Apply Now for the Housing Choice Voucher Program in Cuyahoga County

The Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) is now accepting year-round preliminary applications for the federal Housing Choice Voucher Program to assist low-income families in affording a safe and comfortable home.

This is a NEW application process with an open wait list. In a change from previous CMHA Housing Choice Voucher Program processes, prospective participants can submit preliminary applications at any time. Lottery selections will be ongoing, and the waiting list will have no closing date. CMHA will conduct random name drawings as funding is available.

Frequenty Asked Questions (FAQs)

If you are here to submit a preliminary application for this program, you are in the right place!

Watch our video to learn more about how the Housing Choice Voucher Program works and how to apply for housing assistance.

Continue reading for details, first steps and the link to start your preliminary application.

The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program

The Housing Choice Voucher Program is a rental housing assistance solution that allows you and your household family members to choose housing in the community and receive help paying the full rent. CMHA pays a portion of the rent directly to the private Landlord.

As a program participant, you pay the balance of the rent directly to the private Landlord. Public housing authorities like CMHA receive federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to manage the voucher program.

Open Preliminary Application

CMHA manages the Housing Choice Voucher Program for Cuyahoga County and is now accepting preliminary applications.

Anyone interested in participating in the Housing Choice Voucher Program must submit a preliminary application.

The Process

As funding becomes available, families who submitted a preliminary application will be selected from the preliminary application database by random assignment (lottery). If a family is selected as part of the lottery from the waiting list, they will be notified to complete the full Housing Choice Voucher application.

For the purposes of the Housing Choice Voucher Program, families with total annual income (from all members of their household) that is at or below the Area Median Income corresponding to the number of persons in your household, as shown in the table below, may be eligible to participate in the program.

2022 Area Median Income

To Apply

You can submit a preliminary application at any time using any smart phone or computer connected to the internet. Internet hotspots are available through the Cleveland Public Library and Cuyahoga County Public Library. Only one preliminary application can be active per applicant.

Preliminary applicants must have an active email account, as all CMHA notifications and updates will be shared via email. If you don’t already have a personal account, you can sign up for one through a provider of your choice (Gmail, Yahoo or an Internet Service Provider).

Preliminary applications will be active for 18 months. If your application expires before you’re selected, you can immediately submit another one.

To submit a preliminary application, click on the link below.

APPLY NOW

If you need special assistance related to a disability, please call CMHA at 216-271-2632 or email williamss@cmha.net.

If you have questions or need help with the application, please contact our Applications Division at 216-431-1471, option 6, or our Client Information Center (CIC) at 216-431-1471.

If you have already submitted an application and want to check on your status or make changes to your contact information, income or family composition, please go to the Client Portal below.

Client Portal