HOME Family Housing Voucher Program

Family Housing Voucher Program Presentation
Video Recording: YouTube

STEP 1: Be Selected for a HOME Voucher

Chittenden Homeless Alliance (Chittenden Continuum of Care) and Vermont Coalition to End Homelessness (Balance of State Continuum of Care) must follow their established current Rapid Re-housing prioritization policy through Coordinated Entry (CE). This process will allow for a household to be selected for a HOME Voucher.

STEP 2: Apply for a HOME Voucher

Once a selected household is matched to a HOME Voucher, the Housing Support Worker sends the complete and signed application with all required documentation to the CVOEO HOME Voucher Program Administrator at HOME.FHVP@cvoeo.org.

All applications must be accompanied by:

• A letter verifying the Coordinated Entry referral and status of homelessness signed by the applicant’ Housing support worker (Appendix E) or a signed self-declaration of housing status for homeless assistance (Appendix EE).
• Eligibility documentation
  • Head of household and 18+ household members IDs (DL, NDL, Passport)
  • Head of household and 18+ household members Income documentation (pay stubs, SSI award letter)
• Housing Support Worker Services Agreement

CVOEO will verify eligibility and, if needed, request additional information. Incomplete or unsigned applications will be denied but can be resubmitted once corrected.

STEP 3: Tentative Approval for a HOME Voucher

Applicants who meet the eligibility criteria and are referred through the Coordinated Entry process will be tentatively approved for a HOME Voucher and provided with the following information:

• The portion of rent the applicant is responsible for each month.
• The rental unit size.
• The maximum allowable rent plus utilities.
• The maximum allowable security deposit (up to twice the value of one month’s rent).
• The county in which the rental unit must be located.
• Next steps, including additional unit requirements, that must be verified.

Applicants must locate a rental unit matching the above criteria within 90 days from the date of tentative approval notice. If this is not possible, they may request a 30-day extension.

CVOEO will deny the application if the applicant has not located a suitable rental unit within 90 days and an extension request has not been submitted; however, a 15-day extension will be granted when a unit has been identified but a lease has not yet been executed.

STEP 4: Final Approval for a HOME Voucher

In order to obtain final approval for a HOME Voucher, the applicant must submit the following documentation to CVOEO within 15 days of notifying CVOEO that a rental unit has been located:

• Notice that the unit has passed the housing inspection (Appendix F)
• Completed and signed Fair Market Rent and Rent Reasonableness form (Appendix G)
• Completed and signed CVOEO Home Voucher Release of Information (Appendix R)
• Signed lease agreement with completed and signed HOME lease addendum (Appendix H)
• Completed and signed Shelter Expenses form (Appendix Q)
• Completed and signed HOME Voucher Program HMIS Data Collection form and HMIS Release of Information form

CVOEO may deny the application if the above documentation is not accurately completed and received within 15 days of receiving notification that a rental unit has been located

STEP 5: 12 Month Evaluation and Requesting an Extension

After 11 months in the HOME program, the participant must complete a HOME Voucher Evaluation Form and to be considered for an extension, a completed extension request form should also be submitted.

The following forms and supporting documentation must be submitted 30 days before the voucher end date.

• Annual Review (Appendix O)
• Signed New Lease with signed and completed Home Lease addendum (Appendix H) for the new lease terms
• Current proof of income

Housing Retention Services

To complement to the navigation and retention services provided by the household’s Housing Support Worker, CVOEO offers direct support to HOME Voucher participants and landlords to help voucher holders remain stably housed. This service is primarily referral-based and includes facilitation of landlord/tenant communication and positive relationship building, one-on-one coaching support and tenant education, and referrals to housing services as needed. For more information and to make a referral, visit forms.office.com/r/iHHRzqfmbP.

Renters Rights & Responsibilities Resources

HOME Voucher participants have access to the Vermont Tenants Hotline at 802-864-0099 and all of CVOEO’s free financial and renter resources, educational offerings, and coaching. For information about Tenant Skills and Finding Housing workshops and videos, including translated materials and interpreted videos, visit cvoeo.org/vermonttenants; for personal finance classes, visit cvoeo.org/learn/growing-money-classes.

HFVP – Application Form 
Coordinated Entry Local Agencies
Appendix A – Definition of Homelessness & Documentation Requirements
Appendix B – Income Verification & Client Portion of Rent
Appendix BB – Income Self-Declaration
Appendix C – Housing Support Worker Service Agreement
Appendix D – Determining Unit Size
Appendix E – Coordinated Entry Prioritization & Verification
Appendix EE – Self-Declaration of Housing Status
Appendix F – Fair Market Rent and Rent Reasonableness
Appendix G – Housing Inspection
Appendix H – Lease Addendum
Appendix I – VAWA Property Owner Rights
Appendix J – VAWA Release
Appendix K – VAWA Certification
Appendix L – Info for Landlords
Appendix M – Client Notice of Rights
Appendix N – Emergency Transfer Request
Appendix O – Annual Review Form
Appendix P – Transfer Request
Appendix Q – Shelter Expense Statement 202H
Appendix R – Client Release
Appendix S – Grievance & Appeal Process
Appendix T – Housing Plan