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 Boise City Ada County Housing Authority’s (BC/ACHA) Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Homeownership Program (HCVHO) is funded through Housing and Urban Development (HUD). It is designed to promote and support homeownership for lower income families, including elderly and disabled households. This is a voluntary program for families already participating in the Housing Choice Voucher Rental Assistance Program. It allows eligible families to exchange their Section 8 rental voucher for a homeownership voucher. Once a family purchases a home, their monthly subsidy is then applied toward their mortgage payment instead of toward rent.
There are several criteria a family must meet in order to be eligible for the HCVHO program. To be considered, a family must have been receiving Section 8 rental assistance for a minimum of one year. If no one in the home is elderly or disabled, then the family is also required to participate in the Family Self-Sufficiency Program and be continuously employed full-time for at least a one year. All families are required to meet Federal minimum income requirements. The head of household is responsible for attending homebuyer education classes prior to purchasing a house. It is required that each family invest, from their own resources, a minimum of one-percent of the purchase price of the home they are buying or $500.00; whichever amount is less. All families must be in good standing with the Housing Authority. Every year, families participating in the HCVHO program undergo an annual recertification, which re-establishes their eligibility for continued homeownership assistance.
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Transitioning from the rental voucher program to the homeownership program is usually challenging, however, BC/ACHA offers families guidance throughout the process. Working closely with the Homeownership Coordinator, families are assisted with navigating the many obstacles they face, turning stumbling blocks into stepping-stones toward homeownership. One of the biggest hurdles for families may be qualifying for a home mortgage. Often before they can take that step, the family has to resolve credit issues and/or pay-off debt, which can be a lengthy process. Once the family is pre-approved for a home loan they face the sometimes-difficult task of finding a house in their price range, which is also in good condition. The program requires two pre-purchase inspections on a property; one through BC/ACHA and another through an independent housing inspector. This helps
 ensure that the property is safe, sound and is not in need of immediate major repairs.
Families, who have gone through the process and are now homeowners via the HCVHO program, would agree that the rewards of homeownership are well worth the effort. The program can help make the dream of homeownership a reality for some elderly, disabled and struggling families.
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