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Housing Choice Voucher

A resource for Housing Choice Voucher participants and landlords

Northwest Tower

Housing Choice Voucher is what we call Section 8 Voucher at Home Forward.

Section 8 is a common name for the Housing Choice Voucher Program, funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Section 8 program allows private landlords to rent apartments and homes at fair market rates to qualified, low-income tenants, with a rental subsidy administered by Home Forward. Home Forward administers the program throughout Multnomah County.  Approved applicants can choose any rental property in Multnomah County that meets Home Forward’s housing quality standards and has a reasonable rent compared with similar units in the market. Tenants negotiate a lease directly with the property owner, and pay a minimum of 28.5% of their income toward the monthly rent. Home Forward pays the remainder directly to the landlord. Landlords use their own lease agreement and the same screening criteria as any other applicant.

Home Forward does not have case managers. We have Rent Assistance Services Coordinators (RASCs) who assist you with issues related to your tenancy and program participation. You can find your RASC by calling (503) 802-8333, option 4.

  • Use the main menu to find “Homes in the Community” and browse local affordable apartment communities.

 

  • Short-term help is available by calling 2-1-1 (from a cell phone, dial 503-222-5555) and asking them to refer you to an agency that best meets your needs.

Subscribe to our e-news for updates on waitlist openings. We have a scheduled opening from June 5-9, 2023.

You can get updates on your waitlist position by calling (503) 415-8000.

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For Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, Somali, and Arabic, this site uses Google Translate. Please contact us if any information provided in your language is incorrect or unclear. Vital forms are all translated by a specialized service. Read our Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Plan here.

Attention residents

As some of you may have heard, on August 20th 2023 the Portland Water Bureau’s regular testing of water quality detected small amounts of the bacteria Cryptosporidium. Since learning of this, Home Forward staff has been in contact with the Portland Water Bureau.

We have been assured that healthy individuals can and should continue using water as normal.

If you are immunocompromised or are taking an immunosuppressive drug, you can kill any potential cryptosporidium bacteria by boiling your water for 1 minute before consuming.

  • If you are boiling the water to drink, let the water cool.
  • Iodine and Chlorine do not kill this bacteria, and to treat for potential bacteria you should boil the water.
  • If you have questions please reach out to your property manager or resident services coordinator.

Please visit the Center for Disease Control website to get additional information.