Choosing Your Home
The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program is a free-choice approach to assisted housing. You are free to choose any type dwelling unit, in the city limits of Oklahoma City, as long as it meets certain requirements for rent limits, rent reasonableness and Housing Quality Standards (HQS). The landlord retains private property rights, including management, tenant selection and maintenance. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) determines the rules and regulations for the HCV Program.
In choosing a unit you should consider the following:
- Condition of the unit;
- Cost of utilities and whether the unit is energy efficiency;
- Location of unit in proximity to schools, public transportation, employment, shopping, etc.; and
- Whether the rent is reasonable.
You may search for available units on AffordableHousing.com, rentals.com, apartments.com, hotpads.com, and any local listings.
OCHA encourages families to seek housing in low-poverty, non-minority areas. OCHA has agreements for Housing Counseling Services for participants interested in seeking low-poverty or non-minority areas. If you are interested in housing counseling services, please contact Neighborhood Housing Services at (405) 231-4663 or Community Counseling Center at (405) 272-0660.
Bedroom Size Requirements
Vouchers for a given bedroom size are assigned according to the following requirements:
- No more than two persons are required to occupy a bedroom;
- Persons of different generations, the opposite sex (other than spouse), and unrelated adults are not required to share a bedroom;
- Children, with the exception of infants (under twelve (12) months of age), are not required to share a bedroom with persons of different generations including their parents;
- A child is not required to share a bedroom with another child five (5) years of age or older who is of the opposite sex; however, children of the same sex and generation are required to share a bedroom regardless of age;
- A voucher for a one-bedroom unit will be assigned to a single-person household only when there are no zero-bedroom units available.
Exceptions to these standards are considered on a case-by-case basis upon written request by the participant.
After you are approved by the owner/landlord, you and landlord complete the Request for Tenancy Approval (Form HUD-52517) included in your briefing packet. It must be completed in entirety and signed. The Request for Tenancy Approval and the lease (if applicable) must be returned to OCHA immediately. We will review the signed Request for Tenancy Approval and determine if the rent is affordable based on your family’s income and if the rent is reasonable when compared to units in the private market (Rent Reasonableness).
Need more information?
For questions or comments call (405) 239 - 7551 ext. 264
- Verify and review family composition and income to determine eligibility;
- Explain the rules of the program to the family and owner/landlord;
- Issue a Voucher to the family;
- Perform HQS inspection to ensure unit meets minimum standards (initially, annually and interim);
- Sign contract with owner/landlord on behalf of the family when the selected unit meets HQS requirements;
- Make housing assistance payments to the owner/landlord in a timely manner;
- Ensure owner/landlord and family continue to comply with program rules;
- Provide family and owner/landlord with prompt, courteous, accurate and professional service.
- Provide OCHA with complete and accurate information;
- Comply with the Family Obligations listed on the Voucher;
- Cooperate in attending all appointments scheduled by OCHA;
- Locate a unit that is suitable for the family, meets HQS requirements, and meets rent reasonable requirements (as determined by OCHA when compared to similar unassisted units in immediate vicinity)
- Keep the unit safe and sanitary;
- Comply with the terms of the lease with the owner/landlord;
- Notify OCHA of any changes in income or family composition within 30 days of change;
- Cooperate with the owner/landlord by informing him/her in writing of any necessary repairs;
- Notify OCHA of any known program violations.
- Comply with fair housing laws and equal opportunity requirements;
- Comply with the terms of the Housing Assistance Payments Contract (Form HUD-52641),
- Ensure the unit continues to meet HQS requirements;
- Cooperate with the tenant by responding promptly to request for needed repairs;
- Notify OCHA of any program violations;
- Enforce the lease, collect the rent due, any security deposit and charges for damages to unit by the family;
- Screen families for suitability as renters;
- Provisions of modification to a dwelling unit occupied or to be occupied by a disabled person. (OCHA can help with referrals to agencies that make funds available for modifications to units for disabled persons.)
- Notify OCHA in writing of any address or telephone number change; and
- Notify OCHA in writing of changes in ownership (selling property) or agents.
OCHA must provide your current and previous landlord name and address to a prospective landlord upon request.
The owner/landlord determines whether to require a Security Deposit and the amount of the deposit. (OCHA does not provide security deposit assistance). If the owner/landlord collects a deposit, the amount collected may not be in excess of private market practice, or in excess of amounts charged to unassisted tenants.