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Public Housing Agency Plan


PHA Admin Plans

View the One-year and Five-year Plans.

Homeownership Program

The Housing Choice Voucher Homeownership Option is made available to promote and support homeownership for first time homebuyers. It permits eligible participants including those with portable vouchers the option of purchasing a home with their Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher assistance rather than renting.

Family Self-Sufficiency Program

FSS is a voluntary 5-year program for participants already receiving rent assistance. The program is designed to help you meet your personal needs, as well as move you to a higher level income. FSS helps remove barriers by connecting you with support services and resources in the community. Click here for contact information.

Rental Assistance

The Housing Services Office administers the Section 8 program, which is federally funded by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD). This program is designed to accommodate very low-income families and individuals with rent assistance for decent, safe, and sanitary housing provided by private owners and rental agents.


Who is Eligible?

  • Individual and/or family income must be below the established income guidelines set forth by HUD. These guidelines take into account both family size and the family income.
  • Family members must be lawful citizens of United States or eligible immigrants.
  • Two or more people related by blood, marriage, adoption or approved evidence of a stable family relationship.
  • Persons with disabilities and single individuals.

Eligibility is determined when your name reaches the top of the waiting list per Housing and Urban Development regulations.


PROGRAM DETAILS

The Housing Services Office determines the rent assistance according to the gross income of the family. The average amount paid by the family to the owner or manager of the rental unit is approximately 30%-40% of the family’s adjusted gross income.

Place your name on the waiting list:

Waiting List Registration Form
(PDF, 62KB)

Change of Income Form
(PDF, 264KB)

Once you have filled in the form print it and then fax or mail to:

Housing Services
1211 6th Street SW
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
 
fax: 319-286-5870



To download this form, you need to have Adobe Reader installed on your computer. If you do not have Acrobat Reader, please click on the "Get Acrobat Reader" logo below and follow the instructions for proper installation.

Once a voucher is issued to the applicant, it is up to the voucher holder to locate a rental house or apartment from owners or rental agents. Our office keeps a file of available rental units at the front desk for you to come in and review.

Property owners/managers will screen and select all prospective applicants. Owners will make reference/credit checks and may make a home inspection of your current residence. An owner may charge applicants a security deposit according to State law.

Once the owner agrees to accept you into their rental unit, our office will check to ensure that the contract rent amount is within the established HUD guidelines. Our staff will also complete a physical inspection of the living unit to ensure that it is safe, sanitary, and decent.

After the unit passes the inspection, a lease is signed between the owner and resident. A contract is signed by the owner and city.



Location of Housing

The Housing Services Office serves as the recognized housing authority for the Cedar Rapids/Marion area, Linn and Benton counties. Voucher holders may seek available housing within this area.

Housing Assistance can also be transferred to other locations in the continental United States for eligible families.



How to Apply

Applications are accepted
Monday-Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM at:

Cedar Rapids Housing Services Office
1211 6th Street SW
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404

Phone: (319) 286-5872