Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program
The U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) initiated tenant-based rental assistance programs over 20 years ago. A tenant-based rental assistance program offers very low-income applicants a housing assistance subsidy so the family can afford to rent in the private market. The current program through HUD is the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program.
A very low-income family must first register its name on the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher wait list. After the family’s name reaches the top of the wait list, SHA reviews qualifications that include residency, income, and criminal history. SHA then issues a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher and the family may begin their search to find a rental in the private market.
SHA must inspect the residence to ensure that it meets HUD's required Housing Quality Standards and must also determine that the rent is reasonable. Then, the landlord enters into a lease with the participant and SHA enters into a Housing Assistance Payment Contract with the landlord. Rental assistance payments begin on the effective date of the lease/contract.
Generally, SHA's work is done for the first year of the contract. About 9 months later, the cycle begins again. The family’s qualifications must be reviewed and the residence must be inspected...
Waiting List
Wait list openings and closings for this program will be listed in the Current Events section of this website, advertised in local papers and posted to the United Way of Connecticut website at http://www.cthcvp.org/.
This information is also available by calling our Section 8 staff directly. Please access the Contact Us link for their telephone number/extension.
Income Limits - FY 2024
New participants' total annual household income must not exceed the following amounts in order to qualify and receive rental assistance:
| Family Size |
1 Person |
2 People |
3 People |
4 People |
5 People |
6 People |
7 People |
8 People |
| 50% Very Low Income |
$41,000 |
$46,850 |
$52,700 |
$58,550 |
$63,250 |
$67,950 |
$72,650 |
$77,300 |
| 30% Extremely Low Income |
$24,650 |
$28,150 |
$31,650 |
$35,150 |
$38,000 |
$41,960 |
$47,340 |
$52,720 |
Setting Rents
The following are the rules regarding assisted rents under the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program:
- HUD requires SHA to pay rental rates that are appropriate for the neighborhood.
- Participant's rent is based on 30% of household income toward rent and SHA paying the remainder.
- Participant’s may pay up to 40% of the family's monthly income for rent at the time the lease is executed.
- Rent approval is always subject to the Rent Reasonableness process.
Note: SHA will only authorize rental rates that are appropriate for the neighborhood.