Housing Choice Voucher Program

The Lancaster City Housing Authority (LCHA) administers up to 1,100 Housing Choice Vouchers, including 75 Project-Based Vouchers. We also offer a Family Self-Sufficiency Program in collaboration with local community agencies.

Housing Choice Voucher Program
The Housing Choice Voucher program provides rental assistance to families and individuals with incomes between 30% and 50% of the median income for Lancaster, PA, allowing them to rent affordable housing on the private market. Participants can choose their residence, provided the rent is reasonable, the unit meets program requirements and passes inspection, and the family pays no more than 40% of their income on rent and utilities.

How the HCV Program Works:

The Housing Choice Voucher program allows participants to choose their own housing. Very low-income families selected for the program are encouraged to explore multiple housing options to find the best fit. The chosen rental unit must meet health and safety standards before rental assistance payments are approved. Once a family finds a unit and agrees on lease terms with the landlord, the property is inspected and the lease is reviewed for approval by the Housing Authority.

Voucher holders are also informed of the unit size they qualify for based on family size and composition, as well as applicable rent levels. The Housing Authority establishes a payment standard to calculate rental assistance, which does not affect the rent amount a landlord can charge or a family can pay.

Payment Standards:

Efficiency – $1085
1 Bedroom – $1217
2 Bedroom – $1532
3 Bedroom – $2002
4 Bedroom – $2032
5 Bedroom – $2336

Roles & Responsibilities

Responsibilities within the Rental Voucher Program

Once the Housing Authority approves an eligible family’s lease and housing unit, the family and the landlord sign a lease and, at the same time, the landlord and the Housing Authority sign a housing assistance contract which runs for the same term as the lease. This means that the client, the landlord and the Housing Authority have obligations and responsibilities within the rental voucher program.

Clients Role

When a client selects a housing unit, and the Housing Authority approves the unit and lease, the client signs a lease with the landlord for at least one year. The client may be required to pay a security deposit to the landlord. After the first year, the landlord may initiate a new lease or allow the client to remain in the unit on a month-to-month lease.

When the client is settled in a new home, they are expected to comply with the lease and the Housing Choice Voucher program requirements, pay their share of rent and utilities on time, maintain the unit in good condition and be responsible for normal housekeeping maintenance of the rental unit.

Serious or repeated lease violations can result in the termination of housing assistance under the federal regulations.

The client is responsible for notifying the Housing Authority of any changes in income or family composition.

Landlord’s Role

The role of the landlord in the rental voucher program is to provide decent, safe, and sanitary housing to a client at a reasonable rent. The dwelling unit must pass the Housing Choice Voucher program’s housing standards and the landlord is responsible for the upkeep of the property and must maintain these standards as long as the owner receives housing assistance payments.

The Landlord is expected to maintain the property’s overall condition and see that the basic plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling systems, etc. are functioning properly. In addition, the landlord is expected to provide the services agreed to as part of the lease signed with the client and the contract signed with the Housing Authority.

Should the family violate the terms of the lease or fail to pay the rent, the landlord would evict the family through the normal court eviction procedure and send the Housing Authority copies of any notices that are served to the tenant so the Housing Authority can respond properly.

Housing Authority’s Role

The Housing Authority administers the rental voucher program. In order for the program to work, the Housing Authority must provide the following: prompt and professional service to the client and the landlord; a review of all applications to determine whether an applicant is eligible for the program; issuance of a voucher and, if necessary, assist the client in finding a place to live; approve the unit, the landlord, and the tenancy; make housing assistance payments to the landlord in a timely manner; ensure that both the client and the unit continue to qualify under the program; ensure that landlords and clients comply with the program regulations.

The Housing Authority operates the Housing Choice Voucher Program under an approved HUD Administrative Plan, that complies with the requirements under the Quality Housing and Responsibility Act, which is available for review at the Authority offices. If the landlord fails to meet his/her obligations under the contract, the Housing Authority has the right to terminate assistance payments.

HUD’s Role

To cover the cost of the program, HUD provides funds to allow the Housing Authority to make housing assistance payments on behalf of the families and HUD pays the Housing Authority a fee for the costs of administering the program.

Family Share of Rent

Under the Housing Choice Voucher Program the family has the option of selecting a unit with a rent that is more or less than the Housing Authority’s payment standard. The final calculation of the family’s share of the housing costs and the Housing Assistance Payment cannot be completed until the family has selected a unit.

The minimum amount a family will contribute is 30% of the family’s adjusted income regardless of the unit selected.

The family share may not exceed 40% of the family’s monthly adjusted income when the family initially moves into the unit or signs the first assisted lease for a unit.