Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Programs:

  Voucher Program: 

Non-Targeted Vouchers:  Households must be citizens or legal immigrants who meet a PRIORITY, which includes all groups EXCEPT single individuals or couples below age 50 who are not disabled or victims of domestic violence. Households with children and households with a disabled or elderly, or near-elderly member are taken on a first-come, first-served basis from the waiting list. To be eligible for a PREFERENCE, households must be paying more than 40 percent of their adjusted income for rent and utilities, or living in substandard housing, or homeless and/or displaced.  See Eligibility for current income and priority criteria.  How do I apply?  
Top

Mainstream Vouchers and Housing for Persons with Disabilities:  Available to single, disabled households. Must meet same qualifications as the Non-Targeted Vouchers above. Typically there have been sufficient numbers of applicants on the waiting list so there has been no skipping to get to eligible applicants. How do I apply?
Top

Family Unification Program:  Targeted allocation of a very limited number of Vouchers for families for whom housing assistance is critical to the stabilization or re-unification of their family. This program is administered in partnership with the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) through the Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Referrals for this program are made by DCFS. How do I apply?
Top

Vouchers in Partnership to Success (VIPS):  Program targeted to families with children who are on TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families), TANF-eligible, or were TANF recipients within the past two years. This program is administered in partnership with the local DSHS office and other TANF agencies.  Participants are selected based on their eligibility for the program and their position on the Voucher Program Waiting List.  How do I apply? 
Top

  Family Self-Sufficiency Program:

A limited number of families on the Tenant-Based Voucher program have the option of participating in the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program. This program aims to transition working households from rental assistance to financial independence. The participant signs a five year contract to become financially independent of public benefits. Counselors work with participants to create an action plan with self-sufficiency goals As the tenant’s income increases, an escrow fund is created in the name of the participant. After successful completion of the program, the participant is entitled to withdraw funds from the escrow account. Many families have used these funds as a down-payment to purchase a house.  How do I apply?  
Top