Section 8

To become eligible for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program, a family’s gross annual income cannot exceed the annual income limits listed below for their family size.  

CHA administers the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program for the City of Columbus and 5 miles outside the city limits. Section 8 Staff

Columbus Housing Authority (CHA) enters into a Housing Assistance Payment Contract with the private landlord when a family finds an eligible unit that has passed inspection. The family enters into a lease with the private landlord. Every month, the family pays their portion of rent to the private landlord, and CHA pays our portion of [...]

A family with a Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) can lease a unit anywhere in the United States provided that the unit is located within the jurisdiction of a Public Housing Authority (PHA) administering a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program. The process by which a family obtains an HCV from one PHA and uses it [...]

Units must meet our Housing Quality Standard (HQS). CHA conducts several types of HQS inspections. Initial HQS Inspection: Every unit must pass an Initial HQS Inspection before it can be leased to a family in the Section 8 program. Annual HQS Inspection: Units leased in the Section 8 program are inspected annually to confirm they continue [...]

Section 8 is an income based rental assistance program for very low income families. An eligible family is issued a housing choice voucher (HCV). A family uses their HCV to find a unit with a private landlord in the City of Columbus or no farther than 5 miles outside city limits.