Section 8/HCV FAQ’s

There are only three (3) ways a family may become eligible to enter the MHA Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program:

• Waiting List: Apply when our waiting list is open and remain on the list until a subsidy is available. Eligibility is determined by income and household composition per the Administrative Plan. (At this time our waiting list is closed.)
• Portability: Families eligible in another HCV program may be able to port their voucher into MHA jurisdiction.
• Special eligibility: Examples include conversion of existing public housing properties, governmental dislocation, or HUD‑targeted subsidies.

The waiting list is dynamic and does not follow a strict first‑come order. Public Housing wait times depend on bedroom size, application date/time, and preferences. HCV also uses preferences and application date/time.

• Public Housing: ~30 days to 1+ year (varies by bedroom size)
• HCV Program: ~3+ years

You can check your status on our /applicant-portalApplicant Portal to ensure you are still on the list.

If you qualify for the waiting list by one of the methods above, you must complete an Initial Application when you apply to our program(s).

When the waiting list is open, MHA advertises the opening for PBV & HCV in the Marietta Daily Journal and other appropriate outlets. Instructions for submitting an application are provided in those notices.

All waiting lists are currently closed.

Income limits change annually and are posted on HUD’s website: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il.htmlHUD Income Limits.

If you meet the criteria for a voucher, one will be issued at a briefing session scheduled with your Occupancy Specialist. The voucher includes:

• Certified bedroom size
• Effective date
• Expiration date
• Extension expiration date

If issued from an MHA waiting list, vouchers are provided for the full 120 days (expiration and extension dates are the same). If porting into MHA, your voucher mirrors the expiration date of the initial housing authority.

While on the program, you may receive another voucher if:

• Your household composition changes and affects bedroom allocation
• You give notice to move from your current unit
• You give notice to port out of MHA jurisdiction

Additional resources we provide include rent ranges, current landlord/unit listings, a landlord packet, and a lease approval packet. Your caseworker can answer questions about voucher issuance.

Searching for Housing

You have rights and responsibilities in your housing search. You will receive the following materials:

• A Good Place to Live brochure
• MHA Exceptions to HQS
• Protect Your Family from Lead‑Based Paint
• Fair Housing brochure
• Discrimination Complaint form
• Rent Reasonableness information
• Lead‑Based Paint Disclosure form

We also provide a list of Cobb County ZIP codes and recommend searching these free websites:

• https://www.georgiahousingsearch.comGeorgiaHousingSearch.com

When you select a unit, give the landlord the Landlord Packet, which explains how to participate in HCV.

You and the landlord complete the Lease Approval Packet and submit it to your caseworker for approval. This packet includes the HUD Request for Tenancy Approval (RTA), which outlines:

• Contract rent amount
• Unit availability date
• Unit type
• Utilities in the unit and who pays each utility
• Comparable unit information

For timelines and office routines, see /navigating-hcv-mha-operationsNavigating the HCV Program and MHA Operations. To understand how you, the landlord, and MHA work together, see /understanding-your-role-hcvUnderstanding Your Role in the HCV Program.

Your caseworker submits the Lease Approval documents to the Inspections Department to schedule the next available inspection. The inspector contacts the landlord to arrange access. Inspections follow HQS guidelines in A Good Place to Live and MHA Exceptions to HQS. For more details, see /getting-ready-for-inspectionGetting Ready for Inspection.

The landlord completes a confirmation form with four dates:

1. Date the unit passed HQS inspection
2. Date the tenant took possession
3. Lease effective date
4. Contract offer date (after form is received)

After receiving the completed confirmation form, a Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) Contract is prepared for signature. The advisor also requests required certifications, including:

• Landlord Certification form
• Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) documentation
• Copy of the executed Lease between the Landlord and Tenant

MHA pays landlords by direct deposit on the 1st and 15th of each month for the contract rent portion. Payments cannot be processed until all contract documents are executed.

Each year, MHA schedules:

• An annual inspection of your unit (you must allow access or your assistance may be at risk)
• An annual re‑examination of household composition and income (reasonable accommodation available if disability prevents office attendance)

Payment Standards and Utility Allowances may change yearly. Your advisor will explain any changes and how they affect your portion of rent.

Report any changes in household composition or income within 14 days using the Notice of Household Change form. Obtain this form by visiting our office, calling to have a copy mailed, or visiting the /forms-and-documentsForms and Documents page (MHA 4610).

To move to another unit and continue assistance, give proper notice to your landlord per your Lease and provide MHA a copy. Your notice and dates affect when assistance ends at your current unit. Speak with your advisor before giving notice to avoid gaps.

Your advisor will confirm whether your timing requires recertification and another briefing. This also applies if you plan to port out of MHA jurisdiction.

For a new unit, you will complete the same steps: voucher issuance, lease approval, inspection, and contract execution.

Give proper notice per your Lease and provide MHA a copy. After your Housing Specialist approves the move, they will give you the next steps.

Notify your initial housing authority that you wish to port to the Marietta Housing Authority. Our portability contact is:

Read /how-portability-worksHow Portability Works.