SMHA’s Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) provides vouchers to qualified applicants to use in the private market for landlords willing to accept the voucher. The Housing Authority pays a portion of the rent based on the applicant’s income directly to the landlord. The tenant would then be responsible for the remaining portion.
How does the program work?
The Housing Authority pays a portion of the rent based on the applicant’s income directly to the landlord. The tenant would then be responsible for the remaining portion.
How do I apply for the Housing Choice Program?
You can only apply for the Housing Choice Voucher Program if the waitlist is open. Applications are available for pick up at the main office. **NOTE: The waitlist will be closed effective November 1, 2025 until further notice. Applications will not be available nor accepted once the waitlist is closed. Please check back to the website often to see if waitlist reopens.
How can I find a landlord that accepts this voucher?
You are able to look on your own, but the housing authority should have a list of Landlords for the participant to at least start with. You can also visit gosection8.com and search for rentals in the area you are looking for.
SMHA’s payment standards for the HCV Program are available to review in the link provided below:
SMHA maintains Utility Allowance schedules for the HCV Program that conform to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) guidelines. You can review the UA schedules for Clark and Champaign counties in the links provided below:
Our HCV Management Staff will be available to do walk-in meetings only on Wednesdays each week. This is on a first come, first served basis. All other days of the week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday) will require scheduling an appointment ahead of time, following regular business hours.
