Eligibility - Housing Choice Voucher
You need to meet several criteria to be eligible for assistance through the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8). If you apply to the program and receive a voucher, the landlord you rent from and the unit you live in must also meet eligibility standards.
Tenant Eligibility
Households whose incomes do not exceed the higher of the Federal poverty level or earn 50 percent of area median income or less to may be eligible for the Housing Choice Voucher Program when first issued a voucher.
Area median income is the midpoint income for the area. It is determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and means that half of the people earn more than the median, and half of the people earn less.
HUD 2023 Income Limits:
Miami-Dade County, FL HMFA
MFI: $74,700
Extremely Low Income Limit - 30% of Median
1 Person - $21,700
2 Person - $24,800
3 Person - $27,900
4 Person - $30,950
5 Person - $35,140
6 Person - $40,280
7 Person - $45,420
8 Person - $50,560
Very Low Income Limit - 50% of Median
1 Person - $36,150
2 Person - $41,300
3 Person - $46,450
4 Person - $51,600
5 Person - $55,750
6 Person - $59,900
7 Person - $64,000
8 Person - $68,150
Low Income Limit - 80% of Median
1 Person - $57,800
2 Person - $66,050
3 Person - $74,300
4 Person - $82,550
5 Person - $89,200
6 Person - $95,800
7 Person - $102,400
8 Person - $109,000
A household's assets-money, property, and other goods having value-are taken into account when calculating your income. The actual value of your assets is not included, but income created from your assets is. If you have money in a savings account, for example, that money will not be added to your income. However, if you earn interest from the money in your account, the interest will be considered part of your annual income. The HHA will take into consideration the highest of either the total current value or the imputed value of the asset; if, the total value equals or exceed $ 5,000.
Criminal History
Hialeah Housing Authority screens all applicants' criminal history. If it shows that they may not be a suitable resident, their application may be denied. Applicants are automatically denied for certain crimes, including:
- Current use of illegal drugs
- Methamphetamine production in public housing or elsewhere
- Sex offenses requiring sex offender registration
- A record indicating a pattern of alcohol abuse
- Any crimes that indicate habitual criminal behavior
While a criminal record will not automatically exclude an applicant from consideration, it is an important criterion. In determining eligibility,
Hialeah Housing Authority will consider an applicant's arrest record and mitigating circumstances such as successful rehabilitation.
Immigration Status
You do not need to be a United States citizen to apply for housing, but you do need to be a citizen or have eligible immigration status to receive housing.
Debt owed to Hialeah Housing Authority or another housing authority
Hialeah Housing Authority will deny the applications of households who owe money to the agency or another housing authority until the debt is repaid in full.
Previous termination from the program
Hialeah Housing Authority will deny applications if any member of the household has been terminated from the Housing Choice Voucher Program in the past five years.
Unit and landlord eligibility
A rental unit is eligible for the Housing Choice Voucher Program if it meets three criteria: it is properly zoned, it is rent-reasonable, and it passes an inspection based on the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development's Housing Quality Standards.
Any landlord willing to work within the guidelines of the Housing Choice Voucher Program is eligible to participate, as long as they are in good standing with Hialeah Housing Authority.
Landlords may be barred from participating because they have breached leases with tenants or violated laws or program rules. Landlords are not allowed to rent units to relatives who are voucher holders.
