Does a Housing Choice Voucher pay for utilities?

Most of the time, no, if you do qualify for a utility reimbursement, it won’t fully cover your actual monthly costs.

If your income is extremely low or at zero, the Housing Authority will do a calculation to see if your family qualifies for the utility reimbursement. If you do qualify, the PHA will send a monthly utility reimbursement check to you or directly pay it to the utility company. Unless you qualify for a hardship exemption (rarely is that granted), there will be a minimum amount of rent for which your family is responsible. That minimum amount is usually between twenty-five and fifty dollars. It will be included in the calculation and deducted from the utility reimbursement before you are sent the actual check.