HCV (Housing Choice Voucher) and HAPP (Housing Assistance Payments Program) 

A Federal Program designed to assist very low income families, the elderly, and the disabled to be able to afford Decent, Safe, and Sanitary housing in the private market. Giving private Landlords the opportunity to collect guaranteed income while providing much needed affordable housing to those most in need in our community.

Benefits for Owners

• Guaranteed Rent payments from HAPP. Our HAPP portion is paid monthly via Direct Deposit. The Tenant’s portion of the total rent is based on their income. Anytime they have an increase/decrease we have the ability to adjust their portion and we make up the difference. Meaning they should not have a problem paying their portion each month.
• Tenants who do not pay their portion to the Landlord risk losing their Housing Assistance once we are made aware of it. Hence, if we receive notification a Tenant hasn’t paid their rent we will assist in pushing them to pay or risk losing their Housing Assistance through our office. Many owners find this to be a huge benefit over non-program participants
• HAPP versus Traditional Tenants: Participants on our program have incentive to pay their portion of rent (if any) timely, keep the property clean, and to not do other things to cause them to be evicted. Lease Violations for certain types of criminal activity, damage to property, or failure to pay their portion of the Rent are grounds for termination from the program.
• Potential Owners/Landlords will be helping a cost burdened/ low income individual or family obtain decent, safe and sanitary housing.
• Initial & Annual Property Inspections are conducted by our office. We report any issues or deficiencies we note to Owners ASAP. HAPP always suggests Owners Inspect their properties more often.
• Owners have the ability to use their own pre-screening criteria (credit, criminal, rental history, etc) and to charge a reasonable application screening fee to potential Tenants as long as it falls within Fair Housing Guidelines. The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits the denial of housing to a person based on the person’s membership in one or more of the classes protected under the Act. The protected classes are race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, and disability. NOTE: Owners and/or their agents are encouraged not to deny any applicant the right to rent housing based ONLY on the fact that the applicant is a participant in the HCV/HAPP Program. This can be used as part of their screening criteria, but we encourage Owners to not make this the sole reason for denying an application if the applicant passes all other screening criteria.
• Comparable rents and rent increases are based on the local market and HUD’s annual FMR (Fair Market Rent) Schedule for the local area. We consistently run market comps at move in, plus each time a Landlord requests a rent increase. Owners can request an increase as frequently as every 12 months. We welcome and encourage this practice. Annual rent increase approval is based on both market conditions and annual budgeting guidelines

How Can I Participate? 

• Advertise your vacancies with our office. It’s FREE!
• Set your own Rent amount. Note: We will be happy to assist you when necessary with market comps.
• Set your own Security Deposit. NC Tenant Landlord Law says you can charge anywhere from zero up to a month and a half of what equals the initial total monthly rent amount. This applies to Owners who use a 12 month lease term and then let it roll into a month to month after the initial 12 months.
• Set your own criteria for screening potential applicants as outlined on the previous page.
• Ask for a copy of our Inspection Guidelines or go to our website. We are happy to share a checklist with you regarding HUD’s Housing Quality Standards.
• Ask for an Owner/Landlord packet which will include documents such as W-9, Direct Deposit Authorization and other Owner information we will need once you have selected your HCV Tenant and are ready to proceed with the rental process.

Benefits the Community

By providing housing to Tenants who are on a limited income and do not have the resources to be able to afford the rising rents in our area you are helping them to have a decent, safe and sanitary place to live.

When you say “yes” to a HCV participant this puts money into your pocket as the Owner, and it puts additional dollars into the community. After all this is where the participant will live, shop, work etc.

Have questions? Give us a call, or visit or website for more information

107 E. Johnston St. Smithfield, NC 27577

P.O Box 1515 Smithfield, NC 27577

919-989-5070

https://www.johnstonnc.gov/happ/

View and/or save HAPP Program Brochure