District of Columbia’s Housing Authority’s Housing Choice Voucher

[Brent Robinson]

I'm not sure how DC’s HCVP (section 8) works when it comes to rental rates.

For example, the HCVP rent's listed on the website (http://www.dchousing.org/rent_hcvp.aspx/default.aspx) for Deanwood is $2,030 for a three-bedroom with no utilities. Does that mean anyone that wants to live in Deanwood with a voucher can receive up to $2,030 a month if the property just passed the basic inspection? Or, is that the max and there's a sliding rate that is determined based on other factors?

Thank you for any help in explaining it to me.

[Joseph Asamoah]

Hi Wendy,

The short answer to your question is, the advertised DCHA rent per DCHA's website is the maximum they will pay. If you request/advertise a higher rate, then it is highly unlikely you will NOT get anything above what is advertised. There was a time when DCHA in very special circumstances could approve an exception, however, given the budget crunch DCHA is facing, the chances of an exception being granted is next to zero %. 

With the above in mind, you essentially have two choices:

1. 1. Reduce your rent to the approved amount for your area and bedroom count, or
2. 2. Rent to a non-voucher holder and get the higher amount.

I hope the above helps. Good luck. I'm curious what you decide.