Housing Choice Voucher

The Housing Choice Voucher division helps economically vulnerable populations – including the elderly, disabled, and households with very low income – afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing.

It does that by using funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Housing Choice Voucher Program, formerly known as “Section 8,” to pay part of individual participant’s monthly rent. It also administers the Project-Based Assistance Program, which offers rental subsidies for one-, two- and three-bedroom units at certain sites.

The Covington office administers 1,200 vouchers that can be used anywhere in Kenton County.

• The process:
  • Participants apply for the program and are typically put on a waiting list. When their name moves to the top of the list and they receive a voucher, they are responsible for finding suitable housing where the owner agrees to rent under the program. Housing typically are apartments but can also be single-family homes, duplexes, triplexes, mobile homes, condominiums, townhouses, and cottages. 
  • The City inspects the property for health and safety concerns and then signs a lease with the landlord to qualify the property for the program.
  • The City verifies income and does a criminal background check of potential tenants.
  • Tenants sign a lease with the landlord for at least one year. After that, the lease is month to month. 
  • Tenants pay the security deposit.
  • Qualified families pay 30 percent of their gross income for rent and utilities. The program pays the remainder directly to the landlord under a specific contract. Note that the subsidy is tied to the family, not the residence.
  • Rent limits  The City must approve the rent amount, and landlords cannot separately charge tenants additional rent.
  • Utility Allowances
  • FAQs 
  • Video: This VIDEO explains program rules and regulations. It is required viewing during the orientation process, and you will be sent to this link by your service representative when the time comes.

• Landlord access site: The City has created a website from which landlords can view or print direct deposit statements for Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) on a 24/7 basis.* All users will need to register in order to set up a user name and password in the new system. 
  Register Here     Landlord Access Portal
• Licenses needed by a participating property owner in the City of Covington:
  • Occupational license
  • Rental license
• W-9 form 
• Inspection list (HUD standards). The City does a basic inspection of rental property on the front end to make sure it meets Housing Quality Standards, but the inspection primarily addresses common-sense safety and code issues. If deficiencies are found, landlords are given the opportunity to fix them or withdraw that property from the program. 
• Direct deposit form 
• Change of address form 
• Change of management form 
• Change of ownership form 
• Rights and responsibilities: Landlords have the same rights and responsibilities in the Housing Choice Voucher program as they have with any open-market renter, including:
  • Maintain your property in good condition. 
  • Complete all necessary repairs within a reasonable amount of time (typically 30 days) upon request by the City of Covington voucher program or tenant. 
  • Set reasonable rules about the use of unit and common areas. 
  • Do not enter a unit without tenant's permission and/or proper notice, except for emergencies or tenant's requested repairs. 
  • Collect appropriate security deposit as directed under the program and use it only in accordance with local and state law. 
  • Comply with fair housing and equal housing opportunity requirements. 
  • Enforce tenant obligations under your dwelling lease.
  • Take action through the court system in order to evict tenants if/when they violate the lease (no self-help evictions tactics). 
• FAQs 

The Project-Based Assistance Program offers rental subsidies for one-, two- and three-bedroom units in these three housing developments: Academy Flats, Eastside Revitalization, and Dell Street Properties. 

• To apply: Applications are accepted in person at 2300 Madison Ave., Covington. All adults who will be living in the Section 8 household must be present, and you must bring this information:
  • Valid, current picture IDs for all adult household members
  • State-issued birth certificates for all household members
  • Social Security cards or Social Security print-outs for all household members
  • Current verification of your income dated within the last 60 days (such as Social Security award letter, check stubs, TANF paperwork, etc.)
  • Verification of residency, such as one of these:
    • Signed Lease for current unit.
    • Utility bill from last 60 days (gas and electric, cable, telephone, etc.)
    • Pay stub from last 60 days, if your address is listed on it
    • If homeless, a letter from a shelter confirming that
    • Two other pieces of “official” mail dated in last 60 days (such as Food Stamp/Medical Card paperwork, credit card bill, bank statement, etc.)
• Questions? Call (859) 292-2188.

• Housing Authority of Covington.
• HUD Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Notice  
• Other housing agency lists
  • Local Section 8 Offices
  • Income-Based Rental Units/Public Housing
  • Housing for Seniors/Disabled In Northern KY
• Fair Housing – Equal Opportunity for All.