Programs & Eligibility

The Housing Choice Voucher Program assists low-income families, seniors, and disabled individuals in securing safe housing in the private market. Participants can choose from various housing options, including single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments.

They have the freedom to select housing that meets program requirements and where landlords accept voucher payments. TGHA oversees the program locally, receiving federal funds from HUD for administration.

Once issued a voucher, families find suitable housing, which must meet health and safety standards. TGHA pays a subsidy directly to landlords on behalf of participants, who cover the difference between actual rent and the subsidized amount.

TGHA currently administers 3,291 vouchers, including 207 HUD-VASH Vouchers. The program’s Administrative Plan outlines eligibility guidelines and rental assistance procedures.

LANDLORD RESPONSIBILITIES

• Perform all management and rental functions for the assisted unit, including screening and selection of tenants.
• Maintain the unit in accordance with Housing Quality Standards (HQS), including performance of maintenance.
• Comply with equal opportunity/fair housing requirements.
• Prepare information required under the Housing Assistance Payments contract and furnish the information to TGHA.
• Collect from the renter: security deposit, tenant portion of the rent, any charges for damages to the unit.
• Enforce the tenant obligations under the lease.
• Pay for utilities and services agreed upon in the lease.
• May not collect side payments from HCV renters or charge more than approved by TGHA.

TENANT RESPONSIBILITIES

• Supply information determined necessary by TGHA or HUD to administer the program, including completion of scheduled income reviews.
• Pay utilities that are not supplied by the landlord.
• Provide and maintain the appliances for which they are responsible.
• Correct damages inflicted to unit by family member or guest, in specified time period.
• May not commit serious or repeated violation(s) of the lease.
• Notify TGHA and the owner 30 (no more than 60) days in advance, prior to moving or terminating the lease.

TGHA RESPONSIBILITIES

• Pay landlord by the fifth day of each month.
• Regularly evaluate family eligibility.
• Inspect units at least once every year.
• Investigate potential fraud or program abuse by tenants or landlords.
• Provide quality customer service to HCV landlords and tenants.
• Notify landlord of any change in subsidy amount.

TGHA provides affordable housing options in neighborhoods throughout the Greenville Community.

TGHA’s portfolio consists of several types of housing communities:

• Project-Based Vouchers
• Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC)
• Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD)
• Market Rate

Mixed-Income Communities are defined as: A deliberate effort to construct and/or own a multi-family development that has the mixing of income groups as a fundamental part of its financial and operational plans.

HUD has focused over the last decade and a half on the construction of mixed-income communities.

The development of the housing model of mixed-income living implies a promise to move people who have been isolated from market forces closer to the market. This combination provides new opportunities, and seeks to ensure that all of our residents have the tools to be successful in this physical environment.

Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Communities are defined as: Affordable rental housing for low and very low-income families.

The Tax Credit Reform Act of 1986 created the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program (LIHTC). The program regulations are under Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code. The tax credit encourages developers to build affordable housing to meet the needs of the community. As a condition for receiving Housing Tax Credits, owners must keep the units affordable for a specified number of years. Affordable rents are defined and calculated based on Median Household Income figures published annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The residents who live in Section 42 units must be income and program eligible. The rent that a Section 42 resident will pay is based on a fixed rental fee for the unit size that is lower than the average market rate rent in the area. Affordable rents that are lower than similar market rate units in the community.

Rental Assistance Demonstration Communities are defined as: The Rental Assistance Demonstration was created in order to give public housing authorities (PHAs) a powerful tool to preserve and improve public housing properties and address the $26 billion dollar nationwide backlog of deferred maintenance. RAD also gives owners of three HUD “legacy” program (Rent Supplement, Rental Assistance Payment, and Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation) the opportunity to enter into long-term contracts that facilitate the financing of improvements.

*UNDER CONSTRUCTION*

VETERANS AFFAIRS SUPPORTIVE HOUSING (VASH)

The HUD-VASH program provides rental housing assistance vouchers specifically targeted towards homeless veterans. PHA’s work closely with the US Department of Veterans Affairs. In addition to the rental assistance provided through voucher assistance, the Veterans Affairs case management provides supportive services and case management to HUD-VASH voucher holders. The Greenville Housing Authority has received awards totaling 207 HUD-VASH vouchers to serve homeless veteran households.

All HUD-VASH referrals are received through the US Department of Veterans Affairs case management team. All eligibility screening is conducted by the US Department of Veteran Affairs except income eligibility and for lifetime registration under a state sex offender registration program. A condition of eligibility for a HUD-VASH voucher is that the families receive VA case management services. A family’s HCV assistance must be terminated if the family refuses, without good cause, to participate in required case management with the VA.

If you are a homeless veteran and interested in receiving a HUD-VASH voucher, please contact the Greenville VA Outpatient Clinic at 864-299-1600 Ext. 2736 to see if you qualify.

Am I Eligible for HCV?

Individuals earning or living with low-incomes can afford to rent an apartment or single-family home at normal market rates through the Housing Choice Voucher Program.

The Housing Choice Voucher program provides rental assistance to about 3,900 households in Greenville County, SC. This highly popular program has a waiting list that we will open once the existing wait list is exhausted. Applicants are then selected from the waiting list using date and time application was submitted.

To meet the income guidelines, you must earn less than half (50%) of the typical income for a family of your size in the Greenville area. Use the chart below to find out.

Income Limits for HCV Program as of April 1, 2022

To be eligible for the Housing Choice Voucher Program, you must:

1. Meet maximum income guidelines
2. Pass a criminal background check
3. Have at least one family member who is a citizen or legal resident of the U.S.

HUD requires that extremely low-income (ELI) families make up at least 75 percent of the families admitted to the HCV program during TGHA’s fiscal year. ELI families are those with annual incomes at or below the federal poverty level or 30 percent of the area median income, whichever number is higher. To ensure this requirement is met, a PHA may skip non-ELI families on the waiting list in order to select an ELI family.

TGHA will monitor progress in meeting the income targeting requirement throughout the fiscal year. Extremely low-income families will be selected ahead of other eligible families on an as-needed basis to ensure the income targeting requirement is met.

Once enrolled in the program, you may stay in your current home if it meets our quality standards, the rent is reasonable compared to similar apartments in the area and your current landlord is willing enter into a housing assistance payment with TGHA. You can also search for a new rental.

Am I Eligible for PBV?

TGHA apartments and single-family homes are meant to house individuals and families living on limited incomes. To find out if you qualify for one of our units, follow the three steps below.

1. Look Up Your Income Level

Using the table below, find the row for your family size, and then find your annual household income in that row. Then look at the top of that column to find your percentage number. Your percentage number measures your income in comparison to the average family of your size in the Greenville area. You may want to write down your percentage number to remember it.

Income Limits for PBV Program as of April 1, 2021

The limits listed above are for subsidized programs. There are slightly different limits for non-subsidized programs. If your income is close to the limits listed above, please speak directly with each property for their specific income limits.

TGHA administers other forms of rental assistance programs such as the Housing Choice Voucher Program (also known as Section 8).

2. Search for Housing

Income limits are listed in the property description for every apartment or single family home listed on this website. If your percentage number is the same or lower than the income limit shown for that unit, then you are eligible to rent it.

3. Know Your History

Like other landlords, we need to make sure our applicants will be good tenants. This involves checking your:

Landlord References: We’ll need to see good references from the places you have lived for the past three years. If there is a good reason you can’t provide these, we may be able to use other types of references.

Credit History: We run a consumer credit check on every applicant. If you still owe money to a previous landlord, you might not be approved for residency.

Criminal History: We have specific guidelines at each of our properties regarding serious crimes, especially drug-related activity or violence. We run a criminal record check on every applicant.

Waitlist

• TGHA will review applications for completion and initial eligibility requirements.
• Applicants should maintain the email address used to submit their application.
  TGHA does not provide emergency housing.
• TGHA cannot anticipate when an applicant’s name will be selected from the waiting list.
• TGHA will not provide additional information on waiting list status other than the information reflected on this website.
• Applicants will be notified by U.S. Postal Service standard mail and/or email of any scheduled appointments.
• Changes will only be accepted through written notice or via email at [email protected] 
• TGHA is not responsible for any misdirected mail or email due to:
  an applicant’s failure to report a change of address to TGHA; or
  address incorrectly listed on the application or update forms; or
  difficulties receiving mail from the specific address listed on the application or update form. (i.e., broken mail box, Post Office delivery, person at the mailing address did not give mail to applicant, etc.
  TGHA will not forward any undelivered mail that does not have a forwarding address on the returned envelope.

Application Update
Current Applicants Only

If you have applied for housing and are on one of our waiting list and need to update contact or household information please follow the instructions below.

Update Your Existing Application

It’s your responsibility to report to us in writing any changes in your contact information: Mailing Address, Phone# and E-mail Address.

Please use the Application Change Form if you need to update your application, and you can find those at the TGHA Main office located at 122 Edinburgh Ct, Greenville, SC 29607.

This form is only used to update your EXISTING APPLICATION and is not necessary if you do not have any changes.

For any other changes regarding current applications, please contact us by email here. Please make sure your email includes the changes you are requesting.

Q: Where can I obtain a housing application?
A: Housing applications are currently only accepted online. Navigate to the “Apply for Housing” section to review any open Wait Lists.

Q: Is there assistance available to fill out housing applications online?
A: Yes, TGHA has a Call Center available, Monday thru Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm.

Please dial 833- 736-3765 for assistance.

Q: How will I know if my online housing application has been accepted?
A: Once your application is accepted, you will be issued a confirmation number.

Q: What if I have general questions about an existing application?
A: You may email [email protected] for assistance.

Q: How can I update my application once it is accepted?
A: You will need to make all changes to your application in writing, and mail it to the following address:

122 Edinburgh Ct
ATTN: TGHA Eligibility Department
Greenville, SC 29607

You may also email the Waitlist Eligibility Department with any changes at  [email protected].

Q: What happens after a housing application is completed?
A: New housing applications are added to an existing Wait List of Applicants.

Q: How will I know when my application has been selected?
A: You will be sent a Wait List Selection letter from the Eligibility Department when your application is being processed.

Q: How long does it take for an application to be selected?
A: Applications are selected based on the availability of rental assistance funding and/or unit availability for the number of people in your family.

Q: Who should I contact if I have questions regarding a Wait List Selection letter?
A: You should contact the telephone number or email address enclosed in your letter. You may also contact the Waitlist Eligibility Department a at [email protected] or 864-990-3588.

Q: My neighbor, friend, cousin received a letter about their application, but I did not receive a letter. Why?
A: Did your address change from the time you submitted the pre-application? If your Rank Number was selected during the Lottery selection and your address listed on the pre-application is correct, you will receive a letter in the mail.

Q: What is my number on the Waiting List?
A: The number is listed in the letter mailed from the Housing Authority to all applicants.

Q: How do I apply?
A: The Greenville Housing Authority will re-open the waiting list to accept applications when most people on the current waiting list have been served. When the list is about to be opened, a notice will be placed in local newspapers and on this website in the “Apply for Housing” section.

Q: How does the application process work?
A: Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) is a Federal Program administered nationally by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Individuals or households in need of rental assistance must first place their name on the Housing Authority HCV Waiting List. When your family has been selected from the list, you will receive a letter requesting information/documentation that must be provided to determine your eligibility for the Housing Choice Voucher Program.

Q: Will I need to produce any documentation?
A: Yes, the Housing Authority (PHA) Missing Documents Representative will request whatever documentation is needed (e.g., birth certification, social security number, income source) to verify the information given on your application. The PHA will also rely on direct verification from your employer, etc. You will be asked to sign a form to authorize release of pertinent information to the PHA.