Changes To The Housing Choice Voucher Program
July 2025
Dear Housing Choice Voucher Tenants:
The BCHA is making the following changes to the HCV Program effective immediately:
- Moves for program participants that will result in a higher HAP, whether within Berks County or to another jurisdiction via portability, will be limited to only those required as a reasonable accommodation, unless other agency is willing to absorb.
- Starting July 1, 2025, we are reducing our payment standards from 110% to 100% of the Fair Market Rents (FMRs) published annually by HUD.
- The new payment standards will be effective immediately for all new participants and for all moves or changes of unit by current participants.
- For current participants remaining in their current unit, the new payment standards will be effective with the second annual recertification after July 1, 2025.
Below is a table showing the effect the reduction in payment standards will have:
Bedroom Size: | 0 BR | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR | 4 BR | 5 BR | 6 BR |
Current (110%) Payment Standard: | $1,021 | $1,183 | $1,488 | $1,858 | $1,973 | $2,269 | $2,565 |
New (100%) Payment Standard: | $928 | $1,075 | $1,353 | $1,689 | $1,794 | $2,063 | $2,332 |
Housing Choice Voucher Briefing Videos
This briefing video is intended to give applicants who have been approved for housing a general overview of how the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) works. The BCHA has advised these applicants in their briefing packet to watch this short 20 minute video prior to their scheduled briefing conference call. Should any questions arise, the BCHA advices applicants to refer back to both this video and the briefing packet before contacting our office, as most of the answers are within these materials.