Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs - Building Homes and Strengthening Communities

Program Administration

Overview and Distribution

The Department's Housing Choice Voucher Program directly administers approximately 900 Housing Choice Vouchers. The 2020 renewal funding from HUD is approximately $6.6 million. The Department administers vouchers in 34 counties. Additionally, the program is able to serve clients anywhere in the state through the Project Access Program.

Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Landlords

The housing choice voucher (HCV) program is the federal government's primary program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Since housing assistance is provided on behalf of the HCV tenant, participants are able to find their own housing, including single-family homes, townhouses and apartments. Housing choice vouchers are administered locally by public housing agencies (PHAs) that receive federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to administer the HCV program. This means that the tenant, landlord and PHA all have obligations and responsibilities under the HCV program.

If you are a landlord and want to know about the program. Here is some helpful information.

https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/public_indian_housing/programs/hcv/landlord

HCV Fact Sheet for Landlords (PDF) | The housing choice voucher (HCV) program is the federal government’s primary program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Since housing assistance is provided on behalf of the HCV tenant, participants are able to find their own housing, including single-family homes, townhouses and apartments. Housing choice vouchers are administered locally by public housing agencies (PHAs) that receive federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This means that the tenant, landlord and PHA all have obligations and responsibilities under the HCV program. A brief summary of each party’s role is below

Steps to Become an HCV Landlord (PDF) | The role of the landlord in the HCV program is to lease decent, safe, and sanitary housing to a tenant at a reasonable rent. The housing unit must pass the program’s housing quality standards (HQS) and be maintained up to those standards as long as the owner receives housing assistance payments (HAPs). Contact your local PHA or the PHA that provides service for your unit.

Myth-busting and Benefits for HCV Landlords (PDF) | MYTH-BUSTING FOR HCV LANDLORDS.

Flowchart of HCV Lease Up Process for Landlords (PDF) | General Lease-Up Process for Landlords, Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) and Tenants. Contact your local PHA or the PHA that provides service for your unit.

Know how much rent will I receive (HUD.gov) | The PHA determines a payment standard that is between 90 percent and 110% of the Fair Market Rents (FMRs). FMRs regularly published by HUD, represent the cost to rent a moderately priced dwelling unit in the local housing market. The housing voucher tenant must pay 30 percent of its monthly-adjusted gross income for rent and utilities, and if the unit rent is greater than the payment standard, the tenant is required to pay the additional amount. Contact your local PHA or the PHA that provides service for your unit.

Know more about inspection requirements (HUD.gov) | Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program regulations at 24 CFR Part 982 set forth basic housing quality standards (HQS) which all units must meet before assistance can be paid on behalf of a family and at least annually throughout the term of the assisted tenancy. HQS define "standard housing" and establish the minimum criteria for the health and safety of program participants. Current HQS regulations consist of 13 key aspects of housing quality, performance requirements, and acceptability criteria to meet each performance requirement. Contact your local PHA or the PHA that provides service for your unit.

HQS Initial Inspection Flowchart (PDF) | When the family finds a unit that they wish to occupy and reaches an agreement with the landlord over the lease terms, the PHA must inspect the dwelling and determine that the unit meets Housing Quality Standards (HQS). Contact your local PHA or the PHA that provides service for your unit.

Biennial HQS Inspection Flowchart (PDF) | Biennial Inspections Per 24 CFR 982.405, HUD requires that PHAs inspect each unit at least biennially (or triennially for some small rural PHAs). However, PHAs may choose to inspect more frequently (annually). PHAs will outline their inspection policy and procedures in their PHA Administrative Plan. Contact your local PHA or the PHA that provides service for your unit.

Learn about the tenant's obligations (HUD.gov) | Tenants and landlords have obligations under the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program. When tenants select a housing unit, they are expected to comply with the lease and the program requirements, pay their share of rent on time, maintain the unit in good condition, and notify the PHA of any changes in income or family composition. Tenant’s specific obligations when qualifying for the voucher and to remain on the HCV program follow. Contact your local PHA or the PHA that provides service for your unit.

Learn more about the role of PHAs in HCV (HUDExchange.info) |Each state’s law governs how PHAs are formed. There may be state, county, or city PHAs that are authorized to administer the program. PHAs are not federal agencies, although HUD has regulatory oversight over many of the programs PHAs administer. Under program regulations, PHAs have discretion to run their programs in ways that best support their local communities. As each community has its own unique needs and issues, PHAs in different areas will operate the HCV program in different ways. Contact your local PHA or the PHA that provides service for your unit.

Finding Assistance

To apply for subsidized housing assistance and to find out if you qualify, one of these resources should guide you to the office you need to contact.

  • TDHCA directly serves the areas listed in the HCVP Service Areas list (PDF).
  • U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development PHA Contact Information
    (www.hud.gov)
    This Web page will direct you to the office that serves your area, based on your state and your local community.
  • For questions or complaints regarding other housing authorities in Texas, please contact one of these HUD Regional Offices:
    • Houston HUD Office (713) 718-3199
    • Fort Worth HUD Office (817) 978-5700
    • San Antonio HUD Office (210) 475-6806