The Beginning

The Housing Choice Voucher Program dates back to the 1970’s, under the Presidential Administration of Richard Nixon. Both the Administration and the Department for Housing and Urban Development (HUD) searched for a private sector alternative to the Public Housing Program, so HVC was born.

When the Housing Choice Voucher Program began, it started out as housing certificate program. The Housing Certificate Program is very similar to the current Housing Voucher Program, with minor differences in the way the Housing Agencies calculation rental subsidy. The two programs were merged together and converted into the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program as we know it today.