Housing Choice Voucher

Persons who are eligible for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program are either:

• Senior citizens (over 62 years old)
• Living with a disability
• Families with children
• And have a gross annual income below the HUD established limits for River Falls

Households with family members who have been convicted of criminal activity are not eligible.

Complete and return an application to the Housing Authority office. Receive and complete the application one of the following ways:

• In-person: pick up an application at 625 N. Main St., River Falls
• By phone: contact 715-227-2591 to have an application mailed to you
• Online: for a printable application visit www.rfhousing.org

All applications must be signed and returned to the office with the following:

1. legible copy of a current driver’s license or photo ID for all adults in the household
2. a copy of every household member’s social security card

​A police record background check is completed for every adult household member to determine eligibility.

Applicants will be notified by mail to schedule an interview when their name nears the top of the list. Applicants are responsible for notifying the Housing Authority of any changes in mailing address or family composition during the waiting period. During the interview, all information needed to determine your rent and eligibility will be discussed. Applicants must verify income, assets, and medical and childcare expenses. Come to the interview prepared; bring any of the following information that applies:

• A copy of your most recent Social Security award letter
• Addresses of the employer(s) and other income sources, including pensions and IRAs
• Addresses of all assets including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or other investments
• Addresses of all previous landlords
• Senior citizens or disabled persons should bring addresses of any ongoing medical expenses including medical insurance
• Family applicants should bring addresses of child care providers

The participant will provide the landlord with the required forms that must be returned to the Housing Authority. Housing Authority staff will schedule a unit inspection with the Landlord. If the unit passes inspection, the Landlord and Housing Authority will enter into a Housing Assistance Payment Agreement (HAP contract) and the participant may move in.

Yes. Rent limits are generally determined individually for each household based on three factors.  The first factor is the payment standard amount, which is set by bedroom size.  The second factor is household income. Generally, the higher the household income, the higher the approvable rent.

The payment standards are determined to include modestly priced rental units. Not all units are affordable for the program participants. The third factor is that the rent must be determined reasonable by the Housing Authority.

An estimate for tenant-paid utilities (excluding telephone and air conditioning) is calculated by River Falls Housing Authority using average consumption data by bedroom size, structure type, energy source, and current utility rate information.  This data is updated annually.  The monthly rent plus this estimate equal the gross monthly rent for the unit.

Following the initial term of the lease, the owner may adjust the rent by providing River Falls Housing Authority with 60-day written notice of the change.  

Yes. A unit must be inspected by Housing Authority staff initially to ensure the unit meets Federal Housing Quality Standards (HQS). The Housing Quality Standards were developed to ensure that housing assisted through the Program is “decent, safe and sanitary.” The unit must be re-inspected annually.

Under Federal regulations, a unit either “passes” or “fails”.  Any item that does not meet the standards will cause the unit to fail.  The owner will be notified, in writing, if the unit “fails”.

The owner determines whether he/she is willing to make the repairs and informs the program participant and the Housing Authority of this decision.  If the owner elects not to make the repairs, the household must choose another unit to receive assistance. 

The program participant is responsible for the cost of repair of the damages. If the participant fails to pay for the repairs, River Falls Housing Authority can terminate the Section 8 Voucher. Owners can terminate the lease.

HAP payments are directly deposited into the Landlord’s account of the first business day of the month.

The program participant is required to give River Falls Housing Authority at least a proper 60-day notice of his/her intention to move and must have permission from the landlord.  The Housing Authority must re-verify income, re-establish rent portions, execute new documents, and inspect the new unit.

RFHA can’t pay rent assistance for tenants who are no longer living in the unit. RFHA must terminate the Voucher and the rent assistance payments. Please notify River Falls Housing Authority if a participant “skips”.