FAQ

No, they are separate entities.  HUD provides the funding to the Housing Authority so that the Housing Authority can administer the HUD programs.

Yes, both Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Programs are regulated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

HCV and Public Housing Programs are funded through the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

No, the issuance of a Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) merely means that you may begin to look for a unit.  The contractual agreement begins after a contract has been signed. 

Only Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) eligibilities are transferable anywhere in the USA.  Public Housing eligibility is tied to the unit and is not transferable.

No, initially a tenant must be below the 80% median income however if his income increases, he/she will be allowed to stay in Public Housing.

The Housing Choice Voucher Program (formerly known as Section 8) provides tenant-based assistance, in the form of a voucher, to low-income families, for rental units of their choice in the private market. Program applicants choose from a variety of housing options, including apartments, duplexes, single-family homes and townhomes.

Program participants issued a housing voucher are responsible for finding a suitable housing unit of their choice where the owner agrees to rent under the program. The unit may include the participant's present residence. Rental units must meet minimum standards of health and safety, as determined by the Abilene Housing Authority.

A housing subsidy is paid to the property owner directly by the Housing Authority on behalf of the participant. The participant then pays the difference between the actual rent charged by the property owner and the amount subsidized by the program. A participant's rent is usually about 30 percent of their monthly income.

To be eligible for the program, applicants must meet the following requirements:

1. Be below income limits equal to 50% of the Area Median Income for the appropriate geographic area (see HCV Resources page).
2. At least one member of the household must be a citizen of the U.S. or have eligible immigration status.
3. Must not owe any housing authorities any debts from previous participation in assisted housing programs.   
4. Must not have been terminated from any assisted housing program in the last year.
5. Must not have committed any violent or drug related criminal activity in the past 3 years.

At this time, AHA is continuously accepting applications for the HCV program. Applications can be completed online by clicking here.  Follow the directions and complete all of the required information. At the end of the application process, the applicant will receive a confirmation number. Please record your confirmation number. If you do not receive a confirmation number, your application might not have gone through.

Yes.  Applicants can apply to all open waiting lists at the same time.  On the online application, check each program wait list that you want to apply for and your application will be placed on each wait list with the same application information.

It is impossible to determine how long applicants will have to wait for assistance.  It depends on when vouchers become available, the date and time the completed application is submitted, and the preferences an applicant qualifies for.

Preferences apply to certain categories of applicants.  If an applicant qualifies for a preference, they are placed higher on the wait list than applicants that are not eligible for a preference.  For instance, AHA has a preference for elderly and/or disabled applicants which means that elderly/disabled applicants are placed higher on the wait list than non-elderly/disabled applicants.

When an application reaches the top of the HCV wait list, AHA will contact the applicant via mail to attend an eligibility meeting.  At this meeting, the applicant must provide all information necessary to determine eligibility.  If the applicant is determined eligible, they will be scheduled to receive a voucher.

Yes.  When your address changes, you must notify AHA in writing within 10 days of the change occurring.  All AHA correspondence is sent through the mail.  If AHA sends you a letter and it is returned, your name will be removed from the HCV wait list.  You will lose your place on the wait list and must reapply.

The HCV program is an income-based program.  Participant's rent portions are determined based upon their income.  Each participant will pay 30-40% of their income toward rent and utilities each month.

No, the unit remains the private property of the owner.

No, an owner may charge any rent that he chooses, however the rent must be determined "rent reasonable" by the Housing Authority.

No, landlords have every right to enforce their lease. In fact, the lease is between the tenant and the landlord.

The Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) is a rental assistance program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). It is designed to assist eligible low-income families with rental housing in the private market by paying some of their rental costs. The Abilene Housing Authority administers the program in Taylor and the 19 surrounding counties. Our responsibilities include determining family eligibility, approving units and rents, determining the family's rent portion based on their income, ensuring that the families and owners comply with program rules, inspecting units and re-determining family eligibility annually, and making housing assistance payments to owners.

• You receive a guaranteed monthly payment on the first of every month via direct deposit.
• You retain total control. You can collect a security deposit, use your own lease, and screen tenants according to your own suitability criteria.
• You receive free annual inspections to ensure maximum property upkeep.
• By participating in the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program, you are helping low-income families obtain housing.

To become a participating owner, all you need to do is lease your rental unit to a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) holder. Generally, owners cannot rent to family members under the HCV Program, except as a reasonable accommodation for a disabled family member for a unit that is 504 Accessible. AHA will require you to provide proof of ownership (recorded deed) and you cannot charge more for your unit to a HCV participant than to unassisted families. Owners debarred by HUD or AHA for fraud and other program violations may be denied participation.

AHA offers a property listing and locator service through AffordableHousing.com. There is no fee for this service unless you elect to sign up for a premiere packet which may include virtual tours of your unit. All AHA voucher holders are also informed of this site at their voucher briefings.

Please contact our offices Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Friday from 8am - 5pm at 325.676.6385 or email Tim.

1 Bedroom - $100

2 Bedroom - $135

3 Bedroom - $170

4 Bedroom - $205

At move out, security deposits will be applied towards any balance due as well as damages to the apartment caused by the tenants and/or guests of tenants.  Any remaining amount will be refunded to the tenant after move out.

Public Housing screens applicants for income eligibility as well as for criminal and rental history.

Applicants are automatically disqualified if they are subject to a lifetime sex offender registration or have been convicted for manufacturing of methamphetamine on federal property.  Applicants convicted of violent or drug-related criminal activity within the past 3 years could be disqualified as well.  Negative rental history is not considered an automatic disqualification.  Public Housing also screens for suitability.

Your application will remain active as long as you respond to all letters/notices from Public Housing, attend all briefings and notify us in writing within 10 days of any changes in your mailing address.

You can be on the waiting list for one or more Public Housing sites.  Note:  Our waiting list for the Deegan site is for applicants 62 years and older.

You can be on the HCV and PH waiting lists at the same time.

Yes.  Public Housing only requires a 15-day move out notice so you will not be locked in a lease if you receive a Housing Choice Voucher.

You can complete an application online. Refer to the online application on the Home Page of our website, or click here to begin the application. 

There is no way to predict how long you may have to wait before you are called for an apartment.  This depends on when people move out and a vacancy occurs.  We recommend that you contact Public Housing every 3 months to check your status on the waiting list.