MCHA Jurisdictional Areas
MCHA provides housing assistance throughout Marion County Oregon in the following cities: St. Paul, Aurora, Donald, Hubbard, Woodburn, Gervais, Monitor, Brooks, Mt. Angel, Silverton, Scotts Mills, Shaw, Turner, Aumsville, Sublimity, Stayton, Marion, Jefferson, Mehama, Lyons, Mill City, Gates, Detroit and Idanha.
The Marion County Housing Authority DOES NOT provide housing assistance in Salem or Keizer.
MCHA Map.jpg
You can check to see if your physical address is outside the Salem/Keizer Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) by going to the Marion County Zoning map and entering your address in the search bar.
Housing Choice Voucher Program - Eligibility Criteria
To apply for MCHA's Housing Choice Voucher Program, please follow the link below and fill out the online Waiting List Application. The Waiting List Application does not guarantee eligibility for a voucher.
Estimated wait time on the HCV waitlist ranges from 2 - 7 plus years, depending on availability and funding.
Waitlist application will be closed on August 31, 2021 until further notice.
Application in English - HCV Waiting List
Application in Spanish - HCV Waiting List
If you've already applied and would like to update your application, complete this form
HCV and OH PRE-APPLICATION update form_10.2020.pdf
The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program is the federal government's major program for assisting low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market outside of the Keizer/Salem Urban Growth Boundary area of Marion County. The Housing Authority offers rental assistance to families that meet the eligibility requirements. To be eligible for rental assistance, a household must:
1. Meet Eligible Immigrant or Citizenship Requirements
- Individuals must be U.S. citizens, or non-citizens with eligible immigration status. To receive assistance, applicants must provide evidence of citizenship or eligible immigration status.
- Families are eligible for assistance as long as at least one member is a citizen, national, or eligible noncitizen. Families that include both eligible and ineligible individuals are considered mixed families. Rental assistance for such families will be prorated based on the number of eligible immigrants and citizens in the household.
- Each family member must sign a declaration of U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status. The Housing Authority is not required to report an individual's unlawful presence in the U.S. to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
- All family members will be required to provide birth certificate, passport or other documentation to verify citizenship or national status.
- Eligible immigrants must fall into one of the categories specified by the regulations, and must sign a consent form to have their status verified by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The documentation required for establishing eligible noncitizen status varies depending upon factors such as the date the person entered the U.S., the conditions under which eligible immigration status has been granted, the person's age, and the date on which the family began receiving HUD-funded assistance.
2. Provide social security number information for household members as required.
- The applicant and all members of the applicant's household must disclose the complete and accurate social security number assigned to each household member, and the documentation necessary to verify each SSN. (Note: Does not apply to noncitizens who do not contend eligible immigration status)
3. Be within Income Limits
- Income limits are used for eligibility only at admission. Income eligibility is determined by comparing the annual income of an applicant household to the applicable income limit for their family size. Eligible applicants must have a household income that does not exceed the limits for their area.
4. Meet criminal background requirements - HUD requires the Housing Authority to deny assistance in the following cases: - Any household member has ever been convicted of drug-related criminal activity for the production or manufacture of methamphetamine on the premises of federally assisted housing
- Any household member is subject to a lifetime registration requirement under a state sex offender registration program.
Income Limits and Payment Standards
Income limits are used to determine if a household is eligible to receive housing assistance. Income eligibility is determined by comparing the annual income of an applicant household to the income limit for their family size. The income limit for the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program is 50%. Other Marion County Housing Authority housing programs have varying income limits.
A payment standard is the maximum amount the Marion County Housing Authority can assist a family with their rent. The actual amount we can assist your family will be determined when you are selected from the waiting list and we review your case.
MCHA Current Payment Standards and Income Limits_10.1.2020 and 6.1.2021_2.pdf
NOTE: For tenants who are utilizing a pad space rent subsidy for manufactured homes, the lower of either the Payment Standard for the corresponding bedroom size of the unit or the family size will be utilized.
Utility Allowances
MCHA sets an allowance for the monthly expense of utilities including gas, oil, water and electricity. The allowance is based on the number of bedrooms in your home.
2021 Utility Allowance Sheets.
