PROGRAMS

Low Rent Public Housing/Special Needs Housing

In public housing, low-income elderly, family, and disabled households pay 30% of their income for rent and utilities; the VHA is the landlord, and the costs of operating the property that exceed rental income are subsidized by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. Most of these units are owned, managed, and maintained by the VHA. The remainder are owned by nonprofit organizations but are managed and maintained by the VHA.

Do I qualify?

Rental Assistance
With Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher assistance; low-income elderly, family, and disabled households rent from a private landlord while paying only what is affordable for rent (approximately one-third of their income). The remainder of the rent is paid to the landlord by the VHA through federal subsidies.

Do I qualify?

Resident Programs

VHA residents have access to the programs at the RISE & STARS Community Center. The center offers youth recreation and homework help, a daycare facility, computer lab, counseling services, support groups, and social opportunities for families, elderly people, and disabled people.

Approximately 200 families receiving VHA housing assistance also participate in the Family Self Sufficiency program, which provides incentives for moving off housing assistance within a set time limit.

Resident information page.

Workforce Housing & Community Development

As a long-term strategy, workforce housing provides quality affordable housing today, keeps affordable housing stock in our growing community's development pipeline, and acts as an investment to provide more deeply subsidized housing for extremely low-income people in the future. Financed through housing revenue bonds and low-income housing tax credits, these properties provide a modest return on investment for a private-sector partner while at the same time ensuring a stable supply of affordable rental housing now and into the future.

In May of 2005, the Vancouver City Council appointed the VHA as a Public Development Agency. The Public Development Agency designation means the VHA can undertake business and community development projects in which housing plays a lesser role. The VHA will focus on the community renewal of select areas within Vancouver that have underutilized or declining commercial properties and higher than average poverty levels. Currently, the VHA is addressing economic and community development needs in the Central Fourth Plain/Stapleton Community and the underutilized Kyocera property. While this status allows more latitude in development and the economic improvement of our community, the primary mission of the VHA is still affordable housing for all citizens.

Workforce Housing Properties