Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program

The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program is available in all six counties in INRHA’s service area. Included are the counties of Bremer County, Butler County, Chickasaw County, Grundy County, Buchanan County, and Black Hawk County.

Families are responsible for locating a unit that is eligible for the program. The family will pay rent to the landlord based on between 30 to 40 percent of the families gross monthly adjusted income. INRHA will form a contract with the landlord to pay the difference directly to the landlord on behalf of the family.

HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS:

• There is a waiting list for this program. Come into the office to fill out a preliminary application to be placed on the waiting list. You can also print an application by clicking on the Preliminary Application link on the documents page and then fax or mail it in. We no longer mail out our Section 8 application.

• Once a family reaches the top of the waiting list, the family will receive a letter notifying them of the next steps. The family will be instructed to call to set up an appointment in the office to complete paperwork to be certified for eligibility based on the family income and criminal history. (Income Table) All family members age 18 and over must attend this meeting.

• Once approved, the family will receive a voucher and request for tenancy paperwork that needs to be completed by the landlord of the unit where the family wishes to receive rental assistance.

• Once INRHA receives the request for tenancy paperwork, a INRHA representative will set up an appointment to do a Housing Quality Standards Inspection (HQS). This is an inspection to insure that the unit meets HUD standards for safe and sanitary living conditions. Click on this link to view a copy of the HUD brochure “A Good Place to Live“, which gives information about HQS.

• The tenant’s rental assistance will begin the first of the month after the unit passes the HQS inspection and the rent is found by the Housing Authority to be reasonable.

• Once on the program, tenants are required to report all changes in family composition and income to their Section 8 Housing Assistant within 10 days of the event.

• The tenant will be re-certified annually. The re-certification is required to ensure that the family and the unit are still eligible for the program.

• If the family is not determined eligible for the program, they will be sent a letter informing them that they have been dropped from the waiting list. The family has 10 days to appeal the decision.