Section 8 Program Overview

The JCHA currently assists 2,400 families, senior citizens and persons with disabilities under the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Section 8 Rental Assistance Program (Certificates and Housing Choice Vouchers). This Program provides financial assistance to eligible households who rent apartments in the private rental housing market (i.e. the subsidy is tenant-based and moves with the family). The rent subsidy amount (provided directly to the property owner) in both the Certificate and Housing Choice Voucher Programs is based on the difference between the tenant rent portion calculated at 30% of their monthly adjusted income and the actual reasonable rent or the HUD approved Fair Market Rent (FMR) (or Payment Standard in the Housing Choice Voucher Program), whichever is lower. The significant difference between the Certificate and Housing Choice Voucher Program is that under the Certificate Program the rent cannot exceed the FMR. Under the Housing Choice Voucher Program, the rent can exceed the Payment Standard, which is currently set at 110% of the FMR, but the tenant must pay that portion above the Payment Standard. The current FMRs and Payment Standards are as follows:

Bedroom Size	Certificate Fair Market Rent	Housing Choice Voucher Payment Standard
Efficiency	$601	$661
1 Bedroom	$709	$780
2 Bedroom	$826	$909
3 Bedroom	$1,050	$1,155
4 Bedroom	$1,155	$1,271

The JCHA currently has an allocation of nearly 3,000 Certificates and Housing Choice Vouchers as follows:

2,200	General Program
200	Certificates targeted under the Mainstream Housing Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities Program (Mainstream Program)
100	Vouchers under the MOD Rehab Single Room Occupancy (SRO) for Homeless Individuals Program in cooperation with the YMCA ("Bergenview")
270	Special Programs (including Replacement Housing for A. Harry Moore, Curries Woods and Dwight Street Homes)
220	Certificates targeted under the Family Unification Program

In addition, the JCHA acts as the Housing Assistance Program (HAP) Contract Administrator for 350 units owned and managed by private developers under the Section 8 New Construction/Rehabilitation Program, specifically, Arlington Arms, Audubon Park Apartments and Brunswick Estates. In this role, the JCHA monitors the private owners' compliance with Section 8 Rental Assistance Program regulations.