Housing Choice Voucher Program (formerly Section 8)

The Loudoun County HCV program waiting list currently is closed.

About the HCV Program

The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program is the federal government's major program for assisting very low-income families, older adults, and individuals with disabilities to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Since housing assistance is provided on behalf of the family or individual, participants are able to find their own housing, including single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments. Rental units must meet minimum standards of health and safety, as determined by Loudoun County. 

A housing subsidy is paid to the landlord directly by Loudoun County on behalf of the participating family. The family then pays the difference between the actual rent charged by the landlord and the amount subsidized by the program. 

For general information on the HCV program, you may also visit the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) website. 

For Current Voucher Holders

Submitting Paperwork and Changes in Income

HCV participants should call or e-mail their Housing Counselor if they have lost or gained income, medical expenses, and/or childcare expenses to determine if an adjustment to the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is needed.

Changes in income and/or expenses must be reported within 10 days. 

Documents for annual and interim HCV recertifications may be sent in one of three ways:

Send via EMAIL to your Housing Counselor. If you do not know the name of your counselor, send us an email.

Or 

• Send via mail to:
  Loudoun County Department of Housing and Community Development
  Attn: HCV Program
  P.O. Box 7000
  Leesburg, VA 20177-7000

Or

• Drop off at:
  Loudoun County Department of Housing and Community Development
  Attn: HCV Program
  106 Catoctin Circle, SE
  Leesburg, VA 20175       

Front desk hours are from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.

Drop box hours are from 7:00 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. 

Please Note: Do not send mail to the physical address, as it will not be delivered. 

Inspections

The Loudoun County HCV program has transitioned to a biennial inspection schedule. 

An HQS inspection will be conducted every other year (within a 24-month period). To ensure the health and safety of our participants, the HCV program reserves the right to amend these criteria to conduct an inspection sooner than the 24-month period.

When is my next regularly scheduled inspection? Participants will receive written notification 30 calendar days prior to the next HQS inspection date. 

For more information on policies and procedures related to HQS inspections, visit the Housing Quality Standards (HQS) Inspection webpage.

For Applicants

The Loudoun County HCV program waiting list currently is closed. 

Am I eligible? 

To be eligible for the HCV program a household must:

• Have a household income at or below 50 percent of the area median income as determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); and
• Be a United States citizen, or a non-citizen with "eligible immigration status.”

Although the HCV program has only the two standard eligibility criteria listed above, some people who meet these criteria may be denied assistance based on an applicant’s criminal history, housing history, and history with other federal housing programs. Loudoun County’s policies on program eligibility may be found in the Loudoun County Housing Choice Voucher Program Administrative Plan (PDF).

How do I apply? 

Applications are only accepted while the HCV program waiting list is open. Prior to opening the waiting list, Loudoun County will provide public notice through publication in a local newspaper of general circulation and the Loudoun County website. When applications are accepted, the Loudoun County HCV program will notify the public on the method to submit an application and will be described in the Loudoun County Housing Choice Voucher Program Administrative Plan (PDF). If a submission method presents a hardship for a person due to their disability, a reasonable accommodation may be requested.

Can I apply to multiple public housing agencies? 

It is a common misperception that a person can only apply to one public housing agency (PHA) and be put on one HCV program waiting list at any given time. This is untrue. We encourage you to submit an HCV program application whenever a PHA’s HCV waiting list opens — at any PHA in the country! If you would like specific information about other HCV programs, visit www.hud.gov to find a local PHA.

It is important to review all outreach materials to find out if there are any limitations on who may submit an application. Also, some PHAs may have restrictions regarding where a person can live once they receive a voucher, or may have a waiting list preference for people living or working within the PHA’s jurisdiction. Loudoun County HCV program waiting list preferences may be found in the Loudoun County Housing Choice Voucher Program Administrative Plan.(PDF)

Additional Resources

To get connected to other health and human services information and resources in Loudoun County, contact the Loudoun County Information and Referral Program. 

Reasonable Accommodations

Loudoun County is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in all county programs, services and activities and will provide reasonable accommodations upon request. If you require an accommodation for any type of disability or need language assistance in order to participate in the HCV program, call the Loudoun County Department of Housing & Community Development at 703-737-8323/TTY 711 or send an email. Three business days advance notice is requested. 

For More Information

Email the Housing Choice Voucher Program.