The Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) provides rental assistance to help low income persons afford decent and safe rental housing. HCVP Programs are funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and administered by public housing agencies throughout the country. The Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) is the housing agency that administers an HCVP Program in Cuyahoga County.

A person selected to participate in HCVP is issued a rental voucher and is then free to locate a dwelling unit suitable to the family's needs and desires in the private rental market. Once the family selects a unit, CMHA must inspect the unit before initial leasing and at least annually thereafter to ensure that the unit meets HUD housing quality standards (HQS). Once the unit passes an HQS inspection, CMHA will enter into a Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Contract with the Owner who leases the unit to the family. Thereafter, CMHA pays a portion of the rent - a housing assistance payment - to the owner on behalf of the family.

Under the rental voucher program, the family is generally required to pay approximately 30% of adjusted monthly income toward rent and utilities. The Housing Assistance Payment made by CMHA to the Owner generally pays the remainder.

HCVP Office Hours

Facts about the CMHA Housing Choice Voucher Program