What does HACA do?
HACA administers the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) under contract with HUD and has the following major responsibilities:
- Establish local policies;
- Review applications from interested applicant families to determine whether applicants are eligible for the program;
- Maintain waiting list and select families for admission;
- Issue voucher to selected family and, if necessary, assist the family in finding a place to live;
- Conduct outreach to owners, with special attention to owners outside areas of poverty or minority concentration;
- Approve the rental unit (including assuring compliance with housing quality standards and rent reasonableness), the owner, and the tenancy;
- Make housing assistance payments to the owner in a timely manner;
- Ensure that families and their rental units continue to qualify under the program;
- Ensure that owners and families comply with program rules;
- Provide families and owners with prompt, professional service; and
- Comply with all fair housing and equal opportunity requirements , HUD regulations and requirements, the Annual Contributions Contract, HUD-approved applications for funding, HACA’s administrative plan, and other applicable federal, state and local laws.
What does the Owner do?
The owner has the following major responsibilities:
- Screen families who apply for tenancy, to determine if they will be good renters;
- HACA can provide some information to the owner, but the primary responsibility for tenant screening rests with the owner.
- The owner should consider family background factors such as rent and bill-paying history, history of caring for property, respecting the rights of others to peaceful enjoyment of the property, compliance with essential conditions of tenancy, whether the family is engaging in drug-related criminal activity or other criminal activity that might threaten others.
- Comply with the terms of the Housing Assistance Payments contract, executed with HACA;
- Comply with all applicable fair housing laws and discriminate against no one;
- Maintain the housing unit by making necessary repairs in a timely manner; and
- Collect rent due from the assisted family and otherwise comply with and enforce provisions of the dwelling lease.
What does the Family do?
The family has the following responsibilities:
- Provide HACA with complete and accurate information, determined by HACA to be necessary for administration of the program;
- Make their best and most timely efforts to find a place to live that is suitable for them and that qualifies for the program;
- Attend all appointments scheduled by HACA;
- Allow HACA to inspect the unit at reasonable times and after reasonable notice;
- Take responsibility for care of the housing unit, including any violations of housing quality standards caused by the family;
- Comply with the terms of the lease with the owner;
- Comply with the family obligations of the voucher;
- Not commit serious or repeated violations of the lease;
- Not engage in drug-related or violent criminal activity;
- Notify HACA and the owner before moving or terminating the lease;
- Use the assisted unit only for residence and as the sole residence of the family. Not sublet the unit, assign the lease, or have any interest in the unit;
- Promptly notify HACA of any changes in family composition; and
- Not commit fraud, bribery, or any other corrupt or criminal act in connection with any housing programs.
The program works when all the parties fully fulfill their obligations in a timely manner. For more information regarding HCVP, visit HUD’s Housing Choice Vouchers Fact Sheet.
