Housing Choice Voucher Program
The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program, commonly referred to as the “Section 8 Program” enables families in Richland County to rent housing that is affordable in the private market. The program allows a family to pay rent based on 30% of their income and the remaining portion of rent is paid directly to the property owner by the Richland County Housing Authority.
The Richland County Housing Authority (RCHA) accepts applications for the Housing Choice Voucher Program on an ongoing basis with applicants selected from our housing software generated waiting list.
Once a voucher is issued, the family is free to choose housing that meets the requirements of the program and may include the family’s present residence. Rental units must be inspected and meet minimum standards of health and safety, as determined by the program requirements.
The voucher holding family is responsible for finding a housing unit where the owner agrees to participate in the program. A housing “subsidy” is paid directly to the landlord by the RCHA on behalf of the participating family. The family then pays the difference between the actual rent charged by the landlord and the amount subsidized by the program.