HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER

Section 8 Program

Housing Choice Vouchers allow very low-income families to choose and lease safe, decent, and affordable privately-owned rental housing.

Marion County Housing Authority, under contract with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) administers this rental assistance program for the areas of Marion County which are outside the Urban Growth Boundary of the City of Salem. Click here for map of covered cities.

A family wanting help with rental assistance must qualify within the income limits provided by HUD. Click here for the income limits. Tenants are selected from the wait list in chronological order by date and time of receipt of pre-application.

“The Waiting List for Wood Park Terrace and Evergreen Court Apartments is closed as of June 29, 2011, until further notice.”

If the family qualifies, they select a rental unit from the open market. It is the responsibility of a family to find a unit that meets their needs. Units can be found in local newspapers, community boards, or even just by driving around. Our front desk keeps an updated list of available units that are willing to accept Section 8 Vouchers. We encourage our tenants to choose carefully, as they will be signing a one-year lease at the unit they have chosen.

The amount of assistance given to a family is dependent upon a number of factors: the family’s income, the amount of rent requested by the landlord, tenant-paid utility costs, etc. Generally, a family will pay approximately 30% of their monthly income toward the rent.

Prior to providing assistance on behalf of any family, all proposed housing units must pass a Housing Quality Standards inspection to insure that the unit is decent, safe and sanitary. Also, an evaluation must be performed to insure that the rent being proposed by the landlord is “reasonable and comparable” to other similar-type units in the area.

Violence Against Women Act

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) was signed into law in January 2006. VAWA applies to residents of public housing and Section 8 multifamily housing programs. Among other things, it prohibits the removal of subsidy assistance and eviction of Section 8 residents if the grounds for taking the action is an instance of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking. Owners and tenants are encouraged to read more about VAWA 2005 at: United States Department of Justice.

Go to Links for Housing Search information.

Apply For Section 8

MARION COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY
Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program
Administrative Plan Revised 6/2007

Chapter 1 Overview of the Program and Plan

Chapter 2 Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity

Chapter 3 Eligibility

Chapter 4 Applications, Waiting List and Tenant Selection

Chapter 5 Briefings and Voucher Issuance

Chapter 6 Income and Subsidy Determinations

Chapter 7 Verification

Chapter 8 Housing Quality Standards and Rent Reasonableness Determinations

Chapter 9 General Leasing Policies

Chapter 10 Moving with Continued Assistance and Portability

Chapter 11 Reexaminations

Chapter 12 Termination of Assistance and Tenancy

Chapter 13 Owners

Chapter 14 Program Integrity

Chapter 15 Special Housing Types

Chapter 16 Program Administration

Chapter 17: PROJECT-BASED VOUCHERS

Glossary

Housing Authority-Owned Properties

MCHA is proud to own and manage several attractive and affordable apartment complexes. Applicants must fall within specific income ranges in order to be eligible to rent a unit and have good rental references. Rent varies based on income and unit. Wait times vary at each property depending on the number of people on the waiting list and vacancies.

SENIORS

FAMILIES

FARM LABOR

Each MCHA-owned site has a separate rental application form and their own qualification requirements. Click here to down load our pre-application. Contact our office to ask about availability, qualification requirements or if you would like the application mailed to you..