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Housing Choice Voucher Program: 
Eligibility

Two children on slideUnit and landlord eligibility

Any rental unit is eligible for the program so long as it is properly zoned, rent-reasonable and passes an inspection based on HUD’s Housing Quality Standards (HQS). Any landlord or owner willing to work within the guidelines of the Housing Choice Voucher Program is eligible to participate provided he or she is in good standing with SHA.

Owners may be barred from participating because they have breached leases with participating tenants or violated relevant laws or program rules. As a rule, owners may not rent units to relatives who are voucher-holders.

Tenant eligibility

Income limits

Program participants must earn no more than 30 percent of area median income when they are first issued a voucher. Their income can increase once they are on the program, but their assistance will terminate when 30 percent of their income is equal to or greater than SHA’s payment standard.

Immigration status

SHA is required by federal law to verify the immigration status of household members during the first annual review. If any household member does not have eligible immigration status at that time, the household will not necessarily lose its housing, but its federal subsidy may be reduced or terminated. For more information, see How immigration status affects assistance.

Criminal history

SHA screens all applicants for criminal history. If an applicant’s criminal background indicates that he or she may not be a suitable resident, his or her application may be denied. Denial is automatic if an applicant has committed certain offenses, such as those listed below. This is not a list of every offense that will result in a denial; offenses not listed may also result in a denial. Please note that time intervals do not include time incarcerated.

  • Eviction from public housing for illegal drug activity within 3 years

  • Current use of illegal drugs

  • Methamphetamine production in public housing or elsewhere

  • Sex offenses requiring sex offender registration

  • A record indicating a pattern of alcohol abuse

  • Controlled substance possession or use within 2 years

  • Controlled substance delivery within 5 years

  • Intent to sell drugs within 5 years

  • Sexual assault within 10 years

  • Felony assault within 5 years

  • Misdemeanor assault within 2 years

  • Four or more assaults of any kind within 10 years Arson within 10 years

  • Homicide within 20 years

  • Burglary within 2 years

  • Robbery within 5 years

  • Armed robbery within 10 years

  • Kidnapping within 7 years

  • Prostitution within 2 years

  • Domestic abuse within 5 years

  • Any other felony convictions within 3 years

  • Any crimes that indicate habitual criminal behavior

Debt owed to SHA or another housing authority

SHA will deny the applications of households who owe SHA or another housing authority money, until the debt is repaid in full.

Previously terminated from Section 8 program

SHA will deny the applications of households if any household member was terminated from the Section 8 program for violating any family obligation in the past five years.

More information:

Seattle Housing Authority • 120 Sixth Avenue N. • P.O. Box 19028 • Seattle, WA 98109-1028 • (206) 615-3300