Section 8 Housing Assistance Program

• • Interim Supplement Letter. Mandatory to Report Changes, effective 01 October 2025. 21 August 2025 Interim Supplement Letter
  • Notice to Community Partners. VSHA operating under budgetary constraints. 21 May 2025 Community Partner Notice
  • The Housing-Choice Voucher Waiting List will close at 4:30pm on 31 January 2025. 1.31.2025 closing of wait list public notice
    • The Project-Based Voucher Waiting List remains open!

FAX: 561-416-9848

FAX: 802-828-2111

This pertains to the properties that receive a subsidy from HUD but are not Section 8 participants. Please note: Not every tenant in a property may receive assistance; some pay fair market rent for their unit. You need to contact your Landlord or Property Manager for any issues.

These services include Emergency Housing Vouchers for survivors of domestic abuse, Bridge to HOPWA and HOPWA, referrals from Department of Mental Health, Rapid Rehousing, and Shelter+Care. An applicant CANNOT refer themselves for these programs—the referral must come through a Community Action Partner.

Please note: Once the voucher has been issued and the participant has signed a lease, the participant will then be assigned a Rental Assistance Specialist and Field Representative for all matters.

The Section 8 Existing program provides rental assistance to help eligible families live in safe and decent housing of their choice. With funding provided by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and administered by local public housing authorities, as well as VSHA, this program utilizes privately owned existing housing stock.

Families, elderly, disabled and single people whose income falls within the income guidelines qualify for this program. After a person applies and is determined eligible, they are placed on a waiting list until funds become available to assist them. When funding becomes available, a certificate or voucher is issued.

A voucher is the written guarantee of VSHA to the tenant or prospective landlord that the voucher holder is eligible for participation in the program. The voucher is used by the holder in locating a house or apartment of his/her choosing. The voucher sets forth the bedroom size the family needs and outlines the family’s obligations under the program and the period of time the family has to locate suitable housing.

VSHA also administers a Project-Based Voucher and Moderate Rehabilitation program. Both of these programs are project-specific housing rather than open market. Tenants are selected from the existing waiting list, owners and/or managers determine suitability and VSHA determines eligibility for participation in the program. The subsidy is attached to the UNIT and NOT to the family. Therefore, if a family vacates a Project-Based Voucher or Moderate Rehabilitation unit and still wishes to have a subsidy, they must reapply under a different program.

Agents and Owners of a Project-Based Voucher will want to read the latest notice regarding the program by clicking here (Updated 9 May 2023).

The Family Unification program promotes family unification by providing rental assistance to families for whom the lack of adequate housing is a primary factor in the separation, or threat of imminent separation, of children from their families. Program eligible households are referred to VSHA by the Department of Social and Rehabilitative Services.

The Mainstream Housing program funds rental assistance for non-elderly disabled families. Its primary purpose is to enable disabled families to rent affordable private housing.

Tenants in the Section 8 Existing Housing Choice Voucher program are free to select their own housing unit anywhere in the state where VSHA has the authority to operate, provided the unit meets housing quality standards and certain rent limitations. Housing quality standards help to ensure that housing rented under this program is decent, safe and sanitary. There are two kinds of housing quality standards under Section 8 Existing:

1. Things that a home MUST HAVE in order to be approved by the VSHA.
2. Additional features that a family should take into consideration when renting to cover special needs of the family.

For more information on the Housing Choice Voucher program, please see this page by HUD: HCV Tenants.

New Construction/Substantial Rehabilitation

This program was designed to create new and rehabilitated housing for low-income families and the elderly in communities without sufficient housing that is rated safe, sanitary and adequate. Since the early 1980’s, no new housing has been constructed or rehabilitated under this program.

VSHA is the contract administrator for the project. Staff conduct regular inspections to monitor the management activities of the owner, ensure the buildings are well maintained, and determine the needs and/or satisfaction of tenants. The owner selects the tenants. VSHA reviews all applications to ensure each applicant’s eligibility, and to ensure that tenants are being charged the proper amount of rent.

The Administrative Plan provides detailed information on policies and procedures of the Section 8 programs. Sections of the Admin Plan are under frequent review and subject to change. Please refer to the version posted here for the most up-to-date information.

• Title Page
• Glossary
• Introduction Updated 20 Aug 2026
• Chapter 1 (Overview) Updated 20 Aug 2026
• Chapter 2 (Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity) Updated 20 Aug 2026
• Chapter 3 (Eligibility) Updated 20 Aug 2026
• Chapter 4 (Applications, Waiting List and Tenant Selection) Updated 20 Aug 2026
• Chapter 5 (Briefings and Voucher Issuance) Updated 21 Sep 2026
• Chapter 6 (Income and Subsidy Determinations) Updated 20 Aug 2026
• Chapter 7 (Verification) Updated 20 Aug 2026
• Chapter 8 (NSPIRE and Rent Reasonableness Determinations) Updated 20 Aug 2026
• Chapter 9 (General Leasing Policies) Updated 20 Aug 2026
• Chapter 10 (Moving with Continued Assistance and Portability) Updated 20 Aug 2026
• Chapter 11 (Reexaminations) Updated 20 Aug 2026
• Chapter 12 (Termination of Assistance and Tenancy) Updated 20 Aug 2026
• Chapter 13 (Owners) Updated 20 Aug 2026
• Chapter 14 (Program Integrity) Updated 20 Aug 2026
• Chapter 15 (Special Housing Types) Updated 20 Aug 2026
• Chapter 16 (Program Administration) Updated 20 Aug 2026
• Chapter 17 (Project-Based Vouchers)
• Chapter 18 (Special Purpose Vouchers) Updated 20 Aug 2026

• Voucher Payment Standards (Effective 01 December 2026)
• Income Limits (Effective 01 May 2026)
• FY 2024 Fair Market Rent Rates
• Tenant Briefing Packet (2025)
• Standard Owner-Occupant Lease
• Housing Assistance Payments Contract
• HUD Regulations: CFR 812, 813, 882, 887, 888, 966
• HUD Handbook 7420.3 and 7420.7
• Notice of Non-Discrimination and Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities
• Five Year and Annual Plan (2024)
• Vermont Housing Resource & Rental Assistance Guide 2.0
• The Definitive Guide to Renting in Vermont (2023)
• HUD Housing-Choice Voucher Program Guidebook

• Release of Information (Updated 01 Nov 2025)
• Reasonable Accommodation Request
• AHS Inspection Request Form (Updated 19 August 2026)
• Packet for New Landlords (Transfer of Ownership, Direct Deposit Authorization, and W-9)

Click on the link and follow the instructions on this page: Applications for Section 8 Assistance

• Section 8 Participant Portal
• Annual ReCertification Packet (updated 30 Oct 2025)
• Interim ReCertification Packet (updated 01 Nov 2025)
• Asset Self-Certification Form
• Release of Information (Updated 01 Nov 2025)
• Utility Worksheet – Single Family (Effective 01 Dec 2026)
• Utility Worksheet – Multi-Family (Effective 01 December 2026)

Please refer to this page: Portability

Please see this page for more info: Landlords

• Landlord Portal
• Packet for New Landlords (Transfer of Ownership, Direct Deposit Authorization, and W-9)
• NSPIRE Checklist