Housing Choice Voucher Program (formerly Section 8)

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. 

  1. Foster Youth to Independence
  2. HCV Waitlist
  3. Current  Voucher Holders

The Foster Youth to Independence Initiative will launch at 8:30 a.m., Friday, March 1, 2024, with the opening of a targeted waitlist for the county’s Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program strictly serving eligible young adults who are homeless or at risk of being homeless. 

The Foster Youth to Independence Initiative is a special purpose voucher funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to expand the availability of housing assistance to young adults with a history of foster care. The program pays a portion of participants’ monthly rent based on household income for a period of up to 36 months. After this time period, the participant may receive continued assistance under the general Housing Choice Voucher program, depending on budget availability and continued participant eligibility. 

Waitlist Eligibility

All applicants for HCV vouchers under the Foster Youth to Independence Initiative must work with the Loudoun County Department of Family Services to determine their eligibility for the HCV waitlist. The population eligible for assistance under this program are young adults meeting the following conditions:

Eligibility is not limited to single persons. For example, young adults who are parents are eligible to receive assistance if they otherwise meet eligibility requirements.

All eligible applicants will be placed on the HCV waitlist in order of date and time the referral and application are received. Vouchers are limited by federal funding (HUD allows a public housing agency to issue no more than 25 vouchers within a federal fiscal year); being added to the waitlist does not guarantee receipt of a voucher. 

How to Apply

Individuals interested in participating in the Foster Youth to Independence Initiative must begin by contacting the Loudoun County Department of Family Services at 703-737-8824. 

For More Information

For more information about the Foster Youth to Independence Initiative and the Housing Choice Voucher Program, call 703-737-8213 or send an email.