Housing Choice Voucher (HVC) Program

Formerly known as Section 8, the federal HVC program provides rental subsidies to income-eligible households. Applicants receive a voucher that entitles them to rent an apartment in the private marketplace while limiting their rental payment to 30-40 percent of their adjusted income. HOC pays the landlord the remaining portion of the rent. The maximum amounts that HOC can pay are determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). To apply to this program go to: www.hochousingpath.com.

Section 236 Housing

Residents pay either a basic rent or 30 percent of income, whichever is higher. Because of the basic rent requirement, these properties assist those of moderate income, rather than very low income. HOC manages Bauer Park and Town Center for the elderly and Georgian Court, Stewartown Homes and The Willows for families.

Section 8 New Construction

HUD contracted with some builders to build properties that have HVC (formerly Section 8) subsidies that are attached to the individual units. These are known as “project-based.” HOC owns three such properties: Magruder’s Discovery, Paint Branch, and Shady Grove Apartments.

Opportunity Housing

This is a non-technical term that HOC uses for its broad range of non-federally subsidized housing types owned by HOC and located throughout the County. They may be multifamily developments or scattered sites. Usually, they serve lower or moderate income people, rather than those of very low income. Some of HOC’s multifamily Opportunity Housing developments are Chevy Chase Lake, Fairfax Court, Greenhills, Pooks Hill Tower, Sligo Hills and Tanglewood.

Mixed Income Properties

HOC is a national leader in the development of mixed income housing, a type of Opportunity Housing that includes market rate and affordable units in the same development. The rents for the market rate units, which may include either moderate- or high-end luxury homes, subsidize lower rents for the affordable units.
HOC’s mixed income portfolio includes moderate mixed income developments such as The Barclay, The Glen, The Oaks at Four Corners, Montgomery Arms and Spring Gardens as and high-end, mixed income developments including MetroPointe, Alexander House, The Metropolitan, Pooks Hill Mid-Rise, Strathmore Court, Timberlawn Crescent and Westwood Tower.

Low Income Housing Tax Credit Partnerships

The federal government makes tax credits available to be used to fund affordable housing. Investors, typically local businesses, purchase those tax credits, which can lower their tax burden. By purchasing those tax credits they enter into a partnership with HOC to purchase housing that is rented to moderate income households. HOC manages hundreds of scattered site units that were funded this way, as well as Manchester Manor and Pond Ridge multifamily developments.

Scattered Sites

HOC owns approximately 1,600 individual homes located throughout Montgomery County, which we define as “scattered sites.” Most often, they are townhouses that HOC purchased through the Moderately Priced Dwelling Unit (MPDU) program operated by Montgomery County. The MPDU law requires that any development of over 50 units must include about 12-15 percent moderately priced units. One-third of these are offered for sale to HOC. Over the years, HOC has acquired such units using funding from public housing, the State Partnership Rental Housing Program, Low Income Housing Tax Credits, the McHome program and other sources.

Rent Supplement Program

This is a County-funded program in privately owned rental properties that provides a shallow rental subsidy of $250 to $350 per month to working poor households. The program is administered by the individual properties and monitored by HOC. For more information, call 240.627.9735.