RENTAL ASSISTANCE

The Housing Choice Voucher Program is government-subsidized rental housing. The program is designed to enable very low-income households (individuals and families) access to affordable private housing when eligibility qualifications are met. Interested persons must contact a local coordinator for information and an application or you may download an application from the link below.  Applicants are placed on a waiting list and notified as soon as assistance is available. A "voucher" is then issued to the applicant. Once the voucher holder finds suitable housing and a landlord agrees to accept the individual/family in that unit as long as income qualifications and voucher guidelines are met. In order to have a house eligible for our program, landlords must make sure that their house meets the following hqs standards.

Section 8 / Housing Choice Voucher Coordinators

Cleburne County / Van Buren County

Valarie Miller  

(870) 291-5197

Fulton County / Sharp County

Melissa Lindley 

(870) 291-1823

Independence County

Marci Avey 

(870) 291-1821

Izard County / Stone County

Landon Taylor 

(870) 291-1824

Jackson County 

Jessica McClellan 

(870) 291-1822

White County

Debi Miller 

(870) 214-3641

Woodruff County

Deniece Tidwell 

(291-1671)

Please complete your application and submit all necessary documents to determine your eligibility. 

Once you are instructed by your coordinator, you may watch the Housing Choice Voucher Briefing Session HERE.

Your coordinator will provide you with the password.  

The Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program is an initiative under the Homeownership and Opportunity for People Everywhere (HOPE) program begun in 1990. The FSS program is a voluntary program for Housing Choice Voucher participants. The Program requires that the head of household enter a five-year contract with the housing authority during which time the family will receive supportive services such as education and job training so they can get off the welfare roll and become full-time employee. While on the program, the housing authority establishes an escrow account for the family. When an FSS family pays a higher rent due to having a higher income, the difference between the old rent and the new rent is credited to the family's escrow account. When the head of household meets all requirements and gets off all government assistance, the balance in the escrow account is given to them. For further information on this program, please contact Lori Grisham at (870) 368-5200.

Landlord's Obligations:

The role of the landlord in the voucher program is to provide decent, safe, and sanitary housing to a tenant at a reasonable rent. The dwelling unit must pass the program's housing quality standards and be maintained up to those standards as long as the owner receives housing assistance payments. In addition, the landlord is expected to provide the services agreed to as part of the lease signed with the tenant and the contract signed with the PHA.

SUMMARY OF HOUSING QUALITY STANDARDS 

All Rooms:

No peeling paint on the inside or outside of the unit.

No peeling paint below the height of 5' on the outside of the unit.

No holes or cracks, (of any size) that allow drafts, severe buckling ,or deterioration in walls, ceilings, or floors.

No broken windows.

All windows must have locks if they are below 6' from the ground, or can in some way be reached from the outside of the unit.

All electrical outlets must have face plates.

No broken, frayed, or exposed wiring.No roaches or mice.

Space heaters must be vented. 

Living Room/Bedrooms (Must Have) :At least one (1) window.At least one (1) light, and one (1) electrical outlet, or two (2) electrical outlets. 

Kitchen (Must Have) :At least one (1) permanent light fixture, one (1) electrical outlet, and enough room and space to prepare food.Working stove top and oven (all burners working and all knobs present).Working refrigerator.Sink with hot and cold running water (separate from the bathroom sink). 

Bathroom (Must Have) :Window that opens, or a working exhaust vent.One (1) permanent light fixture.A working, flushable toilet.Tub or shower with hot and cold running water.Sink with hot and cold running water (separate from the kitchen sink). 

Miscellaneous:

Must have roof and foundation that does not leak.Must have handrails if the porch is over 30" high, or has four (4) or more steps to enter the unit.

Must have approvable water and sewer services.

Must have plumbing that does not leak.

Must have hot water heater with downward pipe on the pressure relief value, at least 3" to 6" from the floor. Also, water heater must be enclosed if it is located in a living area of the unit.

Must have at least two (2) exits from the unit in case of fire, and a private entrance. 

Note:Range/refrigerator may be owner or tenant furnished.

All units must have a smoke alarm.

Mobile homes must be secured, tied down to the ground.

White River Regional Housing Authority is committed to creating and maintaining a work environment in which all people are treated with dignity, fairness, and respect. This commitment extends to all WRRHA employees, contractors, and anyone who does business with us. We will hold any employee who engages in harassing behavior accountable. We can only take action when we are aware of the behavior, and encourage anyone who experiences or witnesses harassment by a WRRHA employee to immediately report it. Reports can be made to any WRRHA management official by emailing compliance@wrrha.com or by calling (870) 368-5200.  For more information, read the full compliance policy.

Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended, prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of dwellings, and in other housing-related transactions, based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women, and people securing custody of children under the age of 18), and handicap (disability).

Housing Discrimination

If you have been trying to buy or rent a home or apartment and you believe your rights have been violated, you can file a fair housing complaint.

Fort Worth Regional Office of FHEO

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

801 Cherry Street, Unit #45

Suite 2500

Fort Worth, Texas 76102

(817) 978-5900

1-800-669-9777

TTY (817) 978-5595

http://hud.gov

Arkansas Fair Housing

Arkansas Fair Housing Commission

Leon Jones, Jr.

Executive Director

101 E. Capitol Avenue, Ste. 212

Little Rock, AR 72201

Phone: 501-682-3247

Toll-Free Number: 1-800-340-9108

housinghelp@wrrha.com

(870) 368-5200