Rental Assistance(Section 8)
The Housing Choice Voucher Rental Assistance Program is federally funded and designed to assist low-income families, the elderly and the disabled or handicapped in making monthly rental payments. It is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and administered by hundreds of Public Housing Authorities across the nation, such as the Beckley Housing Authority.
The Housing Choice Program is an Equal Opportunity housing program. Eligibility is not based on age, creed, sex, religion, color or national origin. It is based on income.
General eligibility requirements are explained here. Specific requirements are discussed in detail during the application process. Immediate questions may be directed to the Beckley Housing Authority at 304-256-1772.
Assistance is based on income and family size. A participating family must pay 30 percent of its income for rent and utilities.
Anyone who provides false, incomplete and inaccurate information on the application, risks being removed from the federally assisted housing program. Penalties apply to anyone who knowingly omits information asked for or gives false information.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) places a high priority on preventing fraud. Application or recertification forms that contain false or incomplete information, may result in:
1. A participant being evicted from an apartment or house;
2. A participant being required to repay all overpaid rental assistance received;
3. A participant being fined up to $10,000;
4. A participant being imprisoned for up to 5 years and/or;
5. A participant being prohibited from receiving future assistance.
NOTE: There may be other state and local laws and penalties that can be applied.