Housing Choice Vouchers Brochure - Maine State Housing Authority

Assisting with rentRoles and responsibilitiesHow to applyMaineHousing’s Section 8 Housing Choice VoucherProgram provides rental help to eligible tenants bypaying a portion of their monthly rent directly totheir landlords.A tenant with a voucher generally pays 30% to 40%of their household income toward rent. The voucherpays the rest.A housing choice voucher can be used for privaterental housing that meets federal housing qualitystandards. Rent must be within limits allowed bythe program (see www.mainehousing.org/docs/property-mgmt/propertymgmt-paymentstandards.pdf).MaineHousing offers this program in parts of theState not served by local housing authority voucherprograms. MaineHousing’s program helps morethan 3,800 low income Maine households eachmonth.Do I qualify?You may be eligible if your household has a very lowincome. Income limits vary by location and familysize (see www.mainehousing.org/docs/rental/section8incomelimits.pdf).When issuing vouchers, MaineHousing givespriority to Maine people who are homeless.You may be denied a voucher if you havecommitted a crime or have a history of alcoholabuse. Vouchers may also be denied if you werepreviously terminated from the program, or if youowe money to MaineHousing or another housingauthority unless you are repaying the money.Tenant Obligations: You must find an eligiblerental unit that the landlord is willing to rent to you.After MaineHousing approves the unit and lease, itsigns a contract for rental assistance with thelandlord. Then you sign a lease with the landlord forat least one year. You may need to pay a securitydeposit to the landlord.You must comply with the lease and the programrequirements. You must pay your share of the renton time and maintain the unit in good condition.You must tell MaineHousing about any changes inyour income or family size.Landlord Obligations: The rental unit must meetfederal housing quality standards and be kept atthose standards as long as the landlord receiveshousing assistance payments.The landlord also must provide the services agreedto in your lease and in the contract. After the firstyear the landlord may propose a new lease or allowyou to remain on a month-to-month basis.MaineHousing Obligations: MaineHousing issuesthe housing choice voucher and inspects the rentalunit to be sure it meets federal housing qualitystandards. It then signs a contract with the landlordto provide housing assistance payments for you.MaineHousing must review your income andinspect the rental unit for housing quality standardsat least once each year.HUD Role: HUD funds the program. IfMaineHousing does not meet federal rules HUDcan stop payments. For more information on HUDrequirements, including housing quality standards,see www/hud.gov or call 1-800-955-2232.To apply or for more information, contactMaineHousing at 1-866-357-4853.You may apply to both MaineHousing’s voucherprogram and local housing authority voucherprograms. It may help to apply to both becausewaiting lists are long.For more information on MaineHousing’s program,or for contact information for local housingauthorities, see www.mainehousing.org.www.mainehousing.org

While you are waitingHere are some resources that you may find helpful:Your municipal General AssistanceAdministrator at your town or city office.www.MaineHousingSearch.org or1‐877‐428‐8844‐7‐1‐1: Provides a listing ofavailable apartments in all counties in Maine.www.211Maine.org or 2‐1‐1: Providesinformation regarding available communityresources.Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC),www.maine.gov/dhhs/oes/resource/adrc.htmlor 1‐877‐353‐3771: Provides services or referralsfor support available in your community.Subsidized Housing Listings,www.mainehousing.org/data-reports/subsidized-housing-listings or 1‐800‐452‐4668:Housing Referral Specialist will provide a list ofsubsidized apartments in any county or you cango on-line for a listing.MaineHousing’s Rental Housing Guide,www.mainehousing.org/docs/rental/rentalhousing-guide.pdfor 1‐800‐452‐4668:Housing Referral Specialist will provide a guidewith information about available housing optionsor you can go on-line for a copy.MaineHousingPrograms and ServicesHome Buying AssistanceHome Improvement AssistanceRental AssistanceEnergy AssistanceHomeless AssistanceHousing Development AssistanceMaine State Housing AuthorityMaine State Housing Authority (“MaineHousing”) does notdiscriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexualorientation, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mentaldisability, or familial status in the admission or access to,or treatment or employment in, its programs, and activities.MaineHousing will provide appropriate communication auxiliaryaids and services upon sufficient notice. MaineHousing will alsoprovide this document in alternative formats upon sufficientnotice. MaineHousing has designated the following personresponsible for coordinating compliance with applicable federaland state nondiscrimination requirements and addressinggrievances: Louise Patenaude, Maine State Housing Authority,353 Water Street, Augusta, Maine 04330-4633,Telephone Number 1-800-452-4668 (voice instate only), (207) 626-4600 (voice), 1-800-452-4603 (TTY in state only), or (207) 623-2985 (TTY).Housing ChoiceVoucher ProgramSection 8 rental assistancefor income-eligible tenants353 Water StreetAugusta, ME 04330-4633207-624-57891-866-357-4853Fax 207-624-5713TTY 1-800-452-4603www.mainehousing.orgC 100% post-consumer wasteRevised August 2012© 2008 MaineHousing