Project-Based Voucher Waitlists Open September 9

Affordable Rental Assistance to Eligible Households

Photo courtesy of Home Forward.

Home Forward will begin accepting applications for four Project-Based Voucher (PBV) program waitlists at 9 a.m. on September 9. The application period will remain open through 11:59 p.m. on Monday, September 21.

The Project-Based Voucher program provides deeply affordable rental assistance to eligible households throughout the Portland region. Unlike tenant-based rental assistance, PBV assistance is connected to a specific property rather than directly to an individual or household.

Applicants will have the opportunity to apply to one or more of the four Home Forward PBV-designated property waitlists. After the application period closes, Home Forward will randomly select enough applicants to maintain each waitlist for approximately the next three years. The number of applicants selected will be based on several factors, including the current number of people on the waitlist and anticipated unit turnover.

Applicants selected for a waitlist will receive a randomized assignment. When a unit becomes available, applicants will be contacted based on their position and screened for program eligibility. Those who meet the program requirements will receive rental assistance as long as they continue to live at the participating property.

To be eligible, a household's income must be below 50% of the Area Median Income for the Portland region. Current income limits are up to $44,950 for an individual and $64,150 for a family of four, although these amounts are subject to change. The head of household must be at least 18 years old or an emancipated minor, and at least one household member must be a U.S. citizen or have eligible immigration status. Applicants must also agree to participate in a criminal background check.

Home Forward encourages anyone who believes they may qualify, as well as anyone who is unsure about their eligibility, to apply when the waitlists open on September 9.

Home Forward is also inviting community partners to participate in upcoming training webinars designed to help organizations prepare for the waitlist opening and assist clients and community members who are interested in applying. The first webinar will take place Wednesday, August 26, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, followed by a second webinar on Wednesday, September 2, from 3 to 4:30 p.m.

Additional resources will be available to partners in the coming weeks, including frequently asked questions, a partner toolkit, written application instructions, video tutorials, and access to a Help Team support hotline.

Community organizations and partners can help make this opportunity more accessible by sharing information about the upcoming waitlist opening through their networks and helping interested households understand the application process.

For additional information and updates, visit Home Forward's waitlist information page.