How Does the Housing Assistance Program Work?

When you meet all the eligibility requirements, your name is placed on a Waiting List in the county where you reside or work. You are placed on the Waiting List according to the date and time of your application.
When funds become available, you are selected to receive a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher or an MHDC HOME Coupon.
You are allowed 60 days to locate a rental home which passes inspection and is considered "rent reasonable."
OACAC does not own property to rent to tenants. You are responsible for finding the home of your choice. An OACAC Housing Counselor will be available to you to help you make important decisions about your housing.
The owner of the property must also be willing to participate in the program and accept housing assistance payments each month from OACAC.
The rental home where you currently live may qualify.

Restrictions on Leasing to Relatives:

(1)OACAC may not approve a property for lease if the owner is the parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, sister or brother of the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher holder that is seeking to rent the unit.

(2)OACAC may still approve a unit for lease, if we determine that approving the property would provide reasonable accommodation for a family member who is a person with disabilities receiving disability payments.

What Are the Requirements a Rental Unit Must Have to Qualify for Housing Assistance?

You can rent a single family house, apartment or mobile home, but it must meet Housing Quality Standards.

Walls, floors, ceilings roof and windows must be in good repair.
The rental home must have hot and cold running water.
The owner must supply an adequate heating system.
The home must have locking windows and doors.
Each living and sleeping room must have one permanent light fixture and one electrical outlet, or two working electrical outlets.
The home must have an indoor bathroom with must have an openable window or vent.
There must be a bedroom for every two family members.
There must be a kitchen with a sink that has hot and cold running water;; space to store, prepare and serve food; a cooking stove and refrigerator. The tenant can furnish the stove and refrigerator.
If the rental unit is a mobile home, it must be equipped with tie downs and it must be skirted at the foundation.
The home must be free of cracking, peeling, chipping paint.
The neighborhood and site on which the home is located must be free of health and safety hazards.
A working smoke detector must be present on each level of the home.