kcha.org www

Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8)

Housing Choice Vouchers make private-market housing affordable for low-income families and individuals. The King County Housing Authority administers Housing Choice vouchers – commonly called “Section 8,” after the section of the United States Housing Act of 1937 that authorizes them – and forms a partnership with participants and landlords to provide housing opportunities throughout suburban King County. Through the Housing Choice Voucher program, more than 8,000 families have secured quality housing in neighborhoods of their choice in King County.

Housing Choice helps working families.

This section explains Housing Choice vouchers for people seeking affordable housing. If you are landlord considering making units available for Section 8 participants, please click here. Current Section 8 participants needing additional program information or assistance, can click here.

The King County Housing Authority takes pride in the integrity of its Housing Choice program. If you know someone whom you believe is misrepresenting information to benefit from this program, we want to know about it. Please call KCHA's fraud hotline at (206) 214-1353 and/or download a Fraud Allegation form (pdf), complete it and mail or fax it to: Program Integrity, 15455 65th Ave. S., Suite 200, Tukwila, WA 98188, Fax: (206) 357-2432.

In the Housing Choice Voucher program, the Housing Authority pays a fixed amount toward the rent, based on the tenant’s income and the Housing Authority's approved Payment Standards.  Initially, the tenant must pay at least 30 percent, but no more than 40 percent of their monthly income for rent. Participants can use a voucher to rent any unit from landlords willing to participate in the Section 8 program.

To be eligible, your household income must be at or below 80 percent of the area median income.  People eligible for vouchers are chosen from the Section 8 Waiting List kept at the Section 8 office.  Although the Housing Authority is not accepting applications at this time, vouchers are being issued from the current waiting list.  Click here for information on qualifications for a voucher.

Finding or Listing Units Open to Section 8

If you have a voucher and are looking for housing, you can use KCHA’s property search tool. If you are a current Section 8 participant and you need additional program information or assistance, click here.

If you are a property owner and want to learn about the Housing Choice program, click here. You can list units available for rental by Section 8 participants with the Housing Choice Property Listing.

Finding Us

To contact the KCHA Section 8 office, click here.

 

PDF documents require the Adobe Reader for viewing. Click to download your free version.