CAECI Community Action of East Central Indiana, Inc.

SECTION 8 HOUSING

The Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) is funded through the Department of Housing and Urban Development.  IHCDA administers the program for those areas in the state of Indiana that do not have a Public Housing Authority through organizations like CAECI.  Locally, that means all of Union County and that part of Wayne County outside the Richmond City limits.   

The program was designed to assist very low-income families, the disabled, and the elderly in affording decent, safe, and sanitary housing.  Participants are able to choose any housing that meets the requirements of the program.  The family is responsible for finding a suitable housing unit where the owner agrees to rent under the program, the unit may be the family's present residence. Any unit must meet minimum standards of health and safety as determined by CAECI and IHCDA.  Once approved a housing subsidy is paid to the landlord on behalf of the family.  The family then pays the difference between the actual rent charged by the landlord and the amount subsidized by the program. 

Eligibility for the program is based on the family's total gross income being at or below 50% of the median income for the county in which the family chooses to live.  Documentation of family composition, income, and assets will be collected during the application process.  When it is determined that the family is eligible, their name will go on a waiting list.  Since demand for housing assistance exceeds the resources available, long waiting periods are common.  When there are more names on the waiting list than can be assisted, the waiting list is closed. 

When advised that their name has been drawn from the list, the household will be contacted by mail.  The family must contact CAECI to set up an appointment.  If no response comes from the mailing, the name will be withdrawn from the list and the household will have to re-apply if they are still interested.  It is important that we are advised of any address changes.

The housing choice voucher program places the housing choices in the hands of the individual family.  Each voucher holder is advised of the unit size for which they are eligible.  Once the housing unit has been selected by the family it must meet an acceptable level of health and safety before it can be approved.  CAECI must inspect the unit and determine if the rent requested is reasonable (payment standard). 

A family receiving a housing voucher can select a unit with a rent that is below or above the payment standard.  The voucher family must pay under 40% of its monthly adjusted gross income for rent and utilities. 

As a family's housing needs change, the housing choice voucher program allows the household to move after a period of one(1) year.