A qualified family is issued a rental voucher and is responsible for selecting a privately owned, suitable rental unit of their choice. Rental units must meet minimum standards of health and safety, as determined by HUD. A rental subsidy is paid directly by the VHA to the landlord on behalf of the participating family. The family pays the difference between the actual rent charged by the landlord and the amount subsidized by the program (30% of their income). The VHA is currently administering 372 vouchers for low to moderate income families.
This program offers a financial incentive to participants. This is achieved by establishing an escrow account payable to the family upon completion of the Contract of Participation. The term of the contract is five years.
The goal of this program is for the families to become independent of welfare assistance within this five-year time period. During the five-year time period, the family will be required to seek employment, job training and education as appropriate for each individual family. The VHA is presently working with 100 clients in the Self-Sufficiency program.