11-1. DEFINITIONS

• A. Regular Housing Choice Voucher. Section 8 tenant-based assistance that is provided to eligible families and individuals to assist them in obtaining affordable housing in the private market.

  1. The voucher is provided to the family or individual and generally allows the holder to choose any housing that meets the program requirements.

  2. The vouchers are administered by local Public Housing Agencies (PHAs). The local PHA establishes the payment standard for the vouchers, determines tenant eligibility, certifies tenant income, and calculates the tenant’s share of the rent. The payment standard for these vouchers is based on the established Fair Market Rents (FMR) for the area.

  3. The payment standard determines the maximum amount of subsidy that may be paid on behalf of an assisted family or individual. The monthly housing assistance payment on behalf of the family or individual is the lesser of the PHA payment standard minus the family total tenant payment (TTP), or the gross rent of the unit minus the family TTP.

The family TTP is the greater of:

• 30 percent of adjusted monthly income;

• 10 percent of gross monthly income;

• the welfare rent in as-paid states; or

• the PHA minimum rent ($0 - $50).

In cases where the gross rent exceeds the payment standard, the family is responsible for paying the difference out-of-pocket, in addition to the TTP.

• B. Enhanced Voucher. Tenant-based housing assistance used to assist eligible families affected by certain types of housing conversion actions, called “eligibility events.”

  1. Unlike a regular voucher, the subsidy is “enhanced” to cover the difference between the normally applicable payment standard and the possibly higher proposed rent of the unit that is going through the housing conversion action. The payment standard for enhanced vouchers is the gross rent of the unit, provided the PHA determines the gross rent is reasonable in comparison to similar unassisted units in the market area.

Attachment 2: Glossary – Published March 2023

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2. Enhanced vouchers have a special minimum rent requirement. The family must continue to contribute towards rent at least the same amount they were paying for rent on the date of the housing conversion action unless the family suffers a decrease in gross family income of at least 15 percent from gross family income on the date of eligibility event. See PIH Notice 2001-41(HA), Part II C (3) (c) —

(“Significant Decline in Family Income Effect on Enhanced Voucher Minimum Rent”).

3. The enhanced feature of a voucher is tied to the project in which the housing conversion action took place. If the tenant moves from the project, the enhanced feature is lost and the voucher will have the features of a regular housing choice voucher issued by the PHA.

• C. Housing Conversion Actions. Upon the occurrence of housing conversion actions that constitute an “eligibility event,” HUD is required to offer enhanced voucher assistance to eligible families. Tenants in other types of housing conversion actions are offered regular housing choice voucher assistance. Housing conversion actions include project-based Section 8 opt-out, preservation prepayment, HUD enforcement actions and HUD property disposition (PD). On November 14, 2001, HUD issued Notice PIH 200141(HA) “Section 8 Tenant-Based Assistance (Enhanced and Regular Choice Vouchers) For Housing Conversion Actions – Policy and Processing Guidance.” This Notice outlines policies and processing guidelines for administering vouchers in cases of Housing Conversion Actions. For more information contact the local PIH Office.

A copy of PIH Notice 2001-41(HA) is available on HUDCLIPS. http://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/hudclips/