Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan

Housing Choice Voucher Program

The Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCV), formerly known as Section 8, provides assistance for very low-income households (single or family), seniors and the disabled to afford decent, safe and sanitary housing in the private market.

Participants who receive vouchers search for their own housing, which may include single-family homes, townhouses and apartments – or even the family’s present residence. HCV assistance is portable anywhere in the United States.

Provided that the selected housing meets the requirements of the program, the housing subsidy is paid to the landlord directly by HOC on behalf of the family.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Section 8 Regulations require that HOC maintains a current administrative plan for the implementation of the HCV program, as well as all other relevant federal, state and local fair housing laws and regulations. HOC’s HCV Administrative Plan is found below:

• Cover Page
• Table of Contents
• Chapter 1 – Statement of Policies & Objectives
• Chapter 2 – Eligibility for Admission
• Chapter 3 – Applying for Admission
• Chapter 4 – Establishing Preferences & Maintaining Waiting List (updated December 2024)
• Chapter 5 – Subsidy Standards
• Chapter 6 – Factors Related to TTP & Family Share Determination
• Chapter 7 – Verification Procedures
• Chapter 8 – Voucher Issuance & Briefings
• Chapter 9 – Request for Lease Approval & Contract Execution
• Chapter 10 – Housing Quality Standards & Inspections
• Chapter 11 – Owner Rents, Rent Reasonableness & Payment Standards
• Chapter 12 – Recertifications
• Chapter 13 – Moves with Continued Assistance/Portability
• Chapter 14 – Contract Terminations
• Chapter 15 – Denial or Termination of Assistance
• Chapter 16 – Owner Disapproval & Restriction
• Chapter 17 – Claims, Move-out and Close-out Inspections (for HAP Contracts Effective Before 10/02/1995)
• Chapter 18 – Owner of Family Debts to the PHA
• Chapter 19 – Complaints & Appeals
• Chapter 20 – Special Housing Types
• Chapter 21 – HCV Homeownership Option
• Chapter 22 – Housing Choice Voucher Project Based Program
• Glossary

HOC is proposing revisions to Chapter 22 [Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Project-Based Program] of its HCV Administrative Plan, which governs HOC’s HCV program. The public comment period begins January 17, 2026 and ends with a Public Hearing on March 4, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. Written comments must be submitted to HOC’s Compliance Division, attention, Darcel Cox, Vice President of Compliance, 1328 Fenwick Lane, Silver Spring, MD 20910, or via email at plancomments@hocmc.org. Written comments must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on March 3, 2026. Please follow the “Public Hearing” link above for details on viewing and participating on the day of the hearing.

• Chapter 22 – Housing Choice Voucher Project-Based Program (proposed revision)