Housing Authority

Broward County Housing Authority (BCHA) provides rental assistance, manages affordable housing opportunities, and offers housing counseling to Broward County residents. This article explains how its programs differ, what applicants should prepare, how waiting lists affect applications, and which BCHA office to contact for a particular housing question.

Broward County Housing Authority Services

BCHA serves residents in several ways. Its Housing Choice Voucher program helps eligible households rent in the private market. BCHA also manages housing properties and serves as the management agent for HUD-subsidized multifamily communities. Its housing counseling program addresses home buying, budgeting, mortgage delinquency, and other housing concerns. The Broward County Housing Authority website is the starting point for current program notices and service information.

The right path depends on the housing you need. A voucher is rental assistance used with a participating private-market landlord. A multifamily application concerns a particular property. Housing counseling is a separate service for people working through homeownership or housing-related financial issues. Reading the page for the specific program can prevent you from preparing the wrong application or contacting an office that handles a different service.

Housing Choice Voucher Program

The Housing Choice Voucher program, also called Section 8, provides rental assistance to eligible low-income families, older adults, and people with disabilities. BCHA describes the program as assistance for households renting in the private market. Its Housing Choice Voucher service page groups information for applicants, participants, landlords, portability, and the application process.

Those categories serve different audiences. An applicant is seeking assistance. A participant already receives assistance and may need information about an existing voucher. A landlord needs information about working with the voucher program. Portability concerns the use of a Housing Choice Voucher in another location. Select the category that matches your situation so that a question about an existing voucher does not get confused with a request to apply.

Current Application Availability

BCHA’s Housing Choice Voucher application information says the program is not currently accepting applications. Its homepage also states that no waiting list is open at this time. A person who meets the general eligibility requirements should not assume that an application can be submitted while intake is closed. Review BCHA’s current notices and application information before gathering materials for submission or making a trip to its office.

Application availability and eligibility are separate issues. Eligibility describes the conditions a household must meet to receive assistance; an open waiting list determines whether BCHA is accepting applications at a given time. BCHA says high demand means most of its programs have waiting lists. When applications are accepted, placement on a waiting list may depend on availability. Submitting an application does not, by itself, mean housing assistance has been awarded.

Basic Applicant Requirements

BCHA’s applicant information page identifies several factors used to determine eligibility. Household income must fall within HUD-defined limits for Broward County. Family size and household composition can affect eligibility under different programs. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or have eligible immigration status, and BCHA states that applicants must pass a background check that includes criminal and rental history.

Because BCHA operates more than one housing program, review the requirements for the opportunity you intend to pursue. Do not assume that eligibility for a voucher, a particular community, or another housing program is identical. Household details also matter: the people included in an application should match the household information and documents supplied during the application process.

Documents to Prepare

BCHA asks applicants to be prepared to provide documents that establish identity, household membership, income, and, when applicable, Broward County residency. The applicant page identifies:

A government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license or passport.
Social Security cards for all household members.
Proof of income, such as pay stubs or SSI or SSD award letters.
Birth certificates for all minors in the household.
Proof of Broward County residency, if applicable.

Have information for every household member available when an application opportunity opens. Missing income records or documents for a household member can make it harder to complete the required fields accurately. BCHA says applications for different programs may be submitted online or in person, so follow the instructions for the particular program and opening rather than assuming every application uses the same method.

Application Status and Updates

BCHA tells applicants they can check application status through their online account or by calling its office. This applies to an application already submitted; it does not mean a closed program is accepting new applications. Keep track of which program or property you applied to and use the corresponding status information when seeking an update.

If you are waiting for an opportunity to apply, watch BCHA’s program information and notices for changes. A general announcement about BCHA housing should not be treated as an opening for every program. Read the name of the program and any instructions attached to a notice before taking action.

Multifamily Housing Communities

BCHA is the contracted management agent for HUD-subsidized multifamily properties located throughout Broward County. According to its Multifamily Communities page, these properties provide rental housing for older adults, older adults with disabilities, and families. The HUD subsidy helps keep rents affordable; BCHA says tenants at these properties pay 30% of their income toward rent.

A multifamily property application is tied to the community where a household wants to live. BCHA says families may apply to a community only when that property’s waiting list is open. This makes the property name and its waiting-list status essential details. An opening at one community should not be taken as an opening at another, and interest in a property is not the same as being on its waiting list.

Property-Specific Application Process

Begin with the community that fits your household’s housing needs, then read the application information for that property. BCHA groups multifamily communities and their application process under its Real Estate Management services. Check whether the selected property’s waiting list is open before attempting to apply.

Keep the community’s name with your application records. If you later ask BCHA about your application, identifying the property helps distinguish a multifamily inquiry from a Housing Choice Voucher inquiry. The two programs have different application paths: the multifamily information directs families to a chosen community when its list opens, while BCHA’s Housing Choice Voucher information addresses the voucher program’s own application availability.

Other Affordable Communities

BCHA also describes Affordable Communities as a service connecting residents with information about HUD-supported rental housing and housing assistance. The page discusses affordable rental communities, public housing options, Housing Choice Vouchers, and subsidized multifamily housing. These are distinct types of assistance, so ask about the particular housing opportunity that interests you rather than treating the Affordable Communities page as an application for all of them.

When comparing opportunities, determine whether you are asking about a rental unit at a property or assistance used with a landlord in the private market. That distinction will help you locate the relevant application instructions and understand which waiting list, if any, applies.

Help for Current Voucher Participants

Current Housing Choice Voucher participants have different needs from first-time applicants. BCHA includes a participants category within its voucher services and identifies Assisted Housing as a department contact. When contacting BCHA, state that you already participate in the voucher program and explain whether your question concerns your assistance, a landlord, an inspection, or a possible move.

BCHA’s voucher services also include portability. The authority explains that Housing Choice Vouchers are accepted by cities across the country. If you are considering a move, seek program-specific guidance from BCHA before treating information for new applicants as instructions for an existing voucher. A current participant’s request to use a voucher in another area is different from joining BCHA’s waiting list.

Family Self-Sufficiency Program

The Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program is voluntary and is for BCHA Housing Choice Voucher participants. It offers individual counseling and referrals related to education, job training, employment, budgeting, credit counseling, homeownership counseling, and business ownership. BCHA says staff work with participating households to identify services connected to their goals.

An FSS participant develops a plan with goals over a period of up to five years and must maintain contact with FSS staff and make measurable progress under program rules. BCHA says Housing Choice Voucher applicants must lease up before they can execute an FSS contract. If you are interested, BCHA directs prospective participants to complete and submit its FSS Statement of Interest form. FSS participation is therefore a question for someone receiving voucher assistance, rather than a route around a closed voucher application period.

Housing Counseling Services

BCHA is a HUD-certified housing counseling agency. Its housing counseling page describes education and individual counseling for first-time home buyers, post-purchase concerns, mortgage delinquency, foreclosure prevention, credit, budgeting, and financial literacy. Counselors develop a plan based on the client’s housing situation and can discuss relevant housing resources.

Housing counseling serves a different purpose from applying for rental assistance. Someone who needs help understanding a mortgage problem or preparing to buy a home should contact the counseling service rather than assume a voucher application addresses that concern. BCHA also identifies a First Time Homebuyer contact within its department directory.

First-Time Homebuyer Education

BCHA offers a free, six-hour First Time Home Buyer Education Workshop in a group setting. Topics include shopping for a mortgage, credit, the mortgage application process, fair housing, choosing a home, appraisal and inspection, insurance, budgeting, closing, and homestead. BCHA says workshops are held on the second Saturday of each month from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. through Zoom, and registration is required. Meeting access information is emailed before the event.

One-on-one counseling is also available in addition to the workshop. BCHA directs people seeking a workshop registration or an individual counseling session to email its housing counseling staff. If you plan to use a form from the counseling page, follow BCHA’s instruction to complete and save the form before emailing it; the page says its fillable forms may not work with every device or version of PDF software.

Mortgage Delinquency Counseling

BCHA’s counseling service also addresses mortgage default, delinquency, and foreclosure prevention. Counselors review a homeowner’s circumstances and help develop a work plan. For a conversation with a lender, BCHA advises having account information, recent income statements, and a household budget available, along with a clear account of the financial difficulty.

The counseling page describes possible arrangements a lender may consider, including repayment plans, forbearance, reinstatement, and loan modification. These are matters to discuss in light of the homeowner’s circumstances and the lender’s requirements; the page does not establish that every option is available to every household. BCHA also cautions homeowners about people who demand advance fees or guarantee that they can stop a foreclosure or obtain a modification.

Contacting the Correct BCHA Office

BCHA’s contact page separates its Central Office from Assisted Housing, Finance, First Time Homebuyer, Housing Counseling, and Inspection Department contacts. Before making an inquiry, identify the program involved and the action you need: a new housing application, an existing voucher matter, a particular multifamily community, a counseling appointment, or an inspection question.

For an application inquiry, have the program or community name ready. If you already submitted an application, refer to the same program when requesting a status update. Current voucher participants should identify themselves as participants so their questions are directed toward existing assistance. For property-specific housing, name the community rather than asking only about “BCHA housing.”

Questions About Program Notices

The BCHA homepage carries notices alongside program information. Read the notice itself to determine what changed and who is affected. A notice concerning Section 8 rules, for example, should not be assumed to open the Housing Choice Voucher waiting list. Likewise, a multifamily property’s waiting-list opening applies to the identified community. If a notice leaves you unsure which program it concerns, use the relevant BCHA office contact and describe the notice by its subject.

BCHA Departments and Offices

Broward County Housing Authority Central Office — 4780 North State Road 7, Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33319 — (954) 739-1114

Assisted Housing — (954) 739-1114 ext. 1210

Affordable Communities — (954) 497-3736

Housing Counseling — (954) 739-1114 ext. 1214

First Time Homebuyer — (954) 739-1114 ext. 1214

Inspection Department — (954) 739-1114 ext. 1288

Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program — (954) 739-1114

Housing Authority FAQs

How can I offer my rental to voucher holders in Broward County?

Start with BCHA’s Housing Choice Voucher services and select the landlord information. Have the property address, proposed rent, available move-in date, and lease terms ready when asking about the process. If a prospective tenant already has a voucher, identify that household’s proposed unit so BCHA can explain the steps that apply before a lease begins.

Why might my voucher rent be different from 30% of my income?

The 30% figure on BCHA’s Multifamily Communities page describes rent at those HUD-subsidized properties. It should not be used to calculate what a particular voucher household will owe for a private-market unit. If you receive voucher assistance, review your own rent notice and ask BCHA to explain the income, unit rent, and other figures used in your calculation.

Can I keep a pet or request an exception to a housing rule?

Do not assume one pet policy applies across BCHA-managed communities and privately owned voucher rentals. Check your lease and the rules for your specific property. If a disability-related need affects a housing rule, describe the accommodation you are requesting to the office or property manager responsible for that housing. BCHA’s official FAQ page lists pet and disability questions but does not provide a policy answer for either.

Can BCHA arrange immediate housing after a displacement?

BCHA’s published FAQ raises the question of emergency housing but does not state that it offers immediate placement. If your household has been displaced, explain the circumstances when asking BCHA what, if any, current housing options apply. Avoid relying on a waiting-list application as a plan for shelter tonight; an application does not establish an immediate move-in date.