a contract with the landlord to pay the difference directly to the landlord on behalf of the family.

HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS:

• There is a waiting list for this program. Stop by the office to pick up an application outside our door, print one from the Preliminary Application link on the documents page and fax, mail or drop off in our secure drop box, or apply online at www.waitlistcheck.com/IA3085 
• Once a family reaches the top of the waiting list, the family will receive a letter notifying them of the next steps. The family will be instructed to call to set up an appointment in the office to complete paperwork to be certified for eligibility based on the family income and criminal history. Please see the link to our most current Income Limits on the Documents page. All family members age 18 and over must attend this meeting.
• Once eligibility is determined, the family will receive a voucher and Request for Tenancy paperwork that needs to be completed by the landlord of the unit where the family wishes to receive rental assistance.
• Once INRHA receives the Request for Tenancy paperwork, an INRHA representative will set up an appointment to do a Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspection. This is an inspection to ensure that the unit meets HUD standards for safe and sanitary living conditions. Click on this link to view a copy of the HUD brochure "A Good Place to Live", which gives information about HQS.
• The tenant's rental assistance will begin the first of the month after the unit passes the HQS inspection and the rent is found by the Housing Authority to be reasonable.
• Once on the program, tenants are required to report all changes in family composition and income to their Section 8 Housing Coordinator within 10 days of the event.
• The tenant will be re-certified annually. The re-certification is required to ensure that the family and the unit are still eligible for the program.
• If the family is not determined eligible for the program, they will be sent a letter informing them that they have been dropped from the waiting list. The family has 10 days to appeal that decision.