Housing Choice Voucher ProgramAt-A-Glance

www.thecha.org/hcv

What is the HCV Program?

• Helps low-income people, the elderly, and

people with disabilities afford quality

housing in the private market

• Created by the Housing and Community

Development Act of 1974

• Funded by the U.S Department of Housing

and Urban Development (HUD) and

administered by a Public Housing

Authority, like the CHA

HCV Program Overview

HCV Program Overview

CHA’s HCV Program Statistics• Over 14,000 Property Owners provide safe

and affordable housing to Voucher Holders

throughout the City of Chicago

• More than 45,000 Participants receive

assistance

HCV Program Overview

Relationship of HCV Program Partners:

CHA’s Responsibilities

CHA is responsible for:

• Determining eligibility for Applicants,

Participants, and Owners

• Conducting Housing Quality Standards

(HQS) inspections

• Issuing Housing Assistance Payments

• Ensuring the integrity of the HCV Program

Participant Responsibilities

Each Participant MUST:

• Find a suitable housing unit

• Comply with HCV Program rules and regulations

• Abide by the terms of the lease and Tenancy

Addendum with the Owner, including paying rent

in a timely manner

• Allow CHA and the Owner or Property Manager

to inspect the unit

• Keep the unit in good, safe, decent and sanitary

condition

Participant Responsibilities

Participants, Household Members, and guests

MUST NOT:

• Interfere with neighbor’s right to peaceful

enjoyment of the premises

• Participate or allow their guest to participate in

prohibitive actions, such as criminal activity

• Violate the term of their lease, including

subleasing or unauthorized occupants

• Damage the unit or fail to maintain utilities

• Pay more rent then determined by CHA

Owner Responsibilities

Property Owners and Managers are responsible

for:

• Screening families for suitability

• Collecting Participant’s portion of the rent

• Complying with the terms of the Housing

Assistance Payment (HAP) Contract, Lease and

Tenancy Addendum

• Making timely repairs ensuring HQS compliance;

including maintaining owner provided utilities

• Enforcing their lease, including evictions for

lease violations

Fair Housing – It’s the Law

In combination, the Chicago Fair Housing Ordinance and the

Federal Fair Housing Act prohibit discrimination based on the

following:

• Color

• National Origin

• Age

• Familial Status

• Source of Income

• Sexual Orientation

• Race

• Religion

• Gender

• Ancestry

• Disability

• Military Discharge

Status

Becoming an HCV Property Owner

How can I become an HCV Program

Property Owner?

Attend an Owner Briefing

List your property online

• Visit www.thecha.org/post

• Enter property details and upload pictures

Once an HCV Participant is interested in your unit,

they will provide you with their “moving papers” or

Request for Tenancy Approval (RTA)

Inspections

Once the interested Owner has passed the screening

criteria, CHA will schedule an Inspection of the unit:

Purpose of the Inspection

• This inspection ensures that all units have

adequate living space for the family, are

structurally sound, provide the necessary

habitability systems (electricity, plumbing,

heating, appliances, etc.) and present no

conditions that endanger the family’s health and

safety.

Determining Rent

Once the unit passes the inspection, CHA will determine

the rent:

Factors considered when determining rent:

• Location and age

• Unit type

• Unit size

• Amenities, services and utilities included in the rent

• Affordability for the family

Housing Assistance Payment Contract

Once the Property Owner accepts the rent offer, CHA

will execute a Housing Assistance Payments (HAP)

contract.

The HAP Contract Outlines:

1. Tenant: Head of Household

2. Contract Unit: Address of property including the unit if applicable

3. Household: Members approved by CHA to be on the Voucher

4. Rent to Owner: CHA’s determined total rent to the owner

5. HAP: The amount to be paid by the CHA

6. Tenant Portion: The amount to be paid by the tenant

7. Utilities: Which utilities the tenant is responsible to pay

Responsibilities of HCV Owners

Ongoing HCV Partnership

Keep up-to-date with any changes to the HCV

Program rules and regulations

Understand Landlord/Tenant Law

Improve your management skills – attend training

sessions and workshops

Report changes of contact information

Permit annual inspections

Enforce your lease

HCV Program Regional Offices

Three locations to service HCV Program

Property Owners/Managers, Applicants,

Voucher Holders and Participants

• Central Office – 60 E. Van Buren St

(Owner Services)

• South Office – 10 W. 35th St

• West Office – 2750 W. Roosevelt Rd

HCV Program Customer Service

Ways to contact us:

• CHA Customer Call Center– 312.935.2600

• Email– hcv@thecha.org

• Email– hcvpinspections@thecha.org

• Email - ownerinfo@thecha.org

Reporting Problem Properties

Improving Properties Initiative (IPI):

• Download a Problem Property Report form:

www.thecha.org/forms

• Email forms to:

hcvipi@thecha.org

• Or call our 24 hour IPI hotline:

877-712-2018

HCV Program

Q & A