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Housing Choice Voucher
program (Section 8):
Information for tenants
 Note:
The waiting list for the Housing Choice Voucher program
(Section 8) is closed. We do not anticipate creating a new
waiting list until 2010 at the earliest.
How does the program work?
Housing Choice Vouchers allow
participating tenants to choose and rent units from private
owners. All owners who are in good standing with SHA and
have units for rent within Seattle city limits are welcome to
participate. SHA pays a fixed amount of the rent to the
owner each month; the tenant pays the difference between
this subsidy and the total rent, and pays
utilities not included in the rent.
In general, tenants pay at least 30 percent –
but no more than 40 percent – of their monthly adjusted income
for rent and utilities. (Tenants may pay more than 40
percent of
their income after the first year.) The program does not
place limits on the amount of rent a participating owner can
charge, but rents must be comparable to rents for similar units in the
same area.
Portability
Housing Choice Vouchers are
"portable": That is, voucher-holders who live in Seattle
when they apply for the program may take their voucher to
any other city or jurisdiction in the country with similar or lower housing
costs (providing that city or jurisdiction has a housing
authority to administer the voucher).
Voucher-holders who live outside
Seattle when they apply must lease a unit in Seattle for at
least one year before they can "port out," or take their voucher elsewhere.
For questions about Housing Choice Voucher program (Section 8) portability, come to the PorchLight
Housing Center or call 206-239-1640.
Moving with Continued Assistance
After the initial lease term, tenants can move to a new
unit and apply their housing subsidy there. Tenants
interested in moving with continued assistance can
download a Moving
Packet, call
Section 8’s Issuance Team at 206-239-1592 or come to the PorchLight
Housing Center to begin the process.
Tenants who wish to move must re-submit income and
household information and receive a new voucher. Tenants
must repay any money owed to the owner or SHA before SHA
will issue them a voucher to move.
Accommodations for a disability
If a participating household includes a person with
disabilities, the household may request a current list of
potentially available accessible units known to the
Seattle Housing Authority. Exceptions to voucher
payment standards and portability requirements may
also be requested in some cases as a reasonable
accommodation due to a disability, with documentation.
The Housing Choice Voucher program
(Section 8)
is at PorchLight
The Seattle Housing Authority's
Housing Choice Voucher program is
headquartered at the PorchLight
Housing Center. All issues related to the Housing
Choice Voucher program are
handled here, including waiting lists, inspections,
tenancy approvals, reviews and portability. For questions
about the Housing Choice Voucher program, call the department
directly at 206-239-1728.
More information:
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