Frequently Asked Questions

ELIGIBILITY

The PHA is responsible for ensuring that every individual and family admitted to the HCV program meets all program eligibility requirements. This includes any individual approved to join the family after the family has been admitted to the program. The family must provide any information needed by the PHA to confirm eligibility and determine the level of the family’s assistance.

To be eligible for the HCV program:

• The applicant family must:
  • Qualify as a family as defined by HUD and the PHA.
  • Have income at or below HUD-specified low-income limits. 
    • Current HUD income limits are available online at https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il.html
    • click the current year and click the button for Individual Income Limits Areas
    • you will then be able to choose the state and city/town to know if you are eligible. 
  • Qualify on the basis of citizenship or the eligible immigrant status of family members.
  • Provide social security number information for household members as required.
  • Consent to the PHA’s collection and use of family information as provided for in PHA-provided consent forms.
• The PHA must determine that the current or past behavior of household members does not include activities that are prohibited by HUD or the PHA.

More information and definitions are available in Chapter 3 of the Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan.

To apply for a Housing Choice Voucher on-line you can visit the Maine Centralized Section 8 - Housing Choice Voucher Waiting List. Read the information for the wait list and follow the instructions. If you would prefer to receive an application to complete and submit you can call 207-773-4753 and request an application and it will be mailed to you or you can come to our office at 970 Baxter Boulevard, 3rd floor, Portland ME 04103 to pick one up. YOU ONLY APPLY ONCE. You may meet the preferences under several Housing Authorities.

Yes

there is a waiting list for vouchers (see "How do I Apply for a Voucher?"). 

The PHA will use the following local preferences, as well as date and time of the application, establish placement position on a waiting list. Families who have also applied for Project Based Vouchers will be selected according to Chapter 17 of the Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan.

Preferences:

The following preference groups are prioritized and offered vouchers based on qualification for funding, availability of vouchers, and the administrative need to for PHA to utilize available vouchers. All households must be on the Centralized Waitlist prior to receiving a voucher.

1. The PHA will offer a preference to any participating family that has been terminated from its HCV program due to insufficient program funding.
2. PHA, under the direction of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, may give preference for tenant-based assistance to persons displaced by natural or national disaster as designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) until such time that funding designated for this preference has been committed.
3. The PHA may offer a preference to families who include victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking who are seeking an emergency transfer under VAWA from PHA’s public housing program or other covered housing program operated by PHA.
4. The PHA may offer a preference to FYI-TPV recipients who have successfully completed 36 months with the FYI-TPV Program and can demonstrate an ongoing need for assistance. *
5. The PHA may offer a preference to current Bridging Rental Assistance Program recipients
6. The PHA may offer a preference to VASH recipients who no longer qualify or choose to receive VASH services if HCV’s are currently available. *
7. The PHA may offer a preference to First-Place recipients. *
8. The PHA may offer a preference to up to 40 families that meet the criteria for the Limited Preference Program for Chronically Homeless (LPPCC) program *

*See Chapter 19 of the Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan for details on preference groups.

For all other applicants the following Point System applies:

Portland Housing gives preference to an applicant family on the waiting list if they qualify for one or more of the preference categories listed below. Local Preference points are cumulative and are added to the applicant family’s priority points (if any) to determine an applicant family’s position on the waiting list

The PHA will first assist families that have been terminated from the HCV program due to insufficient funding and then assist families that qualify for the VAWA preference.

Once you have applied for a voucher it is your responsibility to make sure your mailing address is correct. You can make changes to your address, e-mail and preferences , etc through the on-line Waiting List system.