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Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher

Sioux Falls Housing and Redevelopment Commission (SFHRC) has closed their Section 8 waiting list effective immediately.  New waiting list applications will not be accepted until further notice.

Illustration of housing and a voucher.

The Housing Choice Voucher Program often called “Section 8,” is a HUD-funded, tenant-based program that allows qualified households to receive rental assistance in the unit of their choice if that unit meets program criteria. Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs) allow households to select a qualified dwelling unit (i.e., apartment, house, or mobile home) and then pay no more than 40% of their monthly income on shelter costs (rent + utilities) unless the household reports "zero income."

how does it work?

  • When an applicant's name reaches the top of the SFHRC waiting list and funding becomes available, the applicant will be contacted to complete a formal application to determine if they meet HUD's eligibility criteria.

  • If they do meet HUD's eligibility criteria, they will be issued a Section 8 "Housing Choice Voucher". The Voucher holder will be allowed sixty (60) days to locate a unit that meets HUD's standards.

  • The rent the landlord is asking must be reasonable and the unit must meet HUD's Housing Quality Standards. However, the tenant cannot initially pay more than 40% of their adjusted monthly income for rent and utilities.

  • The tenant rent is not based on 30% of their monthly adjusted income. Instead, there is a maximum amount of subsidy that will be paid on the tenant's behalf each month, based on a HUD formula.

  • It is the tenant's responsibility to pay the difference between that amount and the rent the landlord is asking for the unit.

  • In most cases the tenant will not pay more than 30% of their monthly income for rent and utilities.

  • This assistance goes with the tenant and can be transferred to other states and localities, as long as the tenant does not vacate their unit in violation of the terms of their lease and they comply with program requirements.

For more information, please consult the briefing packet.

How Do I Apply? (notice to applicants):

Sioux Falls Housing and Redevelopment Commission (SFHRC) has closed their Section 8 waiting list effective immediately.  New waiting list applications will not be accepted until further notice.

 For those already on the Section 8 waiting list, please continue to contact SFHRC in writing with updates to your record (address, household composition, disability status, and income)  by completing the yellow Waiting List Update form, or emailing: sfhrc@siouxfallshousing.org.

An application for placement on the waiting list for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher can be obtained at the office of Sioux Falls Housing & Redevelopment Commission during office hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. To receive a paper application for the Section 8 Waiting List, please call (605) 332-0704 or email sfhrc@siouxfallshousing.org.