Documents & Forms
Housing Choice Voucher Program
The Housing Choice Voucher Program waiting list will open July 1, 2026, for the following preference:
- Families with children 18 years old or younger who currently are leasing a rental unit in Clay County that meets program requirements and who will stay in their current rental unit.
The waiting list will remain open until 300 applications are received. People who are eligible for the new Minnesota Bring it Home Program rental assistance Program also will be selected from this waiting list. To apply please click on Applicants Portals above.
The Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) helps households pay their rent by providing a “rent subsidy” directly to their landlord.
Each household receiving assistance pays 30% of its adjusted monthly income towards its housing costs. The Housing Voucher Program (Section 8) pays the balance of the rent to the landlord within certain limits.
To qualify, applicants must:
- Be of low income according to HUD criteria;
- Not been evicted from federally assisted housing within the past 5 years for drug related activity;
- Not currently engaged in the use of any illegal drugs;
- Not a current registered sex offender;
- Not been convicted of the production or manufacture of methamphetamine and;
- Not owe money to another public housing agency
Family Self-Sufficiency Program
The FSS Program is an employment and savings incentive program for low-income families that have Housing Choice Vouchers. The object is to assist families in obtaining employment that will allow them to become self-sufficient (not dependent on welfare-assistance).
An escrow account is set up for you and as your family income increases, we will increase the amount we place into your escrow. This amount is available to you when you successfully complete the Contract of Participation and complete your goals.
Homeownership Program
The Housing Choice Voucher Homeownership Program makes it possible for families to use a Housing Voucher toward the purchase or expenses of homeownership. You must be either on our FSS Program or be elderly or disabled to participate. Homeownership is a huge commitment and is not for everyone. If you are thinking about homeownership and are eligible we can provide you the resources you need and help you throughout the homebuying process. With our Homeownership Program you can achieve the "American Dream".
Other Housing Choice Voucher Programs
The Clay County HRA also administers a number of specialty Housing Choice Vouchers including Mainstream Vouchers for people with a disability, Foster Youth Initiative for people exiting foster care, VASH for veterans experiencing homelessness, Emergency Housing Vouchers and Housing Stability Vouchers for households who experience domestic violence, are homeless, or who are at risk of homelessness. Most specialty voucher programs require a direct referral rather than an on-line application.
Documents & Forms
Bring It Home
The Bring It Home Rental Assistance Program, also referred to as “Bring It Home”, is a new program that provides rental assistance for low-income families across Minnesota. In Clay County, it is funded by state appropriations. The program provides grants to Program Administrators (like the Clay County HRA) who then help low-income families who live in their service area.
Minnesota Housing Finance Agency selects the administrators through a grant making process. The Clay County HRA was selected as the sole administrator for all of Clay County. No other entity administers this program in Clay County. Also, the Clay County HRA administers the program in Clay County ONLY.
For more about the program in general or to find an administrator for a different area in Minnesota, please go to the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency website:
https://www.mnhousing.gov/home/local-government/bring-it-home
To be eligible for the Clay County HRA Bring It Home program, a person must apply to be on the waiting list for the Housing Choice Voucher Program (hyperlink). The Housing Choice Voucher program waiting list is currently open for households who qualify for Bring It Home rental assistance. You may apply by clicking here (hyperlink). If eligible, you will be placed on the combined waiting list.
- Live in Clay County
- Already be renting a place in Clay County
- Have a child age 18 or younger living in the household
- Be paying more than 30% of your income towards rent
- Be very low or extremely low income. Applicants who are extremely low income will have a priority to receive assistance.
If you move out of Clay County, you will no longer be eligible to receive assistance from this program through the Clay County HRA.
The Bring It Home rental assistance program (BIH) helps households pay their rent by providing a “rent subsidy” directly to their landlord.
Each household receiving assistance pays 30% of its adjusted monthly income towards its housing costs. The BIH Program pays the balance of the rent to the landlord within certain limits.
- For questions regarding the application process, please contact Katie at 218-233-8883, option 8.
- For programmatic questions, please contact Patience at 218-8883, option 8.
- The Rental Assistance Manager and the Executive Director are responsible for the oversight and management of the grant. Their information as well as the information for all the HRA’s leadership can be found here.
The “Contact Us” button below will provide you with a variety of ways to contact the HRA.