Housing Choice Vouchers

Participant-Focused

MPHA’s Rental Vouchers

MPHA administers thousands of vouchers allowing participants to utilize a rent subsidy for units found on the private rental market. Housing vouchers allow the agency to further its mission outside of affordable housing units and doubles the households it is able to support. MPHA offers several Housing Choice Vouchers/Section 8 programs: tenant-based vouchers; special purpose programs like Stable Homes Stable Schools, Community Choice Demonstration, VASH, and Family Unification; and Project-Based Vouchers.

For rental vouchers to be successful, MPHA partners with private market rental housing property owners across Minneapolis.

Tenant-Based Vouchers

MPHA administers over 7,000 tenant-based vouchers, provided by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which allow participants to use a rent subsidy on a rental unit found on the private market in Minneapolis. MPHA pays rent subsidies directly to rental property owners on behalf of participants. More than 18,500 residents across the region benefit from the use of the tenant-based vouchers administered through MPHA.

Project-Based Vouchers

Project-Based Vouchers (PBV) are among the most effective tools MPHA has to help build new and sustain deeply affordable housing in Minneapolis. MPHA solicits proposals from property owners and developers for Project Based Voucher (PBV) rental assistance, allowed through the agency’s Moving to Work (MTW) flexibility. The requirements and timetable for submission of proposals are described in the agency’s RFP document.

Special Purpose Programs

There are several unique initiatives serving participants with specific needs and/or qualifications (families at risk of homelessness in Minneapolis Public Schools, families looking to move to areas of opportunity, families at risk of separation, homeless veterans, etc.). These special initiatives differ from tenant-based vouchers by how one qualifies, how assistance is requested, and the subsidy calculation.