Section 8 Housing

New York State Housing Trust Fund corporation has issued a statewide voucher issuance and re-issuance pause through the end of 2024.  Click here to read the notice. 


Public Notice - Livingston County Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program Waitlist Closure

Livingston County Section 8 announces the closure of the waitlist for the Housing Choice Voucher Program effective March 1, 2024.  The waitlist will be closed for all applications until further notice. 


The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program enables the lowest income households in New York State to rent decent, safe housing in the private housing market by providing rental assistance. It may help you afford a better place to live, or if you like where you are living now, it may help you pay a portion of your rent. The program also provides assistance to senior citizens and disabled persons on fixed incomes, displaced families, and homeless individuals. A home ownership program is now available for qualified participants.

Qualifications
You may qualify if your total annual household income is not over a set limit, as defined below:

Household Size1234567
Annual Gross Income$33,950$38,800$43,650$48,500$52,400$56,300$60,150


How the Program Works:

  • Application - Complete the preliminary application to be placed on the wait list.
  • Notification - Notify the housing office of all changes while on the wait list. These changes include: household composition, address, phone number and income changes.
  • Enrollment – When contacted, complete an enrollment interview and eligibility determination. More information on the program is provided at that time.
  • Certification - If eligible, you will receive a Housing Choice Voucher.
  • Housing Selection - You then have 60 days to find housing that meets the set standards and affordability limits. Your present dwelling may qualify.
  • Negotiation – Agree on lease terms with your landlord.
  • Agency Review - Affordability of the housing and an inspection of the dwelling is completed.
  • Payments – The landlord receives a predetermined portion of your rent each month from Section 8. You are obligated to pay the rest.
  • Annual Recertifications and Interim Changes - Annual recertifications and housing inspections are required. Any and all changes in income, family composition, etc. must be reported immediately.

Landlord Obligations:

The role of the landlord is to provide decent, safe, and sanitary housing to a tenant at a reasonable rent.  

To be approved for Section 8 payments, landlords need to do the following:

  • Pass HUD Housing Quality Standards inspection
  • Verify legal ownership of rental premises
  • Verify rent amount
  • Complete W-9
  • Provide direct deposit banking information
  • Contract with Public Housing Authority (PHA)
  • Complete landlord section of the Request for Tenancy Approval form

Livingston County has funds available to help with Section 8 Security Deposits and Landlord Incentive Payments are available to eligible landlords who enter into a lease agreement with a Section 8 voucher holder.   Click here to read the frequently asked questions on these incentives.

Find information about eviction and foreclosure prevention from New York State Homes and Community Renewal  

Housing Choice Voucher Program Briefing Video:

Housing Choice Voucher Program Briefing Video in English
Housing Choice Voucher Program Briefing Video in Spanish


ATTENTION: NOTICE OF SECTION 8 UPDATES FOR LANDLORDS 

New York State Homes and Community Renewal (NYSHCR) has updated the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) Landlord Portal.

This Landlord Portal will replace the Partner Portal previously used by participating Landlords.

Landlord Portal is a user-friendly online tool where Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) and Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) landlords can view information pertaining to their units and EHV/HCV tenants.   Access to Landlord Portal alleviates the need for physical visits or phone calls to Local Administrators’ offices.

Landlord Portal features include:

  • A list of the landlords EHV and/or HCV tenants 
  • HAP payments by tenant for the prior 12 months
  • Reexamination or recertification dates.  
  • Upcoming Housing Quality Standard (HQS) inspections

Landlords can also view and download Inspection reports

Landlord Portal is accessed via NY.gov requiring a NY.gov account.  If you do not have a NY.gov account, please “click here for detailed instructions” which will assist you in obtaining one.

A landlord guide as well as a FAQ can be found here: www.hcr.ny.gov/landlordportal.

Should you have any questions, please submit a Zendesk ticket  by going to:  https://emphasys-pha.zendesk.com.

NOTICE OF FEDERAL POLICY CHANGE:

Due to the significant risk of carbon monoxide exposure associated with unvented, fuel-burning heaters, HUD will no longer permit their use in properties receiving Section 8.

To ensure compliance with this change, and per a recent directive by HUD, please promptly provide all current owners and families under HAP contract/lease with a brief, written notice to remove unvented, fuel-burning space heaters from their premises by or before January 1, 2024.  Further information on NSPIRE standards can be found by  clicking here Notice PIH 2023-28.  

UPCOMING SECTION 8 INSPECTION CHANGES:

Homes and Community Renewal will be implementing NSPIRE inspection standards on October 1, 2024 for all Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) approved units.

Below is the website link that will provide more detailed information regarding these inspection standards so landlords can begin to prepare.

NSPIRE Standards | HUD.gov / U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

The NSPIRE website also publishes/posts Official Notices related to HUD and the Housing Choice Voucher requirements for rental unit subsidy.

Information on Fair Housing:

Federal and State law prohibits housing discrimination based on, but not limited to the following: race, creed, color, disability, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, military status, age, sex, marital status, familial status or source of income.  If you have been trying to buy or rent a home or apartment and you believe your civil rights have been violated, you can file a fair housing complaint.  Click on the seal below to be directed to the online HUD complaint system.  

Additional information on housing discrimination based on where your source of income is coming from can be found at the links below:

Learn more about the Source of Income Bulletin - Know Your Legal Rights

Learn more about the New York State Division of Human Rights Source of Income Discrimination in Housing

For more information contact:

HUD regional Office:  (800) 496-4294

New York State Dept. of Human Rights:  (844) 862-8703

Livingston County Fair Housing Officer:  (585) 243-7300  Commissioner of Social Services