Housing Choice Voucher Program
The Housing Choice Voucher Program pays rental subsidies so that eligible families can afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing. NMHC administers and manages 363 vouchers throughout the CNMI which are located on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. Under this program, families select and rent privately-owned, scattered units that meet the program Housing Quality Standards (HQS).
If NMHC approves the family’s unit and tenancy, NMHC will contact the owner to make the rent subsidy payment on behalf of the family. However, NMHC may not approve a tenancy unless the rent is reasonable. In addition, the subsidy is based on the Payment Standards established by NMHC, that reflects the cost of the unit in the local housing market.
The family may rent a unit anywhere within its jurisdiction where the PHA runs the program. To receive the assistance, the family selects a suitable unit; after approving the tenancy, NMHC enters into a contract to make the rental subsidy payment to the owner to subsidize occupancy by the family.
Once NMHC executes the contract with the owner, it will only cover a single unit and specific assisted family. If the family moves out of the leased unit, the contract with the owner is terminated. The family may move to another unit with the continued assistance, as long as the family is complying with the program requirements.