Low Rent Housing Agency Section 8

The Housing Choice Voucher Program (sometimes referred to as Section 8) offers safe, decent and sanitary housing conditions for very low-income families throughout Burlington and promotes personal, economic and social upward mobility to provide families the opportunity to make the transition from subsidized to non-subsidized housing. Housing Choice is a Federal government program designed to assist very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled with affordable, decent, safe and sanitary housing in the private market. Since housing assistance is provided on behalf of a family or individual, participants are able to find housing, including single-family homes, townhouses and apartments. Participants can chose any housing that meets the requirements of the program and is not limited to subsidized housing projects. Housing Choice Vouchers can be administered by a Public Housing Agency, such as the Low Rent Housing Agency of Burlington, Iowa. The Low Rent Housing Agency of Burlington, Iowa administers up to 325 vouchers within the city limits of Burlington, Iowa and receives federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to administer the voucher program. Once a voucher is issued, the family is responsible for locating a suitable unit of their choice where the owner agrees to rent under the program. The unit may include the family's current residence. Rental units must meet minimum standards of health and safety, as determined by the Low Rent Housing Agency of Burlington, Iowa. A housing subsidy is paid directly to the landlord by the Low Rent Housing Agency of Burlington, Iowa on behalf of the participating family. The family then pays the difference between the actual rent charged by the landlord and the amount of the subsidy.