Low Income Housing Information
Importance of Renter's Insurance
Can you Locate Section 8 Housing Easily in Virginia?
In general, yes, it is fairly easy to locate Section 8 housing in Virginia, thanks to the efforts of the Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA, www.vhda.com). This state affordable housing resource is similar to other state-wide organizations, but provides a lot of good information for people actually trying to find Section 8 housing and other assistance options in the state.
If one visits the VHDA website (linked above), across the top navigation bar is an option titles "Renters" and this brings visitors to a wealth of information about the Section 8 opportunities in Virginia. The basic "Virginia Housing Search" option provides a "one-stop" directory of most of the Section 8 properties - both project-based units and rental properties accepting tenant-based Housing Choice Vouchers in Virginia. Additional information is also available regarding reduced rent properties, like those funded through the federal HOME program or the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), in Virginia.
People that are specifically looking for Section 8 housing as opposed to other low income housing options available in Virginia can also look at the website of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) at www.hud.gov. Although HUD is responsible for the general Section 8 program, grants the money, and sets the major restrictions; the actual operation of the program is mostly in the hands of the local public housing agencies (PHAs) that cover all of Virginia. In general, a PHA oversees a strict jurisdiction, usually a county or metropolitan area, and is responsible for vetting new applicants, determining local priorities, overseeing the Section 8 properties and dealing with the local owners or property managers.
The HUD website provides a comprehensive list of all PHAs in Virginia, though it should be kept in mind that the VHDA has accepted some PHA responsibilities in Virginia. For example, tenant-based Section 8 housing - the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program - is largely administrated by the VHDA as opposed to the local PHAs. Assuming the new resident has already determined the specific area in which they intend to live, contacting the local PHA can also open up additional possibilities that may not be available elsewhere. Virginia has an active housing advocacy movement and there are a significant number of locally based charities, non-profits, and land trusts that may offer better options than direct Section 8 housing in given areas if the applicant meets their eligibility requirements.
People hoping to qualify for Section 8 housing in Virginia - or anywhere else for that matter - should bear in mind that the primary qualifying factor involved is that the applicant's annual gross income amounts to fifty percent or less of the local median income of the area in question. These median income levels are not random or necessarily correct, instead the defining local median income is the level recognized by HUD. HUD routinely adjusts and modifies the local median income for every county and metropolitan area in Virginia and this information is also available from the HUD website. That is, it is entirely possible for people to determine whether or not they qualify for Section 8 in any particular area before actually filing the paperwork with the local PHA by determining whether or not their annual income meets the requirements for approval. Since the median income levels are determined locally, it is entirely possible that some people may qualify for Section 8 housing in one area, but not in another, so this should be taken into account when trying to find the right place for Section 8 housing assistance in Virginia.