2025 Project-Based Voucher (PBV) Application FAQs

No. The tenant will have to forfeit their tenant-based voucher and agree to the terms of the project-based voucher program.

No. We ask that you check with your local PHA to ensure that an MOU is active with DCA. DCA maintains copies of all active MOUs.

Yes. This can proceed if an established Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is in place.

We will consider awarding up to 30 points; however, this is contingent upon scoring within the designated scoring criteria.

Here is guidance from our Administrative Plan:

In-Place Families [24 CFR 983.251(b)]
An eligible family residing in a proposed PBV contract unit on the date the proposal is selected by the PHA is considered an "in-place family." These families are protected from displacement under PBV regulations.

If a unit being placed under contract (e.g., a unit requiring rehabilitation) is occupied by an eligible family at the time of selection, the in-place family must be placed on the PHA’s waiting list. Once the family’s continued eligibility is determined (subject to denial per 24 CFR 982.552 and 982.553), the family must be given an absolute selection preference and referred to the project owner for an appropriately sized PBV unit in the project.

Admission of eligible in-place families is not subject to income targeting requirements. However, this regulatory protection does not apply to families that are not eligible to participate in the program on the proposal selection date.

The partner Housing Authority must approve any PBV placement in their jurisdiction. 

DCA will handle the HAP disbursements.

For existing properties, HAP contracts can be extended for up to 5 years, with the option for two additional 5-year renewals if the property continues to meet compliance requirements.

For new construction properties, DCA can enter an AHAP to commit to a 15-year HAP.

The Project-Based Voucher program is tied to a specific building or property. Unlike the regular Housing Choice Voucher, where participants can use the voucher to rent from any participating landlord, the Project-Based Voucher is limited to specific properties that are part of the program. If you qualify, you will need to live in one of the designated units.

All properties must have an MOU with DCA to operate their own waitlists.

Competitive Scoring Criteria 

1. Immediate Occupancy/Availability

Up to 40 Points

Property Status	Points
Properties that can lease in place and confirm tenant eligibility	40
Properties that have just placed in service and have never been occupied	20
All other properties	0

• If properties choose to lease in place, they must include a summary of selected units and provide a completed initial eligibility packet for the households in each proposed PBV unit.
• If properties have recently placed in service or plan to place in service within the next 3-6 months, they must provide a certificate of occupancy or documentation confirming coordination with the municipality for inspections to issue a certificate of occupancy.
• Note: Per 24 CFR 983, DCA will not make awards to any properties still under construction and will not finalize any HAP contract without a certificate of occupancy.

2. Project Size

Up to 20 Points

PBV Request (% of total units)	Points
50% or more	20
25-49%	18
15-24%	15
10-15%	10
1-9%	0

• If properties request PBVs for more than 25% of their units, they must provide on-site supportive services, which DCA will monitor for compliance.
• DCA will evaluate how the number of PBVs on the property impacts deconcentrating poverty goals.
• Evaluation of Supportive Services:
  • DCA will assess the quality of planned or existing on-site supportive services if properties request PBVs beyond the project cap.
  • Supportive services may include housing case management, eviction prevention, employment assistance, childcare services, behavioral health services, healthcare, or other services promoting housing stability and economic security.
  • Resident coordinators, security, or other typical property management functions are not considered supportive services.

Documentation Requirements for Supportive Services

• A summary of services and how they uniquely benefit property residents, particularly those on DCA’s HCV waitlist who are extremely low income.
• Service contracts or agreements.
• A staffing plan, including staff resumes and a commitment to conduct background checks for service provider staff.
• A services financing plan demonstrating funding for the services throughout the PBV contract term.

Please see the PBV Financial Feasibility Core Template .

DCA conducts its own Rent Reasonableness/Rent Comparison Study.

We need to know if you plan to operate a general or referral based waitlist. If you plan to operate a referral based waitlist, we need to know which non-profit referral partners you intend to work with and we need the required documentation to determine the active status of those non-profit partners. 

You are welcome to pull information from the tax credit application for this section; however, we encourage you to make it clear how the information provided meets each criteria. 

Yes. As mentioned in the application, you do not have to complete the tenant information on the form, but you do need to complete the property/unit information for each unit type you are requesting to project base. 

Properties must use DCA published utility allowances. 

We request that properties demonstrate that they have coordinated with their local housing authority partner if we are to project-base in a jurisdiction that is not DCA’s. 

If properties choose to receive points for leasing in place, we would determine eligibility of the existing tenants. If properties choose to receive points for immediate availability, the vouchers would begin with the first resident in the unit. 

Yes. DCA’s PBV program eligibility is determined by tenant income limits not by LIHTC unit limits. 

HUD's Minority Concentration Analysis of Section 811 Applications tool is acceptable.

If buildings are located on the same site, only one application is required. If properties are located across multiple locations, separate applications are required for each individual property. 

DCA now requires that properties under PBV HAP operate their own waitlist. DCA does not plan to use the DCA PBV waitlist for new HAP contracts. 

Draft is fine for application but will need to be fully executed before AHAP. 

Complete them based on the plans for the development. If the property is selected, the reasonableness study is initially conducted to set a baseline, but finally HAP rents are not decided until after construction/rehab is complete when the team will conduct another rent reasonableness study based on comparable market units at that time. 

Complete them based off of what is planned for the development if awarded tax credits and PBVs; do not complete them based off the existing property but based off the updated plans for the site.