Housing
Choice Voucher
The 7 counties we serve are Lafayette, Tate, Yalobusha, DeSoto, Benton, Marshall and Calhoun.
Oxford Housing Authority's HCV Program, commonly referred to as Section 8, provides rent subsidies in the form of housing assistance payments to private landlords on behalf of low-income families, seniors and persons with disabilities.
HAP payments are made to private landlords on behalf of the families we serve in this program. The family then pays the difference between the actual rent charged by the Landlord and the amount subsidized by the program.
A family that is issued a housing voucher is responsible for finding a suitable housing unit of the family’s choice where a owner/landlord agrees to rent under the program. We do have a landlord list that we will provide to get you started. Our jurisdiction includes seven North Central Mississippi Counties including Lafayette, Once a family selects a rental unit it has to be approved by our HQS (Housing Quality Standards) Inspector. All units must meet HQS before assistance can be paid on behalf of a family and at least annually through the term of the assisted tenancy.
Portability (MRHA II):
Portability is a transfer process that enables Housing Choice Voucher holders to relocate and select housing anywhere in the United States where there is a housing agency operating the federal HCV program. MRHA II works with other housing authorities in the portability process in order to further increase a participant’s residential choice, mobility and encourage social and economic growth.
If you wish to Port Out, you must contact our Portability Specialist who will determine if you are eligible.
Port-In Process
Portability move-in (Port In) is when an eligible family moves from another city or county into MRHA II’s jurisdiction.
If you wish to Port-In to MRHA II’s jurisdiction, you must contact your current housing agency.
- Your current housing agency determines if you are eligible to move to MRHA II’s jurisdiction.
- Portability paperwork can be sent by mail, fax or emailed to our Portability Specialist.
- Once your portability paperwork is received, you will be contacted for an intake appointment.
After your paperwork is processed, you will be invited to a briefing appointment where you will receive your paperwork with the rules and regulations
Port-Out Process
Portability Move Out (Porting Out) is when an eligible family moves from MRHA II’s jurisdiction into another housing authority’s jurisdiction.
If you wish to Port Out, you must contact your Housing/Portability Specialist.
- Your Housing/Portability Specialist will determine if you are eligible.
- If eligible your paperwork will be sent to the new agency and you must follow all of their rules and policies.
Family Self Sufficiency (MRHA II):
FSS is a program that enables HUD-assisted families to increase their earned income and reduce their dependency on welfare assistance and rental subsidies.
Once an eligible family is selected to participate in the program, the PHA, and the head of each participating family execute a FSS Contract of Participation that specifies the rights and responsibilities of both parties. The term of the FSS contract is generally 5 years, but it may be extended for another 2 years by the PHA for good cause. The FSS contract also incorporates the family’s individual training and services plan (ITSP). The ITSP is the document that records the plan for the family. That is, the series of intermediate and long-term goals and the steps the family needs to take – and the services and resources they may need to access – to achieve those goals. Some of the services coordinated through the program include: child care, transportation, education, job training, employment counseling, financial literacy, and homeownership counseling, among others. Services are generally not provided by the PHA, but rather outsourced to service providers in the community. An interest-bearing escrow account is established by the PHA for each participating family.
Any increases in the family’s rent as a result of increased earned income during the family’s participation in the program result in a credit to the family’s escrow account. Once a family graduates from the program, they may access the escrow and use it for any purpose.
More information regarding this program can be found by clicking here.
Public Housing Map
