Housing Choice Voucher Program

The House Choice Voucher Program, Mainstream Voucher Program, and Stability Voucher Program are designed to help low income families afford market rate housing. The program is administered locally by the Fergus Falls Housing and Redevelopment Authority and is also referred to as "Section 8" and "Rent Assistance".

Change Request

If you are a current participant and need to report a change in your household income or the number of people living with you, you must fully complete and send the HRA the appropriate form by choosing one of the links below.

Qualifications

Income Limits

Effective 04/01/2025

Persons In Household

Extremely Low Income

Very Low Income

$21,050

$35,050

$24,050

$40,050

$27,050

$45,050

$32,150

$50,050

$37,150

$54,100

$43,150

$58,100

$48,650

$62,100

$54,150

$66,100

Payment Standards

Effective 10/01/2025

Bedrooms

Payment Standard

$713

$793

$1,040

$1,437

$1,519

$1,746

$1,974

Utility Allowances

Schedule of Allowances for tenant furnished utilities: Effective Jan 1, 2025

Download Utility Allowances

Portability

Portability is the ability of the family to move from the current housing agency's jurisdiction to another housing agency's jurisdiction. Voucher families, who are eligible, may move anywhere in the United States where a housing agency is administering the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program. If you decide you would like to move to another jurisdiction outside the Fergus Falls city limits, you should contact your worker and they will provide the necessary information and procedures. The following is the responsibility of the family requesting a portable move:

Sign and date a statement requesting to relocate outside the FFHRA’s jurisdiction stating the receiving housing agency's name and address;
Issue the current landlord a proper notice to vacate the unit (this applies to current participants only);
Submit a Request for Tenancy Approval with the receiving housing agency by the established deadline. The receiving housing agency's payment and occupancy standards will apply when the family chooses to relocate, which may change the bedroom size of the voucher.

Incoming Portability

Eligible HCV program households interested in porting into FFHRA’s jurisdiction must make a written request to their assigned representative in the current jurisdiction in which they reside and comply with their portability rules. The issuing housing agency will mail, email, or fax the portability packet to the FFHRA. We will contact the household for the intake process, then schedule a voucher briefing.

Incoming portability packets may be emailed to:

kelli@fergusfallshra.com

Or sent to

Fergus Falls HRA
ATTN: Incoming Portability
1151 Friberg Ave
Fergus Falls, MN 56537

Or faxed to

(218) 736-4706

FAQ

How soon can I receive assistance?

Your name will be placed on a waiting list based on the date and time we receive your application. In accordance with the current Administrative Plan, a preference is given to residents of our jurisdiction.

How much rent do I pay?

Your adjusted gross income is calculated using all household income with some deductions allowed.

If your gross rent (rent + allowance for tenant paid utilities) does not exceed the payment standards listed, you will pay 30% of your adjusted gross monthly income toward the rent for the unit.

If your gross rent exceeds the payment standards listed, you will pay 30% of your adjusted gross monthly income PLUS the amount that it goes over the payment standard. If doing so (paying the extra) causes the tenant portion of rent to exceed 40% of your adjusted gross monthly income, you will be notified that the unit is too expensive and you will have to continue to search for a rental unit that qualifies by cost for the program.

The HRA will pay the amount of rent that is not paid by the tenant. The tenant portion of rent PLUS the HRA payment will equal the total monthly rent being charged for the unit. The HRA payment is paid directly to the landlord.