The Mohave County Housing Authority (MCHA) was created in 1990 by the Mohave County Board of Supervisors to provide various housing programs for low income families. MCHA works in partnership with the city governments in order to provide these services. These housing programs include Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) Rental Assistance Programs and Supportive Housing Program (SHP) for the Seriously Mentally Ill. MCHA initially secured 50 certificates in 1990. MCHA currently assists approximately 375 individuals and families under the Housing Choice Voucher, Supportive Housing Program (SHP) and Housing for Persons with HIV/AIDS (HOPWA) programs. MCHA does not have any public housing units and all the programs administered by MCHA are voucher-based.

  Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCV) –Section 8:

The HCV Program provides rental assistance to low income participants and is the largest rental subsidy program administered by MCHA. Subsidy is tied to the tenant not the housing unit. This allows the family to choose the apartment, house, mobile home, etc. that they like as long as it meets certain requirements for housing quality and is within the Fair Market Rent established by HUD. The Landlord and Tenant negotiate and sign a lease agreement. The Landlord/Owner of the property must also be willing to sign a contract with the Housing Authority. The family pays its portion of the contract rent, which is based on income, directly to the Landlord/Owner.

Waiting List Status

The Section 8 tenant-based rental assistance program waiting list is currently closed.

Portability Information

It is the policy of MCHA to administer portable vouchers for the Housing Choice Voucher Program and not to absorb.

Payment Standards -  2008 Payment Standards are listed below:

O BDR (Studio)	1BDR	2BDR	3BDR	4BDR
640	704	821	1135	1266

  Utility Allowance

• Homes
• Apartments

Housing Choice Voucher – Section 8 Family Self Sufficiency Program (FSS)

 The FSS Program provides the opportunity for Section 8 families to work on goals to reach economic self-sufficiency while their rent is subsidized. As an added bonus, an Escrow Account is set up and money is deposited into it as the participants earned income increases. Successful program graduates easily achieve accounts with over $10,000.00.

Housing Choice Voucher – Section 8 Homeownership Program

The American Dream has arrived for our Section 8 renters. An opportunity for homeownership is now available to all of the renters in our program. Renters are now able to purchase a home and use the subsidy towards a mortgage instead of rent.

This program provides rental assistance to homeless, Seriously Mentally Ill (SMI) participants. Applicants are referred from Mohave Mental Health and enrolled in programming and receiving support services. The current size of this program is fifteen families county wide.

New since July 2007, this program will provide rental assistance to participants so that they may find and obtain permanent, safe, and affordable housing. Applicants are referred from Mohave County Department of Public Health and are receiving medical and other support services.