Public Housing FAQ
Public housing is limited to low-income families and individuals. McHC determines your eligibility based on:
- Annual gross income
- Whether you qualify as elderly, a person with a disability, or as a family, and
- U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status
If you are interested in applying for public housing, waitlist intake dates and updates are posted in the Updates and News section of this website, local newspaper and our social media accounts.
A pre-application must be submitted online during waitlist intake. This Pre-Application permits McHC to place your name on the waiting list for the program(s) that you want to apply for.
- Applicant will need an email address, phone number, and current mailing address.
- Names of all persons who would be living in the unit, including their sex, date of birth, and relationship to the Primary Applicant
- McHC will place your name on the waiting list
- The agency will contact you when it is ready to determine your eligibility.
- Valid Photo ID/Driver’s License/Passport
- Social Security Card(s)
- Birth certificate(s)
- Income verification documents: last 4 check stubs, child support statements, self-employment statements, and award letters (SNAP, TANF, SSI, RSDI, etc.)
An appointment letter will be mailed to the Mailing Address you provided on the pre-application. The letter will state the time and date of your appointment.
*If your address changes, it is your duty to return to this application website and update any changes.
HCV Programs FAQ
HCV is limited to low-income families and individuals. McHC determines your eligibility based on:
- Annual gross income
- Whether you qualify as elderly, a person with a disability, or as a family, and
- U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status
If you are interested in applying for HCV, waitlist intake dates and updates are posted in the Updates and News section of this website, local newspaper and our social media accounts.
A pre-application must be submitted online during waitlist intake. This Pre-Application permits McHC to place your name on the waiting list for the program(s) that you want to apply for.
- Applicant will need an email address, phone number, and current mailing address.
- Applicant will provide names of all persons who would be living in the unit, including their sex, date of birth, and relationship to the Primary Applicant.
- McHC will place your name on the waiting list.
- The agency will contact you when it is ready to determine your eligibility.
An appointment letter will be mailed to the Mailing Address you provided on the pre-application. The letter will state the time and date of your appointment.
*If your address changes, it is your duty to return to this application website and update any changes.
The housing choice voucher program places the choice of housing in the hands of the eligible family. An HCV holder is advised of the unit size for which it is eligible based on family size and composition.
The housing unit selected by the family must meet an acceptable level of health and safety before the MHC can approve the unit. The family must pay 30% of its monthly adjusted gross income for rent and utilities, depending on unit location.
- Valid Photo ID/Driver’s License/Passport
- Social Security Card(s)
- Birth certificate(s)
- Income verification documents: last 4 check stubs, child support statements, self-employment statements, and award letters (SNAP, TANF, SSI, RSDI, etc.)
Please note the following information: The McAllen Housing Commission is currently billing.
Portability in the Housing Choice Voucher program allows you to transfer your rental subsidy when you move to a location outside the jurisdiction of the public housing agency (PHA) that initially issued your voucher. New participants must reside within the jurisdiction of the initial PHA for a minimum of one year before they are able to qualify for portability.
The agency that will administer your assistance in the area to which you are moving is called the receiving PHA.
To transfer to the McAllen Housing Commission under portability, you must contact your initial PHA to begin the portability process.
All necessary paperwork must be sent to: portability@mcallenhc.org.
Landlord Q&A
- You will get timely and dependable payments from the Housing Commission.
- You will get your full rental payment.
- You will receive regular inspections.
- You may request annual reasonable rent increases.
- You have the opportunity to help low-income elderly, disabled, and veteran households, as well as families with children by providing affordable housing.
The unit needs to meet basic building codes for safe and sanitary housing. Please see Landlord Informational Packet for more information.
We also require that you make any necessary repairs prior to an inspection to avoid the necessity of a 2nd inspection which you will be charged for according to current Housing Commission Policy and may result in a delay in the start of the lease and contract effective period.