Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8)
HCV, also known as Section 8 is a housing subsidy that helps voucher recipients reduce their share of the cost of rent. HCV is a very popular program and most housing authorities’ waiting lists are closed and are very long when they are open. To apply for HCV the first step is to call your local public housing authority and say, “I’m interested in learning more about available Section 8 Vouchers.”
Keep in mind, Section 8 is not free housing and you will be required to pay around 30% of your gross income, or the money you earn before taxes are taken out of your paycheck. Check out our section on Housing Budgets for more info on rent cost. Talk to someone at your local public housing authority (PHA) to get more information about your eligibility.
Learn more about the steps that you will need to take to apply for and eventually receive a voucher and to learn more about eligibility requirements.
Note for those with Prior involvement with the Juvenile or Adult Justice system :
In Illinois, your local public housing authority (PHA) has the right to request a background check into any applicant’s criminal history. This includes juvenile records as well as adult records. You may be able to have your juvenile records expunged however. For more information on juvenile record expungement please check out this resource from Illinois Legal Aid: Juvenile Expungement Basics.
Although the final decision to receive a housing voucher is up to your local PHA to decide, keep in mind that if you or your household members have ever been convicted of:
Arson;
Producing or manufacturing methamphetamine;
Any crime that requires them to be registered as a lifetime sex offender;
the individual or household is not eligible to receive a voucher. In addition, if any household member has been charged of any of the following criminal activities within the past three years, the family could be denied assistance.
• Drug-related criminal activity, which includes the possession, distribution, sale or use of medical marijuana;
• Violent criminal activity;
• Illegal possession or use of a firearm or aggravated assault weapon.
To learn more about your or your family’s eligibility for a housing choice voucher when there is a history of justice system involvement please contact your local PHA to learn more. A list of PHA state is provided below.
If you you have previously been denied a housing voucher, or are unable to stay with your family because it violates their housing choice voucher eligibility, see our housing assistance page.