Idaho Housing Assistance

Idaho Housing Vouchers * Public Housing * Homeless * Making Home Affordable

Rental Help for Idaho Residents

Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers

Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) Program is federally funded housing assistance designed to help extremely low and very low-income individuals, families, senior citizens, and people with disabilities. Section 8 HCV provides the qualifying low-income populations with affordable, decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market where the program is available.

Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers Program in most counties of Idaho State is administered by the Idaho Housing and Finance Association (IHFA). The program helps Idaho eligible individuals and families broaden their housing options in the private rental market. Learn more about Section 8 Housing Programs and Housing Choice Vouchers.

Idaho Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher provides Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) for low and very low-income residents. The HCV program offers TBRA vouchers for more than 6 thousand housing units across Idaho State. HUD sets Fair Market rent limits for each housing unit based on its size and community market conditions. The IHFA area branch office or local Public Housing Agency (PHA) issues a Housing Choice Voucher to qualified applicants based on their family size and needs. In general, the voucher recipients are required to pay 30% of their income towards the rent. The Housing Choice Voucher pays the difference between tenants’ portion and the contract rent. The Idaho Housing or local PHA sends the voucher payment of the rent directly to the landlord.

Normally, there is a waiting list and the applications for the Section 8 Vouchers are taken periodically at a time determined by the Idaho Housing area branch office or local Public Housing Authority. The open period for taking Section 8 applications is usually advertised and all related social service agencies are notified.

When the waiting list is open, completed applications are accepted from all applicants. The Idaho Housing or PHA will then verify the information in each application relevant to the applicant’s eligibility, admission and benefits level. In some Idaho areas, the demand for Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers assistance is so high that the waiting time is over two years, depending on the rental assistance availability, preference qualification, and the date the application was filed.

Applicants on the top of the waiting list are contacted by the area Idaho Housing branch or the PHA when Housing Choice Vouchers are available. Before an HCV is issued applicant must complete the eligibility determination process. Approved Section 8 applicants can select housing within a neighborhood of their choice from a property owner willing to participate in Section 8 program. The housing unit of choice can be a home/duplex, apartment, or mobile home.

Section 8 Tenant Based Rental Assistance contracts must have a minimum lease of one year and cannot exceed two years – but they can be renewed. Choices of housing units may include family’s present residence. Rental units must meet minimum standards of health and safety, as determined by the local Housing Authority. The rents in TBRA assisted units must be affordable to low-income families and remain affordable for a designated amount of time.

One of the advantages of Section 8 TBRA is that the assistance is attached to the approved household and is portable. Housing Choice Vouchers can be taken, if beneficiaries move to a different place, and used to subsidize the rent of the new housing of choice.

As per the federal requirements, the Section 8 Program allows families to pay a predetermined share of their income toward the rent while issued Housing Choice Vouchers make up the difference. The program does not pay for security deposits and moving expenses. The tenant is responsible for paying for any utilities not included in the rent according to the lease.

Income eligibility limits and benefit levels are based on local area income and local housing costs but are set largely at the federal level with limited local discretion. Income requirements are set generally as less than 50% of Area Median Income (AMI), but can be up to 80% in some cases. By law, seventy five percent of the newly issued vouchers must go to families with incomes below 30% of the Area Median Income.

Current recipients maintain vouchers until their income reaches a level at which the value of their housing subsidy is reduced to $0.00 – all housing subsidies are calculated based on family income, housing costs, and other factors.

To apply or inquire about specifics on eligibility for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher please, contact one of Idaho Housing branches or check with your local Idaho Public Housing Authority.

Project-Based Rental Assistance

HUD provides government grants to Idaho Housing Authorities to administer and promotes affordable housing opportunities through Section 8 Project Based Rental Assistance. The Project Based Rental Assistance involves over 3,500 units throughout the state of Idaho. The rental assistance pays part of the rent to qualified tenants for a specific building designated as Section 8 and subsidized by the Federal Government funding with the main purpose to provide affordable housing for low-income families. Applications are accepted and waiting lists are maintained at each housing site. The populations served are households that are extremely-low income with income up to 50% of the Area Median Income. HUD establishes and publishes the income parameters annually. Section 8 Project-Based Assistance is not portable. The assistance is attached to a particular housing unit and not to the household. For more information contact your local Idaho Housing Authority.

Family Self-Sufficiency Program

Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) is a HUD program that encourages families already using Section 8 Vouchers to participate in local programs that can help them increased their earned income and reduce dependency on rental subsidies. The goal of the FSS Program is to help families on Section 8 vouchers obtain employment that will lead to economic independence and self-sufficiency. It is a voluntary program and participants sign a five-year contract to establish and achieve specific goals. Local Public Housing Authorities work with welfare agencies, schools, businesses, and other local partners to develop a comprehensive program that gives participating FSS family members the skills and experience to enable them to self-sufficiency. For more information on Idaho Family, Self-Sufficiency Program call 1-800-458-2791.

Idaho Public Housing

Subsidized and Low-Rent Apartments

Public Housing provides safe, decent and affordable rental housing to eligible low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides federal grants to local Public Housing Agencies (PHA) that manage the public housing developments for low-income residents at rents they can afford.

In general, housing developments owned, managed and maintained by the local PHA are referred to as Conventional Housing, or Low Rent Public Housing and units are offered to eligible low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities at rental rates established by the PHA authorities within the HUD income limits and guidelines. Local Idaho Public Housing Authorities manage more than 3,500 federally subsidized public housing units across the State.

Inquire about the current availability of subsidized and low-rent apartments at your local Idaho Public Housing Authorities.

Search for affordable subsidized apartments in Idaho using the HUD database

 Housing Counseling Services

Contact one of the HUD Approved Housing Counseling Agencies in Idaho State for the following education workshops or counseling services

  • Mortgage Delinquency and Default Resolution Counseling
  • Fair Housing Pre-Purchase Education Workshops
  • Financial Management/Budget Counseling
  • Financial, Budgeting and Credit Repair Workshops
  • Home Improvement and Rehabilitation Counseling
  • Non-Delinquency Post Purchase Workshops
  • Pre-purchase Counseling
  • Pre-purchase Homebuyer Education Workshops
  • Predatory Lending Education Workshops
  • Rental Housing Counseling
  • Services for Homeless Counseling
  • Home Improvement and Rehabilitation Counseling
  • Reverse Mortgage Counseling

Georgia – Making Home Affordable options

Making Home Affordable is a federal program designed to cover different homeowners’ hardships and financial situations. Under the program, there are various options that can help Idaho homeowners in hardship stay in their homes. Depending on the situation Idaho homeowners in hardship can apply to lower their monthly payments, lower the interest rate on their home loan or even get principal reduction in some cases.

There are foreclosure alternatives and temporarily help for unemployed homeowners as well.

Here are some of the most used options under the Making Home Affordable Program:

HUD (US Department of Housing and Urban Development) approved housing counselor can be reached at 888-995-4673  (Hearing impaired: 877-304-9709 TTY) to help you understand your options, prepare your application, and work with your mortgage company.

Idaho Homeless Service Organizations

Idaho has regional homeless service organizations that coordinate local resources and can provide assistance to the homeless. A number of Idaho Homeless Service Organizations are funded through Continuum of Care (CoC). The CoC Program is designed to promote community-wide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness by providing government grants to nonprofit providers, State, and local governments to quickly rehouse homeless individuals and families while minimizing the trauma and dislocation caused to homeless individuals, families, and communities.

With the main goal of long-term stability, those Idaho homeless service organizations provide the services that are needed to help such individuals move into transitional and permanent housing.

If you are homeless in Idaho and need help – call the listed homeless service organization in your area.

Boise

River of Life
208-389-9840
Transitional housing for single men, the male head of household with children

Corpus Christie House
208-426-0045
Transitional housing for families with children, men, women, teens

C.A.T.C.H. Program
208-384-4158
Transitional housing for families with Children

Safe Place Ministries
208-363-9717
Transitional housing for persons fleeing domestic violence

Hayes Shelter Home
208-322-6687
Emergency Shelter for runaway and homeless youth

Boise Rescue Mission
208-343-2389
Emergency Shelter for men only

Salvation Army Booth Center
208-343-3571
Emergency Shelter for families with children

City Light Home
208-368-9901
Emergency Shelter for Women and children

Women’s and Children’s Alliance
208-343-3688
Emergency Shelter for victims of domestic violence

Interfaith Sanctuary
208-343-2630
Emergency Shelter for individuals and families with children

Pocatello

Aid for Friends
208-232-0178
Emergency shelter and transitional housing for families with children

Pathways Halfway House Road to Recovery
208-233-6341
Transitional housing for substance abusers

Independent Living Program
208-234-2244
Youth transitional housing

Jefferson House
208-234-2466 ext. 145
Veterans transitional housing

YWCA/Family Service Alliance
208-232-0742
Emergency shelter for persons fleeing domestic violence

Twin Falls

South Central Community Action
733-9351
Families with children

Valley House
734-7736
Emergency shelter and transitional housing for single men, families with children

Crisis Center of Magic Valley
733-0100
Emergency shelter for persons fleeing domestic violence

Coeur d’Alene

St. Vincent Transitional Housing
208-664-3095
Transitional housing for families with children

St. Vincent de Paul Men’s Shelter
208-664-3095
Emergency shelter for men, single women, and women with children

St. Pius Church
208-765-5108
Shelter for women and small children

Moyer House
208-667-1189
Shelter for children up to 18 years of age

The Women’s Center
208-664-9303
Shelter for persons fleeing domestic violence

Post Falls

Kamp Apts
208-765-4741
Transitional housing for families with children

OASIS Post Falls P.D.
208-773-1080
Emergency shelter and transitional housing for persons fleeing domestic violence

Moscow

Sojourner’s Alliance
208-883-3438
Emergency Shelter and transitional housing for single men and women, and families
with children

Alternative to Violence of the Palouse
208-882-2490
Emergency shelter for persons fleeing domestic violence

Idaho Falls

CLUB, Inc.
208-529-4673
Persons with mental illnesses

F.A.I.T.H.
208-522-1056
Shelter and transitional housing for families with children

Domestic Violence Intervention Center
208-529-4352
Emergency shelter for persons fleeing domestic violence

Ruth House
208-528-8015
Shelter for women only

Idaho Low-Rent Apartments

Find more and search for Idaho subsidized and low-rent apartments here.

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