Housing Choice Voucher Program

The HCV Program is limited to income-qualified families and individuals. The Authority determines your eligibility based on income, household composition, U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status, suitability, and Authority regulations – without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or familial status.

The Authority uses income limits developed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Income limits vary from area to area, so you may be eligible at one housing authority but not at another. See the sidebar links for the Merced County income limits, payment standards, and utility allowances.

Interested applicants must visit the Public Notices page for updates. Waiting list opening announcements with detailed sign-up information are posted there.

When a notice of waiting list opening is issued to the public, interested applicants must log into the Applicant Portal on the Authority’s website, create an account, and complete the online pre-application. Information applicants must provide:

• Names of head of household, spouse/co-head who will be living in the unit, their sex, date of birth, social security number, and relationship to the head of household;
• Total number of other adults in household, total number of students 18+ years of age, number of youth under 18 years of age, number of foster children, and/or number of live-in aides, and the sex for each;
• Your present address, telephone number, and email address;
• Family characteristics such as race and any special needs;
• The family’s total annual income;
• Select any applicable preferences, which will require verification at the time of program eligibility screening.

It is important that all of this information be provided, as only complete applications are placed on the waiting list. Failure to provide complete information will result in your application being rejected.

No, but you will if you are selected from the waiting list. An Authority representative will request whatever documentation is needed (e.g., birth certificates, tax returns) to verify the information given on your application. The Authority will also rely on direct verification from your employer, etc. You will be required to sign a form to authorize the release of pertinent information to the Authority.

After your application has been submitted, if you are found eligible, your name will typically be placed on a waiting list.

Waitlist times can be long, but don’t be discouraged. Reaching the top of the waitlist depends on the available number of vouchers and any selection preferences you may have indicated on your application, such as “veteran” or “disabled.” When your name reaches the top, the Authority will contact you to determine your eligibility and income.

• You can check your application status by logging into the portal and checking the “status” column.
• You must keep your online profile up to date. You must ensure any changes to your mailing address, phone number, income, or the size of your household are updated on the portal. Failure to do so may result in removal from the waitlist.

The Authority will send you a confirmation email once your application has been accepted onto the waiting list(s). If you are selected from the waiting list, the Authority will email you an eligibility packet that you must complete and return by the specified due date. If it is determined that you are ineligible, the Authority provides you with written notification and explanation as to why. Should you disagree with the determination, you must submit a written request for an informal review within the request period.

When you are selected from the waitlist, the Authority will contact you to follow the necessary steps below:

• After the necessary documentation has been verified by the Authority, you must attend a voucher orientation briefing that will explain how the HCV program works and the requirements.
• After your orientation, a voucher may be issued for you to begin your housing search. This voucher will have a search time of 60 to a maximum of 120 days, as determined by the Authority.

After you’ve been selected from the waitlist and received your voucher, here’s what to expect:

• It is then your responsibility to find a home. Don’t procrastinate — vouchers will expire.
• Once you find a potential home, you must complete the Request for Tenancy Approval (RFTA) packet to start the approval review process.
• The landlord of your chosen property must also complete and sign portions of the RFTA. Ensure they understand the HCV program requirements.
• The Authority will determine if the proposed rent for the unit you have selected is reasonable for the area. The Authority may negotiate with the landlord to ensure the rent is reasonable compared to similar units that are unassisted.
• The Authority will contact the landlord to schedule an inspection of the unit. The property must meet health and safety standards.
• Once the rent amount is agreed upon, the legal documents about your tenancy must be signed by you, the landlord, and the Authority.

Remember, the HCV program aims to help you secure safe, decent, and affordable housing. Don’t hesitate to ask the Authority for guidance throughout this process.

The HCV program helps you afford housing by paying part of your rent. Here’s how the Authority figures out your portion:

• The Authority calculates your Family Rent Portion, sometimes referred to as Total Tenant Payment (TTP), which is the minimum you’ll pay. This is usually 30% of your adjusted monthly income.
• The Authority uses a payment standard, which is the maximum amount your local housing agency can pay towards rent and utilities for a unit. It’s based on local rent prices and varies by unit size (number of bedrooms). The payment standard is not a rent limit.
• The Authority pays the housing assistance payment (HAP), which is the difference between the payment standard and your family’s rent portion, directly paid to the landlord.

Remember, this is a simplified explanation. Your exact rent will depend on your income, family size, and the unit you choose. The Authority is here to help if you have questions about your specific situation.

Finding the right home with your voucher requires careful planning and persistence. Your efforts can lead to a comfortable home that meets your needs and budget. Here are some key steps to follow:

• Choose Your Location: Consider schools, transportation, community resources, and personal needs.
• Search for Housing: Use websites like AffordableHousing.com, Realtor.com, and Apartments.com; review HUD’s Resource Locator for Low Income Housing Tax Credit Properties in your area (these properties are required to accept housing vouchers as a source of payment); ask friends for recommendations; consider visiting units in person before deciding.
• Be Prepared: If a landlord is not familiar with the voucher program, refer them to hud.gov/helping-americans/housing-choice-vouchers (opens in new tab) for more information on the program benefits. Remind landlords that your voucher guarantees they will receive a rent payment — even if your income goes down.
• Know Your Rights: Learn about local laws protecting voucher holders. Some communities prohibit landlords from discriminating against renters who use voucher assistance.
• Avoid: Units with rents much higher than the payment standard; units owned by family members; units unlikely to pass inspection.
• Budget for Application Fees and Security Deposit: Some landlords may require application fees, and require voucher holders to pay for a unit’s security deposit.
• Be Persistent: Finding the right unit may take time.

Stay organized, be proactive, and communicate regularly with the Authority.

The unit has to meet certain physical standards to be eligible for a housing assistance payment (HAP). To ensure you have a safe and healthy home, the Authority will conduct inspections of your unit.

Types of Inspections

• Initial: Before you move in and start receiving assistance
• Periodic: Usually every year to ensure ongoing compliance
• Special: In response to complaints or emergencies

What’s Inspected

• The unit itself (interior, bathroom, kitchen, bedrooms)
• Common areas inside the building
• Outside areas related to your unit

Key Requirements

• Working plumbing and electrical systems
• Proper heating and cooling
• Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
• Operable windows with screens
• Working appliances
• Compliance with lead-based paint requirements

If your unit fails inspection, a reinspection will automatically be scheduled. All necessary repairs must be made before the reinspection is held. For safety issues, repairs must be made within 24 hours. Other issues need to be fixed within 30 days.

Some Public Housing Agencies have contracts with property owners to reserve units for rental assistance. These are called Project-Based Vouchers (PBV). PBVs have similar requirements as regular Housing Choice Vouchers, but the assistance is tied to the specific unit rather than the tenant. This means that once you move into a PBV unit, the assistance stays with that unit. The application, selection, and screening process is similar to the Housing Choice Voucher program.

Currently, the Authority partners with twelve (12) sites. These sites accept applications periodically.

PBV Sites & City Locations

• Las Villas – Los Banos
• El Mirador – Los Banos
• Midway Apartments – Dos Palos
• O’Banion Terrace Apartments – Dos Palos
• Sierra Vista Apartments – Atwater
• The Grove Apartments – Merced
• Laurel Glen Apartments – Merced
• Gateway Terrace Apartments – Merced
• The Retreat – Merced
• Twelve Thirteen – Merced
• Tierrasanta Villas – Livingston
• Devonwood (River Canyon Apartments) – Merced

One of the key benefits of the HCV program is the ability to move and bring your voucher with you to any community in the United States. This flexibility is known as portability, and it allows you to relocate for better jobs, schools, security, or to be closer to loved ones. Your ability to move with your voucher may depend on factors such as how long you’ve had assistance and where you lived when you applied.

Under the program, new voucher-holders may choose a unit anywhere in the United States if the family lived in the jurisdiction of the Housing Authority issuing the voucher when the family applied for assistance. Those new voucher-holders not living in the jurisdiction of the Housing Authority at the time of application must initially lease a unit within that jurisdiction for the first twelve months of assistance. A family that wishes to move to another Housing Authority’s jurisdiction must consult with the Housing Authority that currently administers its housing assistance to verify the procedures for moving.

Porting Into Merced County

The Authority is currently BILLING for port-ins. This is subject to change at any time. Contact information for the portability packet:

Housing Authority of the County of Merced
Attn: Intake Department
405 U Street, Merced, CA 95341
Email: info@merced-pha.com
Direct: (209) 386-4176
Fax: (209) 722-7364

The Authority administers grant-funded vouchers and has also “set-aside” vouchers from its allocation for special programs. These vouchers require a referral from specific agencies, as the applicant must meet specific voucher requirements.

HUD Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) — HUD Grant: 128 Vouchers

The HUD-VASH program allows eligible Veterans to obtain safe, affordable, accessible, permanent housing in a location of their choice. The primary goal is to help move Veterans and their families out of chronic homelessness. To receive more information regarding this program, contact the local Veterans Affairs offices.

Mainstream Vouchers — HUD Grant: 26 Vouchers

These vouchers help individuals move out of institutional settings or other isolated environments, or those at serious risk of entering such settings, into more integrated community housing.

Shelter + Care — Authority Set-Aside: 8 Vouchers

The Shelter + Care Program provides housing assistance for individuals in the private rental market who are homeless, low income, disabled (at least one adult family member), and have a current Supportive Services Care Plan with a Service Provider Agency. To receive more information, contact the Merced County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services office.

Independent Living Skills Program (ILP) — Authority Set-Aside: 10 Vouchers

Targeting foster youth and young adults transitioning from foster care who lack adequate housing or are at risk for homelessness as a result of leaving the foster care system. To receive more information, contact the Merced County Human Services Agency.

Family Unification Program (FUP) — Authority Set-Aside: 27 Vouchers

The FUP program aims to provide the child welfare system with resources to prevent family separation due to homelessness and to prevent homelessness among aging-out youth. Eligible families include those in imminent danger of losing their children to foster care primarily due to housing problems, and families unable to regain custody of their children primarily due to housing problems. To receive more information, contact the Merced County Human Services Agency.

Coordinated Entry System (CES) — Authority Set-Aside: 235 Vouchers

Targeting foster youth and young adults transitioning from foster care who lack adequate housing or are at risk for homelessness as a result of leaving the foster care system. To receive more information, contact the Merced County Community Action Agency.

Adult Protective Services (APS) — Authority Set-Aside: 25 Vouchers

These vouchers assist elderly individuals who are experiencing abuse and/or neglect to escape that situation and secure housing. To receive more information, contact the Merced County Human Services Agency.

Human Services Agency (HSA/HSP) — Authority Set-Aside: 50 Vouchers

These vouchers are for individuals receiving temporary housing assistance from HSA and are at risk of homelessness. To receive more information, contact the Merced County Human Services Agency.