Rental Assistance
The Community Development Department, on behalf of the Rice County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (RCHRA), administers the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program, commonly referred to as "Section 8". Section 8 is a rental assistance program for very low-income families funded by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Under the Section 8 program, HUD has allocated funding for 329 vouchers for the purpose of providing rental assistance to very low-income families in Rice County. Eligible families select their own privately owned rental units and pay approximately 30% of their monthly income toward the rent and utilities. The RCHRA pays the remaining balance of the rent.
As stated above, the Section 8 program is for very low-income families, which is defined as at or below 50% of the Rice County Area Median Income. The current income limits are as follows:
1 Person: $24,100
2 People: $27,550
3 People: $31,000
4 People: $34,450
5 People: $37,200
6 People: $39,950
7 People: $42,700
8 People: $45,450
All units assisted under the Section 8 Program must meet the Payment Standard requirements. Payment Standards are the maximum amount allowed to be charged for rent and utilities at a particular unit. If the rent charged by the owner does not include electricity or some other utility, an amount specified by the HRA from a Utility Allowance Schedule is added to the contract rent that the owner charges to determine whether it is within the rental limits. Current Payment Standards are as follows:
Effective November 1, 2007: Applicants for the program are placed on a waiting list based on the date and time their application is submitted. However, it is the policy of the RCHRA to give preference to applicants who either live or work in Rice County at the time they apply for the program. In addition, families, the elderly and disabled are placed ahead of other single persons on the waiting list. Applicants can generally expect to be on the waiting list for 9-12 months before receiving a Section 8 voucher, however that wait could be much longer depending on the preferences described above.
Rice County Allowances for Tenant-Furnished Utilities and Other Services (pdf)
As stated above, the Section 8 program is for very low-income families, which is defined as at or below 50% of the Rice County Area Median Income. The current income limits are as follows:
1 Person: $24,100
2 People: $27,550
3 People: $31,000
4 People: $34,450
5 People: $37,200
6 People: $39,950
7 People: $42,700
8 People: $45,450
All units assisted under the Section 8 Program must meet the Payment Standard requirements. Payment Standards are the maximum amount allowed to be charged for rent and utilities at a particular unit. If the rent charged by the owner does not include electricity or some other utility, an amount specified by the HRA from a Utility Allowance Schedule is added to the contract rent that the owner charges to determine whether it is within the rental limits. Current Payment Standards are as follows:
| Bedroom Size | Payment Standard |
|---|---|
| Efficiency | $567.00 |
| 1 BR | $591.00 |
| 2 BR | $778.00 |
| 3 BR | $929.00 |
| 4 BR | $1,080.00 |
| 5 BR | $1,243.00 |
Effective November 1, 2007: Applicants for the program are placed on a waiting list based on the date and time their application is submitted. However, it is the policy of the RCHRA to give preference to applicants who either live or work in Rice County at the time they apply for the program. In addition, families, the elderly and disabled are placed ahead of other single persons on the waiting list. Applicants can generally expect to be on the waiting list for 9-12 months before receiving a Section 8 voucher, however that wait could be much longer depending on the preferences described above.
Rice County Allowances for Tenant-Furnished Utilities and Other Services (pdf)
