Does Navigate Administer Section 8 Vouchers?
No. Navigate Affordable Housing Partners does not issue or administer Housing Choice Vouchers, manage HCV waiting lists, approve portability requests or guarantee housing placement.
Local public housing agencies administer the Housing Choice Voucher program under HUD requirements.
Why the term “Section 8” can create confusion
We often use “Section 8” as a general term; however, includes different forms of rental assistance.
- Project-Based Rental Assistance, or PBRA, connects to a specific assisted property or unit. A household generally receives the assistance while living in that unit.
- Housing Choice Vouchers, or HCV, are generally connects to an eligible household and administered by a local public housing agency.
PBRA and Housing Choice Vouchers both fall under the broader Section 8 umbrella; however, they operate differently. Because the programs share the Section 8 name, people sometimes mistake Navigate’s PBRA role for voucher administration.
What Navigate does
Navigate serves as a Performance-Based Contract Administrator (PBCA) for certain HUD Project-Based Rental Assistance contracts.
In that role, Navigate supports contract-administration activities involving participating owners and agents. Depending on the contract and issue, that work may include renewals, rent adjustments, required submissions, monitoring and other PBRA-related administrative responsibilities.
A PBCA does not issue Housing Choice Vouchers, manage HCV waiting lists or approve voucher portability.
Where should you direct housing questions?
If you have questions about Housing Choice Vouchers or an HCV waiting list: Contact the local public housing agency serving the community.
For an apartment at a PBRA property: Contact the property’s management office about availability and application procedures.
Do you have a concern at a PBRA property? Begin with property management and follow the applicable resident-concern or escalation process when needed. In addition, you can let Navigate know on our Resident Concerns page.
Protect yourself from voucher scams
Navigate does not charge an application fee for a Housing Choice Voucher, sell access to an HCV waiting list or guarantee housing placement.
Do not send money or sensitive personal information to someone promising immediate voucher approval, priority waiting-list access or guaranteed housing. Verify organizations through their official websites and contact channels before responding.
Related resources
- Understand PBRA and Housing Choice Vouchers
- Learn What a PBCA Does
- Review Section 8 Scam Warning Signs
Frequently Asked Questions About Navigate and Section 8 Vouchers
No. Navigate Affordable Housing Partners does not issue or administer Housing Choice Vouchers, manage HCV waiting lists, determine voucher eligibility, or approve portability requests. Navigate’s Section 8 role is on the project-based side: it serves as a HUD Performance-Based Contract Administrator for Project-Based Rental Assistance. Read What Is a PBCA? or visit HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher program page for more information.
No. Project-Based Rental Assistance, or PBRA, connects to specific assisted apartments under HUD contracts. As a result, the assistance generally remains with the unit when a household moves. A Housing Choice Voucher connects to an eligible household. Local public housing agencies administer those. Navigate’s guide to PBRA versus Housing Choice Vouchers explains the differences in more detail.
Contact the local public housing agency serving your area and follow its current application and waiting-list instructions. Use HUD’s Public Housing Agency directory to find official contact information. Navigate cannot add someone to an HCV waiting list or provide updates about a person’s position on that list. Families interested in a specific PBRA apartment should contact the property’s management office; Navigate’s guide to applying for a PBRA property explains that process.
As a Performance-Based Contract Administrator, Navigate supports HUD’s administration and oversight of certain Project-Based Section 8 contracts. That work includes contract administration, compliance monitoring, contract renewals, rent adjustments, and support for owners and agents. We work with PBRA properties, and that does not include operating local Housing Choice Voucher programs. Learn more about Navigate’s PBCA role and review HUD’s information about Performance-Based Contract Administrators.
Go directly to Navigate’s official website rather than using a link in an unexpected text, email, advertisement, or social media message. Confirm the communication through Navigate’s official contact page. Do not pay anyone claiming that Navigate can issue a voucher, reserve a voucher, move someone higher on an HCV waiting list, or guarantee approval. Next, you can also review Navigate’s Section 8 scam alert for additional warning signs. You can report suspected scams through the Federal Trade Commission’s ReportFraud site. Finally, if you suspect fraud involving HUD-funded programs, report it to the HUD Office of Inspector General.
