New housing opportunity could put $500 extra in property owner’s pocket

The Westmoreland County Housing Authority (WCHA) is administering a special HUD program called the Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) Program. 

The Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) program is available as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).  Through EHV, HUD is providing housing choice vouchers to certain local Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) assist individuals and families who are homeless, at-risk of homelessness, were recently homeless and families experiencing other similar circumstances.  The WCHA was chosen to provide these vouchers in partnership with local social service agencies and homeless shelters.  Because this has become a national priority in housing during a time of instability in our world, HUD has given us the ability to provide landlords with incentives who lease to EHV participants.  Therefore, with each leasing and Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) contract executed with the WCHA for an EHV participant, the WCHA will pay you $500!  That’s over and above what you receive from your rent! Additional benefits can be provided to the participant including security deposit assistance and moving expense. 

If you would like to be on a listing for landlords who are looking for EHV applicants, please contact us at 724-832-7248 ext. 3043 and you will be placed on a list that will be available to EHV participants.

Please note that an EHV applicant will have a Request for Tenancy Approval form that is yellow with the words EMERGENCY HOUSING VOUCHER PROGRAM (EHV) at the top.  This special incentive only applies to rentals in Westmoreland County.

For more information about the EHV Program, please see the FAQs at “Section 8 Landlord Info” under the Housing Choice Vouchers tab on the WCHA website (wchaonline.com).