The Housing Choice Voucher Program comprises the majority of the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority's Section 8 rental assistance programs. IHCDA administered vouchers help approximately 4,000 families’ pay their rent each month. Eligibility for the Housing Choice Voucher program is based on a family's household income. The voucher covers a portion of the rent and the tenant is expected to pay the balance. The tenants’ share is an affordable percentage of their income and is generally calculated to be between 30 to 40 percent of their monthly-adjusted gross income for rent and utilities. The HCV program services are provided by Local Subcontracting Agencies throughout the state of Indiana. Below is a list of frequently asked questions regarding Section 8 tenants.

Housing Choice Voucher Program

The Housing Choice Voucher Program comprises the majority of the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority's Section 8 rental assistance programs. IHCDA administered vouchers help approximately 4,000 families’ pay their rent each month. Eligibility for the Housing Choice Voucher program is based on a family's household income. The voucher covers a portion of the rent and the tenant is expected to pay the balance. The tenants’ share is an affordable percentage of their income and is generally calculated to be between 30 to 40 percent of their monthly-adjusted gross income for rent and utilities. The HCV program services are provided by Local Subcontracting Agencies throughout the state of Indiana. Below is a list of frequently asked questions regarding Section 8 owners.

IHCDA HCVP 5yr Plan (2010-2014)
IHCDA HCVP Annual Plan (FY2012)

IHCDA Administrative Plan
Procedure for Transferring a Participant

Housing Pro Training Webinar Download

If you would like information on receiving Section 8 assistance or if you are a Section 8 tenant click here.

Go Section 8

Advertising and locating property has never been easier!

The Housing Authority has partnered with http://www.gosection8.com/, which provides an enhanced program to list rental properties on line. Listings are available to potential Housing Choice Voucher tenants seeking apartment units, duplexes, single-family homes or townhomes in the private market.

Landlords - Click Here to add your property.

Tenants - Click Here to view property listings.

Please note that all properties listed before January 1, 2010 with the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority must be re-listed and property owners must re-register each property in order to begin listing rental units on the new GoSection8 system. 

Frequently Asked Questions

• What are the requirements for my unit to be rented to an assisted family?
  The unit must meet HUD Housing Quality Standards (HQS) and the rent must be approvable within HUD Fair Market Rents and market rate comparable. Landlords must comply with the lease agreement signed with the tenant and the HAP contract signed with the IHCDA. Should the landlord fail to meet his or her obligations, the Authority may suspend or terminate payments.
• How do I make a unit available to voucher holders?
  You may call the local Housing Agencies to have the unit listed on a list of available units. You may also advertise in the local newspaper with the phrase "will accept Section 8."
• Can I collect a security deposit?
  Yes, but it must not be in excess of private practice, or in excess of amounts charged to unassisted tenants.
• What are my rights and responsibilities as a landlord?
  • The owner must maintain the unit in accordance with HQS.
  • The owner must set reasonable rules about the use of unit and common areas.
  • Do not enter a unit without the tenant’s permission and proper notice except for emergencies or tenant requested repairs.
  • The owner must collect appropriate security deposits.
  • The owner must comply with Equal Opportunity requirements.
  • The owner must enforce tenant obligations under the lease.
  • The owner must comply with terms and conditions of the lease and HAP contract.
  • The owner must take action through court to evict the tenant when the tenant violates the lease.

• How can I become a part of this rental assistance program?
  Eligibility for a rental voucher is based on income and family size and is limited to U.S. citizens and specified categories of non-citizens that have eligible immigration status. The local Housing Agency can provide specific area income limits.
• What are my rights and responsibilities as a tenant?
  The family is required to comply with the lease, Section 8 program requirements (Family obligations), pay its share of rent on time, maintain the unit in good condition and notify the Housing Authority of any changes in their family composition or income. A family can move and continue its participation in the program as long as they notify the agency administering the voucher ahead of time, terminate the existing lease within the lease provisions. The family is then free to seek another housing unit in Indiana or the family may exercise the portability option and move outside of the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority's jurisdiction.
• How do I apply for assistance?
  To locate the right agency in your area, contact Housing and Community Services, at 800-872-0371.

Section 8 Family Obligations

Section 8 Federal regulations require certain obligations and responsibilities on the part of the family for continued participation. If a family fails to meet these obligations, their participation in the Section 8 program may be terminated.

• The family must supply any information that the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA),its subcontractor, or HUD determines is necessary in the administration of the program, including submission of required evidence of citizenship or eligible immigration status.
• The family must supply any information requested by IHCDA, its subcontractor or HUD for use in a regularly scheduled reexamination or interim reexamination of family income and composition.
• The family must disclose and verify social security numbers and must sign and submit consent forms for obtaining information.
• Any information supplied by the family must be true and complete.
• The family is responsible for a Housing Quality Standards (HQS breach) caused by the family.
• The family must allow the IHCDA, or its subcontractor to inspect the unit at reasonable times and after reasonable notice.
• The family may not commit any serious or repeated violation of the lease.
• The family must give proper written notice to the IHCDA, or its subcontractor and the owner before the family moves out of the unit, or terminating the lease with the owner.
• The family must promptly give IHCDA, or its subcontractor a copy of any owner eviction notice.
• The family must use the assisted unit for residence by the family. The unit must be the family's only residence.
• The IHCDA or its subcontractor must approve the composition of the assisted family residing in the unit. The family must promptly inform IHCDA, or its subcontractor of the birth, adoption or court-awarded custody of a child. The family must request IHCDA’s, or its subcontractor’s approval to add any other family member as an occupant of the unit. Only members of the assisted family may reside in the unit except for an IHCDA or Subcontractor approved foster child or live-in aide.
• The family must promptly notify the IHCDA or its subcontractor if any family member no longer resides in the unit.
• The family must not sublease the unit.
• The family must not assign the lease or transfer the unit.
• The family must supply any information or certification requested by IHCDA, or its subcontractor to verify that the family is living in the unit, or relating to family absence from the unit, including any requested information or certification on the purposes of the family absences.
• The family must promptly notify the IHCDA or its subcontractor of absence from the unit.
• The family and relatives of the family must not own or have any interest in the unit.
• The members of the family must not commit fraud, bribery or any other corrupt or criminal act in connection with the program.
• The members of the family may not engage in drug-related criminal activity, or violent criminal activity.
• An assisted family, or members of the family, may not receive Section 8 tenant-based assistance while receiving another housing subsidy, for the same unit or for a different unit.

Portability

Portability enables a family to move nationwide from one local Housing Authority's jurisdiction to another. The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority will coordinate with the Housing Authority in the jurisdiction to which you would like to move to make your move possible. You must check with the Housing Authority in the area where you wish to move before assuming that a transfer will be automatic. You should attempt to find out if there is a Section 8 Program operational in the community to which you would like to move, and the name and address of the person who might be of assistance. If you are unable to obtain this information, the IHCDA will attempt to obtain the information for you.

Section 8 families who are currently residing in Indiana can request a portability transfer at any time after residing in their current county for one year, assuming the proper notification of the intent to vacate was given to the current landlord. A voucher recipient who was not an Indiana resident at the time they were placed on the waiting list must live in Indiana for at least one year before they can exercise the portability option.

Basic Procedures for Transferring Your Assistance To Another Jurisdiction

1. Contact the Housing Authority where you received your Voucher for permission to transfer.
2. Get the name, address, and phone number of the Receiving PHA in the area where you want to move.
3. Serve proper written Notice to your Landlord (as defined in your Lease) and provide us with a copy.
4. Make an appointment with your Housing Specialist to update your eligibility information.
5. You will be issued a Transfer Voucher that will expire 60 days from the date of issue. You are encouraged to use it as soon as possible to avoid termination of rental assistance.
6. The Receiving PHA will also need to update your income and family composition information. It is your responsibility to make an appointment for this review with the Receiving PHA.
7. The Receiving PHA's Payment Standards will be used.
8. Different occupancy standards on the part of the Receiving PHA may change the bedroom size of your Voucher.

Homeownership

The purpose of the Homeownership Program is to give low-income families the opportunity to purchase their own home. The program allows families and individuals who qualify, to use Section 8 Vouchers for homeownership. This option gives low-income families and individuals the opportunity to choose between mortgage subsidies and rental subsidies. This program will give families and individuals a sense of belonging and self worth in their communities. You will need to speak to your local Section 8 Housing Choice Program representative.

Program Eligibility
The family must meet initial requirements to be considered for participation in the Homeownership Option. The DFC Housing & Community Services Section will offer the homeownership option to all families who meet the eligibility requirements of this plan.

• The family must be an eligible participating family in the IHCDA’s Housing Choice Voucher program.
• The family must qualify within HUD regulations as a first-time homeowner or as a member of a qualifying housing co-operative.
• The family must meet the Federal minimum income requirements.
• The family must meet the Federal minimum employment requirement, or must meet the required definitions as a elderly or disabled family.
• The family must not have had any family-caused violations of HUD’s Housing Quality standards within the previous 12-month period.
• The family may not be within the initial one-year period of its initial HCV HAP Contact.
• The family may not owe money to the IHCDA or any other Housing Authority.
• The family may not have committed any serious or repeated violations of a PHA-assisted lease within the past 12-month period.
• Any family member who has previously defaulted on a mortgage obtained through the homeownership option is barred from receiving future homeownership assistance.
• The head of household/ prospective mortgage holder agrees to attend approved Homeownership counseling.
• The family’s initial eligibility does not guarantee it will participate in homeownership. The family must qualify for a loan under the provisions of this plan, and approved by the IPHA, in order to be eligible to participate.

Minimum Employment Requirements
To meet the Federal minimum employment requirement, at least one adult member who will own the home must be currently employed full time and must have been continuously employed for one year prior to homeownership assistance.

HUD regulations define "full time employment" as not less than an average of 30 hours per week.

A family member will be considered to have been continuously employed even if that family member has experienced a gap in employment, provided that the gap in employment:

• Did not exceed 30 calendar days; and
• The gap in employment did not occur within the 3 month period immediately prior to the family’s request to utilize the homeownership option; and
• There has been no more the one (1) gap in employment within the past 12 calendar months.

The employment requirement does not apply to households with qualifying elderly or disabled members.