TYPES OF VOUCHER ASSISTANCE

This page is to provide information about the types of voucher programs offered by our agency. For information on Waiting Lists, please visit the Waiting List Page.

Tenant-Based Vouchers

A tenant-based voucher is provided to an eligible family or individual, which allows them to locate housing of their choice, including single-family homes, townhouses, apartments, and mobile homes. The participant is free to choose any housing that meets the requirements of the program and where the landlord is willing to accept the voucher payment.  Initially, housing must be located in Spokane County, but after one year, participants may move anywhere in the country where there is a voucher program and the assistance follows the household.

Payment Standards and Utility Estimates

Spokane Housing Authority’s voucher payment standards set the maximum amount the agency pays for tenant’s rent and utilities.  Voucher payment standards are not the maximum rent that can be charged or the subsidy that tenants receive; however, the tenant’s rent burden (tenant rent plus utilities) may not exceed 40% of their adjusted annual income. Access to Spokane County’s Voucher Payment Standards and Utility Charts.

Requesting a Voucher Extension

Under the Tenant-Based HCV Program, clients have an initial period of 90 days to find a suitable unit.  After 90 days the voucher will expire, unless a written request for voucher extension and justification for the request are received.  Voucher extension requests should be submitted in writing at least one week prior to the voucher expiration date.  SHA will review requests, and at its discretion may grant the extension for an additional 30 days.  Further extensions are permissible at the discretion of the SHA primarily for two reasons, as follows:

1. Extenuating Circumstance: Extenuating circumstances such as hospitalization of a family member or family emergency over an extended period of time that has affected the family’s ability to find a unit within the initial one hundred twenty (120) day term.  SHA may grant an extension to assist families whose size or special requirements make finding a unit difficult.
2. Reasonable Accommodation for an accessible unit: As a reasonable accommodation to make the program accessible to a family member who is a person with disabilities.

Renting with a Voucher

If you receive voucher assistance through the Housing Choice Voucher program, the initial term of your lease will generally be 12 months. If you want to start using a voucher for a unit in which you have already been living, a new lease will be required.

Landlords use the same lease for voucher-assisted tenants that they use for other renters, as long as the lease includes:

• The names of the landlord and tenant
• The address of the unit, including apartment number
• The start and end dates of the lease
• The monthly rent paid to the landlord
• A list of utilities and appliances supplied by the landlord
• A list of utilities and appliances supplied by the tenant

After you are given a voucher and educated about how to use it, you can begin the leasing process:

1. Find a suitable unit
   It is your responsibility to find a suitable unit and explain to the landlord that you have rental assistance through the Housing Choice Voucher program. You can find rental listings at many sites include Affordable Housing.com, Rent Cafe Affordable Search, and Apartment Finder.

2. Your Voucher will expire after 90 days and the Housing Choice Voucher Program must receive your Request for Tenancy Approval prior to the expiration date. Spokane Housing Authority may only grant extensions upon written request submitted before the voucher expiration date.

3. Give the required documents to the landlord
   When you are issued a voucher you will receive a Request for Tenancy Approval that you will need to give to the landlord once they have approved your application.

3. The landlord completes the required documents and sends them to Spokane Housing Authority

• • You will send an email through MyPortal to your prospective landlord.
  • The landlord will complete, sign, and date the Request for Tenancy Approval as soon as possible.
  • You will also sign and date the Request for Tenancy Approval.
  • NOTE: If a paper version is completed, the Request for Tenancy Approval must be returned to the SHA Inspection Team. They may be faxed to 509-323-2364, walked in, emailed or mailed to:
    Spokane Housing Authority
    Attn: Inspection Team
    25 W Nora Avenue
    Spokane, WA 99205
    inspectionteam@spokanehousing.org

4. Spokane Housing Authority reviews the documents and approves the proposed rent

• • Once the agency receives all required forms, they will be checked to make sure the information provided is complete and accurate. The unit must be affordable for you as well as be rent reasonable for the neighborhood it is located in.
  • If the proposed rent does not pass both of these tests, the landlord will be asked to negotiate a lower rent. Landlords are never required to lower rent, however, if they do not agree to a rent that meets both of the requirements, you will have to find another unit.

5. Spokane Housing Authority inspects the unit

• • If the proposed rent is affordable and reasonable, Spokane Housing Authority contacts the landlord to schedule a Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspection of the unit. These inspections make sure that housing is decent, safe, and sanitary. The inspector may find items that must be fixed before the unit is approved for the program. In that case, the landlord will be given a reasonable amount of time to fix the problems, and the unit will be inspected again.
  • You should not move in before the unit passes inspection. If you do, you will be responsible for paying the entire rent amount due for that period.

6. The unit passes inspection, and the contract and Tenancy Addendum are mailed to the landlord

• • Once the unit passes the HQS inspection, you may sign your 12-month lease and move in.
  • SHA must have a signed copy of your lease before the Tenancy Addendum and contract can be mailed to the landlord.