Housing Choice Vouchers

About the Program

The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program is a national initiative of the federal government for assisting very low-income households to afford private market rental housing that is decent, safe and sanitary. Formerly known as Section 8, rent subsidies are provided to eligible families who receive a housing voucher. A family includes elderly, disabled and single person households. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides funding to Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) throughout the country to administer the HCV program in a specific locality. The Raleigh Housing Authority (RHA) administers the program in Wake County, North Carolina.

Interested individuals are required to apply to the RHA waiting list from which names are selected to receive a housing voucher when one becomes available. Families can rent housing of their choice in communities of their choice. Families typically pay between 30% and 40% of their adjusted annual income towards housing. Vouchers are used to assist families in paying their rent in properties where the owners willingly agree to participate in the HCV program. HUD publishes Fair Market Rents (FMR) each year for “modest” rental housing by locality. FMR is established for each bedroom size and each PHA establishes a voucher “payment standard” which is between 90% and 110% of the FMR. The HCV monthly subsidy is the difference between 30% of the household’s monthly adjusted income and the applicable payment standard. As of January 1, 2025, RHA is required to use Small Area Fair Market Rents (SAFMRs) in the administration of HCV.