Housing Assistance (Section 8)

The County of Hawaiʻi Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD), Existing Housing Division administers federally funded housing assistance programs through the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These programs are designed for low-income families to find safe and affordable housing in the private market.

Housing Assistance Programs maximizes the use of existing housing stock within the County of Hawaiʻi (Hawaiʻi Island) by offering expanded opportunities for low-income households for rental assistance and self-sufficiency programs.

Please use the buttons/links below to explore Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program information, including application resources, participant guidance, landlord tools, and additional program materials. You can also find information about housing initiatives, policies, and ways to contact our office.

Housing Voucher Programs

The Housing Voucher Programs (commonly known as Section 8) states that tenants can typically pay around 30% of their household Adjusted Monthly Income (AMI) towards rent. After OHCD determines family affordability and rent reasonableness, the remaining portion of rent on a monthly basis may be subsidized with rental assistance if individuals and families meet eligibility requirements and if funding is available.

Housing Choice Voucher (HCV)

The Housing Choice Voucher program is the federal government's major program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Since housing assistance is provided on behalf of the family or individual, participants are able to find their own housing, including single-family homes, townhouses and apartments.

The participant is free to choose any housing that meets the requirements of the program and is not limited to units located in subsidized housing projects.

Housing choice vouchers are administered locally by public housing agencies (PHAs). The PHAs receive federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to administer the voucher program.

A family that is issued a housing voucher is responsible for finding a suitable housing unit of the family's choice where the owner agrees to rent under the program. This unit may include the family's present residence. Rental units must meet minimum standards of health and safety, as determined by the PHA.

A housing subsidy is paid to the landlord directly by the PHA on behalf of the participating family. The family then pays the tenant rent portion between the actual rent charged by the landlord (once approved by the PHA) and the amount subsidized by the program. Under certain circumstances, if authorized by the PHA, a family may use its voucher to purchase a modest home.

Mainstream Vouchers for Non-elderly persons with disabilities (MS)

Mainstream vouchers assist non-elderly persons with disabilities. Aside from serving a special population, Mainstream vouchers are administered using the same rules as other housing choice vouchers. Funding and financial reporting for Mainstream vouchers is separate from the regular tenant-based voucher program.

Project-Based Voucher (PBV)

Project-based vouchers (PBVs) are a component of a public housing agency’s (PHA’s) Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program. PHAs are not allocated additional funding for PBV units; the PHA uses its tenant-based voucher funding to allocate project-based units to a project. Projects are typically selected for PBVs through a competitive process managed by the PHA; although in certain cases projects may be selected non-competitively.

Foster Youth to Independence Initiative (FYI)

The Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) initiative makes Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) assistance available to Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) in partnership with Public Child Welfare Agencies (PCWAs).  Under FYI, PHAs provide housing assistance on behalf of:

Youth at least 18 years and not more than 24 years of age (have not reached their 25th birthday) who left foster care, or will leave foster care within 90 days, in accordance with a transition plan described in Section 475(5)(H) of the Social Security Act, and are homeless or are at risk of becoming homeless at age 16 or older.

As required by statute, an FYI voucher issued to such a youth may only be used to provide housing assistance for the youth for a maximum of 36 months. In addition to providing up to 36 months of rental assistance, youth must be provided supportive services to assist the young person on their path to self-sufficiency.

Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH)

The HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program combines HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) rental assistance for homeless Veterans with case management and clinical services provided by the https://www.va.gov/hilo-vet-center/. VA provides these services for participating Veterans at VA medical centers (VAMCs), community-based outreach clinics (CBOCs), through VA contractors, or through other VA designated entities.

Stability Voucher (SV)

The Stability Voucher initiative makes Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) assistance available to Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) in partnership with local Continuum's of Care and/or Victim Service Providers to assist households experiencing or at risk of homelessness, those fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, and veterans and families that include a veteran family member that meets one of the proceeding criteria. 

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Programs for Section 8 Participants

Family Self-Sufficiency Program (FSS)

The Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program helps participants build financial stability and work toward long-term goals like employment, education and homeownership. Through personalized support and a savings (escrow) account that grows as your income increases, families can build assets and move toward greater independence. If you are a current program participant and interested in the FSS Program, please email fsshopinfo@hawaiicounty.gov or call (808) 959-4642.

Homeownership Option Program (HOP)

The Homeownership Option Program (HOP) helps eligible families use their housing assistance to buy a home instead of renting. The program provides monthly support with mortgage payments along with guidance to help families successfully achieve and maintain homeownership. If you are a current program participant and interested in homeownership, please email fsshopinfo@hawaiicounty.gov or call (808) 959-4642.

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Public Housing Agency (PHA) Plans

• Annual PHA Plan (2025)

• 5-Year PHA Plan (2025)

• Administrative Plan (2025)

• DRAFT Annual PHA Plan (2026)

• DRAFT Administrative Plan (2026)