Apply for Housing Choice Voucher Program

The Housing Choice Voucher Program can help families find safe, affordable rentals.

The Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCV), formerly known as Section 8, is a tenant-based rental assistance program that helps low-income individuals and families rent safe, decent, and affordable dwelling units in the private rental market.

How Do I … Apply for the Housing Choice Voucher Program?

  • Determine if You’re Eligible

    To be eligible for the Housing Choice Voucher Program, you must:

    • Meet the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) definition of a family (one or more individuals who live together).
    • Meet income limits specified by HUD (less than 50% of the median income for the county in which you live).
    • Be a citizen or eligible immigrant.
    • Be 18 years of age or older.
    • Be a resident of the state of Georgia.
  • Gather What You’ll Need

    • Social Security number 
    • Third party documentation to verify all income, expenses, assets, and any other items related to eligibility
    • Preliminary Application form
    • Signed consent forms
  • Apply

    • Preliminary applications are accepted through the DCA Applicant Portal only while the waiting list is open. Visit the portal for notice of wait list openings and follow the prompts to apply.
    • There is no cost to apply. Check the DCA website or call DCA at (888) 858-6085 to learn more about the application period.
  • Wait List Placement

    • Once you have applied, you will receive an application confirmation number. Keep this number for your records.
    • After the waiting list closes, preliminary applicants will be selected from a lottery for placement on the waiting lists. The confirmation numbers of those selected applications will be posted on the DCA Applicant Portal.
    • If your number is selected, DCA will verify your eligibility for the program.
    • You can only be considered for housing when you have reached the top of the waiting list. DCA will notify the family by first class mail when they have been selected from the waiting list.
    • DCA gives preference to applicants where the head of household and spouse or co-head live, work, or have been notified that they are hired to work in one of the counties in the waiting list they are applying for.
  • Next Steps

    • You must update your information annually. About 120 days before your assistance anniversary date, DCA will send notification of annual reexamination by first class mail. The packet will contain information and documentation that must be provided to DCA by the deadline given. Documents can be mailed, faxed, or delivered in-person. Failure to return requested documents might result in termination of assistance.
    • Changes in income or family composition must be reported. For more information on changes that must be reported and the deadlines for doing so, visit the DCA website.

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