Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program
Formerly Known as Section 8

A Tenant-Based Voucher is a component of the Federal Housing Choice Voucher Program. A voucher is provided to an eligible family or individual, which allows them to locate housing of their choice, including single-family homes, townhouses, apartments, and mobile homes.

The participant is free to choose any housing that meets the requirements of the program and where the landlord is willing to accept the voucher payment. Initially, the housing must be located in the City of Mt. Vernon, but after one year, participants may move anywhere in the country where there is a voucher program.

Rental units must meet minimum standards of health and safety and must pass an inspection. The housing unit must be the appropriate size for the size of the household, and the total rent charged by the owner must be within the applicable payment standard for the area in which the unit is located.

The primary purpose of the intake function is to gather information about the family. RHA will also utilize this process to provide information to the family so that an accurate and timely decision of eligibility can be made. Applicants will be placed on the waiting list in accordance with this plan.

LIHTC (College Oaks)

College Oaks of Mt. Vernon is a Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) property containing fifty (50) single family three (3) and four (4) bedroom units.

A common misconception about our LIHTC program is that rents are based on a percentage of household income. While LIHTC tenants do not pay a percentage of their income for rent, we still determine the amount of a household's gross annual income before the household is allowed to move into a LIHTC unit to ensure that the combined household income does not exceed the maximum LIHTC income limit.

In other words, income in the LIHTC program is about eligibility not rent. Contract rents are established which must be restricted and not exceed the applicable LIHTC maximum gross rent limits throughout the compliance period.

The LIHTC gross rent includes a utility allowance for tenant paid utilities. This allowance is different from some HUD programs in that the LIHTC utility allowance is not deducted from a percentage of the tenant’s income to determine rent. Rather, the LIHTC utility allowance is subtracted from the maximum gross rent limit to determine the maximum amount of rent that can be charged.

Multifamily (Rose Lane)

Rose Lane Apartments is a Federally funded development consisting of 112 units of one and two bedrooms. The development is located in a residential area of Mt. Vernon just off of Broadway and 42nd Street.

The development is within easy walking distance to Times Square Mall, Kroger, and numerous restaurants. The South Central Transit(SCT) offers safe and reliable intra city shuttle service in Mt. Vernon that will provide riders access to work, education, medical appointments and shopping. The SCT shuttle makes stops at Rose Lane every hour from 8:30a-4:30p. Please visit https://southcentraltransit.org/ for a complete and accurate shuttle schedule.

Rose Lane has an on-site laundry facility and a community building which hosts various activities for residents. Cable and internet service is also available to all residents for an additional charge.

Emergency Housing Resources