Voucher Program

The waiting list for the Voucher Program is currently closed. When the list is opened and applications are being accepted, a Public Notice will be placed in the Daily Record.

Funding

The Housing Choice Voucher Rental Assistance Program is funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Morristown Housing Authority currently administers 186 Housing Choice Vouchers.

Purpose of the Rental Assistance Program

The Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 authorized the Section 8 Rental Assistance Program. The program is designed to help very low-income households obtain decent, affordable housing in the private rental market.  Participants generally pay no more than 30% of their income for rent, and the Program pays the rest directly to the landlord each month. 

The program grew quickly and became popular with local governments, owners, and tenants because it provided assistance quickly, allowed family anonymity and choice, and did not create projects or site selection problems.

In 1987 the Housing Act established the Section 8 Housing Voucher Program.  The Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998 amended the United States Housing Act of 1937. Effective October 1, 1999 this Act merged the Certificates and Voucher Programs into the Housing Choice Voucher Program.

Local Objectives
  • To provide safe, decent and sanitary housing for very low income families while maintaining their rents payments at an affordable level.
  • To provide an incentive to private property owners to rent to very low income families by offering timely housing assistance payments.
  • To encourage self-sufficiency of participating families.
Fair Housing Policy

It is the policy of the Morristown Housing Authority (herein after MHA) to comply with all Federal, State and local nondiscrimination laws and with rules and regulations governing Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity in housing and employment. The MHA shall not deny family or individual the opportunity to apply for or receive assistance under the Housing Choice Voucher Program on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, age family or marital status, handicap or disability, or sexual orientation.

Who is Eligible?

The MHA Housing Choice Voucher Program provides rental assistance to U.S. citizens or persons with eligible immigration status who are elderly, handicapped, disabled, families and single member households living or working in the Town of Morristown. Eligibility is based on the applicant’s gross annual income, which must fall below certain income limits. Income limits are established by HUD and are determined by the locality in the state and family size. A family is recertified annually to determine continued eligibility and their share of rent. 

In the Housing Choice Program the housing authority is not the “landlord”. Therefore, the MHA only screens applicants for eligibility for the program. When renting an apartment from a private landlord, that landlord has the right to screen the family for “suitability”. The landlord is subject to the rights and responsibilities established in the State “landlord/tenant” Law.

Housing Authority's Role
  • Review all Applicants for Eligibility
  • Explain Program Rules
  • Issue Voucher
  • Approve the Unit, Lease and Owner
  • Make housing assistance payments
  • Ensure both Families & Units continue to qualify
  • Ensure Owner and Family comply with Program Rules
  • Provide Families and Owners with prompt, professional services