Knowledge Base

Reno Housing Authority - 1525 E. 9th Street, Reno, NV 89512 (775) 329-3630

Rental Assistance Voucher Programs:

The HCV program works as a rental subsidy that allows households to pay a reasonable portion of their income, no more than 40%, toward their rent. A voucher pays the rest. Eligibility for the HCV program is based on a household’s adjusted annual income and family size. Clients can rent a unit in any home/complex in Washoe County as long as it meets RHA’s Housing Quality Standards, as outlined by HUD.”

Housing Choice Voucher participants must comply with all program requirements, including completing their regular re-certification, accommodating Housing Quality Standards inspections, allowing property owners to make any needed repairs, and adhering to the terms of their lease.

With a PBV, the voucher is tied to the individual unit and the client’s portion of rent and utilities is generally 30% of their household’s adjusted monthly income. If a client moves out of a PBV unit, they cannot take the voucher to another property.

However, once a PBV client has completed his/her PBV lease, they may apply for a traditional Housing Choice Voucher and use that voucher in another rental unit.

In addition to the roughly 2,400 Housing Choice Vouchers issued by RHA each year, HUD also provides us over 600 special purpose vouchers. These are vouchers earmarked for specific populations including victims of domestic violence, former foster youth and military veterans, and are issued to households that require case management and other wraparound services. Applicants for these vouchers must be referred to RHA by our community partners.

Through the HUD Veterans Administration Supportive Housing (VASH) initiative, RHA provides more than 400 housing subsidies specifically for veterans who have experienced homelessness. A condition of eligibility for a VASH voucher is mandatory participation in case management services, provided locally by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

RHA provides housing subsidies for 15 former foster youth, each of whom are also provided supportive case management services through Eddy House and Washoe County Human Services department.

More than 130 Emergency Housing Vouchers are also distributed to Washoe County households for those who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking or human trafficking. They’re also for households for whom providing rental assistance will prevent the family’s homelessness or having high risk of housing instability.

Like the other special purpose vouchers, households must be referred to RHA through one of four community partners including Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada, Volunteers of America, Washoe County Housing and Homeless Services, and Washoe County Human Services: Our Place. Emergency Housing Voucher holders must also continue to receive ongoing case management through these community partners.