Voucher Programs

Helping eligible low-income families secure decent, safe and sanitary rental housing.

Public Housing Summary

Wait List / Eligibility

A federally funded program designed to help eligible low-income families secure decent, safe and sanitary rental housing. The voucher program helps participant families pay for housing in the private market, such as apartments, duplexes, condominiums, townhouses and single-family homes. Participant families contribute 30-40% of their income toward rent and utilities and HACC will pay the remainder directly to the property owner.

Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCV)

The Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCV) formerly known as Section 8 is a federally funded program administered by the Housing Authority of Cook County (HACC). This program helps low-income families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities afford safe and decent housing in the private rental market.

With a Housing Choice Voucher, participants can choose their own housing anywhere in suburban Cook County. As long as the unit meets program requirements and passes an inspection, it can be an apartment, townhouse, or single-family home. Participants pay approximately 30% of their adjusted monthly income toward rent, and HACC covers the remaining cost directly to the landlord.

After one year in the program, families may also request to transfer their voucher to a different area including outside of Cook County through a process called “portability.”

To receive assistance, individuals must first apply to the Housing Choice Voucher waitlist when it is open. HACC announces waitlist openings publicly through local newspapers, radio, social service agencies, and on our website.

Please Note: The most recent opening of the Housing Choice Voucher waitlist closed in November 2020. At this time, HACC is not accepting new applications for any of its waitlists, including the HCV Program. Future openings will be announced on this website and other public channels.

Project-Based Voucher Program (PBV)

The Project-Based Voucher (PBV) Program is a federally funded housing initiative administered by the Housing Authority of Cook County (HACC). As part of the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program, PBV assistance is tied to specific rental units in designated properties, rather than moving with the tenant.

PBV units may be located in existing buildings or newly constructed or rehabilitated developments. This program plays a vital role in creating and preserving affordable housing throughout Cook County.

HACC allocates up to 20% of its total HCV vouchers to the PBV program. Through partnerships with property owners, HACC establishes contracts that reserve units for income-eligible families. Participants pay 30% of their gross monthly income toward rent, while HACC subsidizes the remaining portion directly to the property owner.

After one year of residency in a PBV unit, eligible tenants may request a voucher.

Applying for Housing / Waitlist FAQs

I'm on the waitlist, when will you call me for a voucher?

Names are pulled in order of placement on the list and are pulled when a voucher becomes available. Vouchers become available when a person voluntarily withdraws from the program, is deceased, transfer from one program to another or is terminated from the program.

When will your waitlist be open?

HACC opens waitlists when the current waitlist is depleted of applicants. Names are pulled in order of placement on the list and are pulled when a voucher becomes available. Vouchers generally become available when a person voluntarily withdraws from the program, is deceased, transfer from one program to another or is terminated. You can register to get email notification when we do have other wait list openings in the future by visiting https://bit.ly/haccwaitlist, if you have not done so already.

Open Waitlist

In order for Housing Authority of Cook County (HACC) to provide rental assistance you must be pulled from one of our wait lists. In order to apply to the wait list, the list must be open. You can also register to get email notification when we do have other wait list openings in the future by visiting the HACC Waitlist, if you have not done so already. Wait list postings will have property information, application dates and any requirements or preferences for that property. If you have further questions regarding these wait lists, you can reach out to pbvwaitlist@thehacc.org. *Submission of application(s) does not guarantee admission to any of the housing programs.

How do I apply for housing?

Unfortunately, at this time we are not accepting applications for any of our waitlists which includes the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program (formerly Section 8) waitlist. In order for HACC to provide rental assistance you must be pulled from one of our wait lists. In order to apply to the wait list, the list must be open. At this time the list is now closed. You can register to get email notification when we do have other wait list openings in the future by visiting the https://bit.ly/haccwaitlist, if you have not done so already. Wait list postings will have property information, application dates and any requirements or preferences for that property. Please also visit our "Announcement" section to see postings of open waitlists when available. https://thehacc.site/wp/wp-admin/post.php?post=61542&action=edit# *Submission of application(s) does not guarantee admission to any of the housing programs.

How do I create an applicant portal so I can apply for Housing?

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Where else can I get help with housing?

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