Housing Choice Voucher - Idaho Housing and Finance Association

Under contract with HUD, Idaho Housing administers federal rental assistance programs that help low-income families and elderly or disabled individuals obtain decent, affordable rental housing.

To be eligible for rental assistance, tenants must qualify under HUD income limits and other eligibility criteria. Tenant incomes, allowances and family compositions are all verified and recertified annually by Idaho Housing staff. Tenants under these programs pay 30 percent of their adjusted gross monthly income for rent and utilities. Or, if they can afford it, a family may choose a unit where their portion of rent and utilities may not exceed 40 percent of their monthly adjusted income. As a tenant’s income changes, the tenant’s rent share changes proportionately.

The demand for rental assistance far exceeds the supply. Applicants are usually placed on waiting lists from two to 24 months, depending on their current housing status and the area of the state.

Persons requiring rental assistance can apply at the Idaho Housing Branch Office that serves their region. Idaho Housing branch offices are located in Coeur d’Alene, Lewiston, Twin Falls and Idaho Falls.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Section 8 Rental Assistance?

The Idaho Housing and Finance Association administers the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s federal rental assistance program. Rental assistance is designed to help eligible households rent safe, sanitary and affordable housing by paying some or all of their rental costs.

How Does It Work?

Each of IHFA’s four branch offices maintain area waiting lists. If you are interested in obtaining Section 8 Rental Assistance, you must fill out an application for assistance and submit it to IHFA. Your income must fall within the income guidelines set by HUD in order to be considered income-eligible for rental assistance. You will be placed on the waiting list once you are determined income-eligible. Because of the high demand for assistance, the period of time you may spend on the waiting list can vary from several months to more than two years. The preference for which you qualify, the date of your application and rental assistance availability all determine how quickly you will receive assistance. Once your name comes to the top of the waiting list, you will be contacted by your local branch office to complete eligibility determination and participate in a participant briefing that explains the program.

Am I Eligible for Section 8 Rental Assistance?

You are considered eligible for the program if you fall within the income guidelines established by HUD and meet certain other eligibility requirements. You may not be considered eligible if you:

Owe money to IHFA or any other housing authority;
Have ever committed fraud while participating in a federal housing program;
Have ever been evicted from public housing;
Have committed drug-related or violent criminal acts; or
Are determined to be ineligible due to other reasons as defined by HUD.

What are My Responsibilities as a Participant?

In order to remain in the Federal Section 8 Rental Assistance Program, you must:

Pay your share of the rent.
Pay your share of utilities (if any)
Not damage the property.
Notify the IHFA Branch Office and landlord if you wish to move to another unit.
Permit IHFA to conduct inspections to ensure the property is in good condition.
Immediately report any changes in your household members and income.

Where Can I Live?

Almost any kind of safe, decent and sanitary housing qualifies. Units can include:

Apartments
Homes/Duplexes
Mobile Homes
To be Accepted, Units Must:
Have adequate living space.
Have adequate heating, electrical, water and sewer system
Be free from any conditions that might endanger your health and safety

Section 8 Rental Assistance: Do I Qualify?

Under contract with HUD, Idaho Housing administers federal rental assistance programs that help low-income
families and elderly or disabled individuals obtain decent, affordable rental housing.

The demand for rental assistance far exceeds the supply. Applicants are usually placed on waiting lists from two to 24 months, depending on their current housing status and the area of the state. Persons requiring rental assistance can apply at the Idaho Housing Branch Office that serves their region. Idaho Housing branch offices are located in Coeur d’Alene, Lewiston, Twin Falls and Idaho Falls.

Equal Housing Opportunity
The Section 8 Program and IHFA operate under the federal Fair Housing Law (Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968) and other federal and state housing laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, familial status, disability, national ancestry or origin.

Need More Information?

To find an IHFA branch office near you, call:

Coeur d’Alene Office:
915 W. Canfield Ave.
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 83815
(208) 762-5113 Toll-free 1-866-621-2994

Idaho Falls Office:
506 S. Woodruff
Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401
(208) 522-6002 Toll-free 1-866-684-3756

Lewiston Office:
215 Tenth Street, Suite 101
Lewiston, Idaho 83501
(208) 743-0251 Toll-free 1-866-566-1727

Twin Falls Office:
844 N. Washington, Suite 400
Twin Falls, Idaho 83301 (208) 734-8531 Toll-free 1-866-234-3435

The phone number for IHFA’s Boise Administration Office is (208) 331-4886. IHFA’s statewide telephone number for hearing impaired persons is 1-800-545-1833, ext. 400.

Brochures and Newsletters

Housing Choice Voucher Publications for Participants

Public Housing In Idaho

HFA operates Low-Rent Public Housing properties in Kellogg and in Idaho Falls. Tenants residing in these properties pay approximately 30 percent of their income toward housing costs.

In 1978, IHFA purchased the Shoshone Apartments, a 47-unit apartment complex for lower income senior citizens in Kellogg. The original owner of the complex had defaulted on the mortgage, which was insured by the FHA. FHA foreclosed on the development and attempted to find a new owner. When it became apparent that deterioration of the apartments could jeopardize the rental assistance of the residents, IHFA agreed to purchase the apartments.

IHFA applied to HUD in 2013 to transition the Shoshone Apartments from Low Rent Public housing to the Section 8 Project Based Program. Insufficent public housing funds prompted this decision and by transferring the property to the Section 8 Project Based program, long-term affordability will be assured.

In 1989, the Association initiated a pilot Scattered Site Low-Rent Public Housing Program in Idaho Falls. A $1.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development allowed IHFA to purchase 25 three- and four-bedroom single-family homes to rent to low-income families. In 1995, an additional development grant from HUD enabled IHFA to add four more residences to bring the total number of units to 29.

Over time HUD subsidies were inadequate to care for these large aging units and IHFA applied to HUD to create a homeownership opportunity by selling the single family homes to low income households who were residents of Public Housing or participants in the HUD Voucher rental assistance program and Family Self-sufficiency and in a position to purchase a home with some guidance from our Homeownership specialists. This has been very successful with eleven of the 29 home sold to date. This process will continue until all the homes are sold. For more information on Public Housing at IHFA, contact your local Branch Office.