Schenectady Municipal Housing Authority (SMHA) Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Eligibility Criteria*

The following is a summary of the basic eligibility criteria for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program:

1. Household must be a “Very Low” Income Family (per current HUD income limits). A “Low Income” Family may qualify under some limited circumstances.
2. Household must have U.S. citizenship or be an Eligible Non-Citizen (households with members that are Ineligible Non-Citizens will received prorated assistance).
3. All household members must provide and document Social Security Numbers.
4. All adult household members must sign required consent authorization forms.
5. Households must meet SMHA screening criteria:
   1. No Criminal Background (Drug Related, Violent, Housing Related Fraud, Sex Offender) within 3 years (3 year period begins on date of last step in criminal process; arrest, conviction, incarceration, release from prison, release from probation, release from parole, etc) – Lifetime registered Sex offenders and those convicted of manufacturing methamphetamine are banned for life.
   2. No debts owed to SMHA or any other PHA nationwide.
   3. No eviction/termination from a federally assisted housing program within the last 5 years.

*The list above is not all inclusive. For detailed information about eligibility for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program please review the following sections from the SMHA Section 8 Administrative Plan Section 2.3 (Obligations of the Participant), Section 3.0 (Eligibility for Admission), Section 4.8 (Grounds for Denial).*