The Housing Choice Voucher Program
(commonly known as the Section 8 Program) is a federally
funded rent assistance program that provides help to low-income
families, enabling them to rent privately owned properties
throughout the Village of Oak Park.
Income eligible families
are selected from our waiting list
and issued Housing Choice Vouchers, which allow the families
to search for and find suitable units (apartments, condos,
single family, etc.) in the Village of Oak Park. The family
typically pays 30 percent of their monthly income towards
rent and utilities and the OPHA pays the remaining portion
directly to the property owner.
How the Housing
Choice Voucher Program Works
The property owner, the HCV family and the OPHA have a triune
relationship which gives a low-income family the opportunity
to rent a unit that would typically be unaffordable to the
family due to income constraints.
 The
OPHA and the HCV family enter into an agreement and a Housing
Choice Voucher is issued to the family which allows the
family to search for a suitable unit.
The HCV family finds a unit, and enters into a lease agreement
with the property owner. HCV participants are under the same
lease obligations as non-assisted families.
The property owner and the OPHA enter into
a Housing Assistance Payments Contract providing an OPHA
rent subsidy for the HCV family.
Who
is eligible?
Low-income families with a gross family income of below
50 percent of the area median income are eligible to participate
in the Housing Choice Voucher Program.
Oak Park Housing Authority's
Income Limits
| Number
of Persons in the Family |
| 1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
| $26,400 |
$30,150 |
$33,950 |
$37,700 |
$40,700 |
$43,750 |
$46,750 |
$49,750 |
Waiting
List
The Oak Park Housing Authority’s Housing
Choice Voucher (Section 8) waiting list is currently closed. Our
waiting list closed on March 19, 2004. We expect the waiting list
to remain closed for approximately seven (7) years.
Waiting List FAQ
When the waiting list re-opens for the submission of
pre-applications, a public announcement will be placed on this website
and in local and minority newspapers.
The OPHA uses a local residency preference when
servicing applicants from our waiting list.
-------------------------
For more information regarding the Voucher Program,
please contact Kenneth Southward,
Director of Housing Choice Voucher Program
708-386-9322
ksouthward@oakparkrc.com
|
"OPHA
enabled me, my son and daughter to live in a diverse neighborhood
with a limited, single parent income. Thanks to everyone who has
made many blessings successful…"
"With the help of the Housing Authority, I am able to raise my children in a safe neighborhood and can afford a nice home. When I became part of the voucher program I knew I was now able to provide a better living environment for my children."