Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8)
The Housing Choice Office is located at:
1201 Thorpe Lane
San Marcos, TX 78666
WE ARE NOT ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THIS PROGRAM.
Phone: (512) 353-5061
Fax: (512) 392-4272
Employees are on duty Monday – Thursday from 9 AM to 4 PM.
We are closed on Fridays. Offices are closed on City holidays.
SMHA personnel are available by telephone, email, or messages in our night drops.
SECTION 8 IS NOW THE HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM
WHAT IS THE SECTION 8 HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM?
The Housing Choice (Section 8) voucher program is the federal government’s major program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to rent decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Since the rental assistance is provided on behalf of the family or individual, participants are able to find and lease privately owned housing, including single-family homes, townhouses and apartments. The participant is free to choose any housing that meets the requirements of the program and is not limited to units located in subsidized housing projects.
Housing Choice (Section 8) vouchers are administered locally by The San Marcos Housing Authority (SMHA). The SMHA receives federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to administer this voucher program. A family that is issued a rental voucher is responsible for finding and selecting a suitable rental unit of the family’s choice. This unit may include the family’s present residence. Rental units must meet minimum standards of health and safety, as determined by the SMHA. A rental subsidy is paid to the landlord directly by the SMHA on behalf of the participating family. The family then pays the difference between the actual rent charged by the landlord and the amount subsidized by the program.
AM I ELIGIBLE?
Eligibility for a rental voucher is determined based on the total annual gross income and family size and is limited to U.S. citizens and specified categories of noncitizens who have eligible immigration status. In general, the family’s income may not exceed 50% of the median income for the county or metropolitan area in which the family chooses to live. Median income levels are published by HUD and vary by location. The SMHA can provide you with the income limits for your family size.
If your family is eligible, your name will be put on the Section 8 Waiting. Once your name is reached on the waiting list, the SMHA will contact you and issue a rental voucher.
HOW DO I APPLY?
WE ARE NOT ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THIS PROGRAM. THE WAITING LIST IS CLOSED AT THIS TIME.
If you have questions about the Housing Choice Program, please contact us at the above numbers.
