The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program, formerly known as "Section 8", is a federally funded program administered by the East Hartford Housing Authority. This program provides housing assistance to eligible low and moderate income families. This program enables families to obtain decent, safe and sanitary housing by subsidizing a portion of each tenant's monthly rent. This subsidy is paid directly and promptly to the property owner on a monthly basis. Any type of private rental housing is eligible. Single-family dwellings, high-rise buildings, townhouses, and congregate housing units are eligible. Paperwork is minimal and the owner retains normal management rights and responsibilities including tenant selection, rent collection, property maintenance, and lease termination.
Participation in the Housing Voucher Program
The Housing Choice Voucher Program assists low and moderate income households. East Hartford Housing Authority selects families who meet income and eligibility requirements set by the Federal government. A participating family may choose to remain in their current apartment or move to another apartment.
How Rental Assistance is Provided
East Hartford Housing Authority calculates the amount of assistance each family receives. The level of assistance is based on family size and income. A family is expected to pay approximately thirty (30) percent of its income towards rent. When a family finds a unit and signs a lease, East Hartford Housing Authority, signs a Housing Assistance Payments Contact with the owner. Each month the East Hartford Housing Authority makes housing assistance payments directly to the owner.
Roles: The Tenant, The Landlord, and The Housing Agency
Tenant's Role: When a family selects a housing unit and the Housing Authority approves the unit and lease, the family signs a lease with the landlord for one year. The tenant may be required to pay a security deposit to the landlord. After the first year the landlord may initiate a new lease or allow the family to remain in the unit on a month-to-month lease. After the family is in the new apartment they are expected to comply with the lease and the program requirements, pay their share of the rent on time, pay their utilities, maintain the unit in good condition and notify the housing authority of any changes in income or family composition.
Landlord's Role: The role of the landlord in the Housing Choice Voucher Program is to provide decent, safe, and sanitary housing to a tenant at a reasonable rent. The apartment unit must pass the program's housing quality standards (HQS) inspection and be maintained up to those standards as long as the owner receives housing assistance payments. In addition, the landlord is expected to provide the services agreed to as part of the lease signed with the tenant and the contract signed with the housing authority.
Housing Authority's Role: The housing authority administers the Housing Choice Voucher Program. The housing authority provides the family with the rental assistance that enables the family to seek out suitable housing and the housing authority enters into a contract with the landlord to provide rental assistance on behalf of the family. If the landlord fails to meet his/her obligations under the lease, the housing authority has the right to terminate assistance payments.
Office Hours
Monday - Thursday: 8:30 AM-12:00 PM, 1:00 PM-4:30 PM
Friday: Closed to the public. Appointments only
Phone: (860) 290-8301
After Hours Maintenance Emergency Phone: (860) 290-8300
Leasing Department Fax: (860) 289-1688
Finance/Modernization Department Fax: (860) 290-8308
Executive/HR Department Fax: (860) 290-7896