HUD HCV Guidebook § 3.3
Payment Standard and HAP Calculation (HUD HCV Guidebook)
Operative Text
The payment standard for an individual unit in a congregate housing facility is based on the number of
bedrooms in the private living area for the assisted family. If there is only one bedroom in the unit (not
including the bathroom or the kitchen, if a kitchen is provided), the PHA’s payment standard for a 0-
bedroom unit, or HUD-approved exception area payment standard, is used. If the unit has two or more
bedrooms (other than the bathroom and the kitchen), the PHA should use the PHA’s 1-bedroom
payment standard, or HUD-approved area exception payment standard. Note that a PHA-approved live-
in aide must be counted when determining the family unit size.
The HAP for an assisted occupant in a congregate housing facility is the lower of the applicable payment
standard minus the TTP or the gross rent for the unit minus the TTP.
Example 3 shows how to calculate the payment standard for a sample congregate housing unit.
Example 4 shows how to calculate the HAP for the same sample unit.
Example 3: Calculating Payment Standards for a Congregate Housing Unit
Number of bedrooms in living area for assisted 1
household
PHA’s 0-bedroom payment standard amount or the $500
HUD-approved exception payment standard amount
(listed on the PHA’s payment standard schedule)
Congregate housing payment standard to be used $500
Example 4: Calculating HAP for a Congregate Housing Unit
Total tenant payment $265
Congregate housing payment standard $500
Gross rent $425
HAP is the lower of
Congregate housing payment standard ($500) minus TTP ($265) = $235
Gross rent ($425) minus TTP ($265) = $160
HAP $160
HCV program assistance should be calculated on the shelter portion (including utilities) of the resident’s
monthly housing expense only. The residents’ costs for food service should not be included in the rent
for a congregate housing unit.Under HUD Housing Choice Voucher Guidebook § 3.3, the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) for a tenant living in a congregate housing facility is determined by counting only the bedrooms in the private living area — bathrooms and kitchens are excluded from that count. The applicable payment standard is then set at either the 0-bedroom or 1-bedroom rate depending on how many qualifying bedrooms exist. The actual HAP is whichever is lower: the payment standard minus the Total Tenant Payment (TTP), or the gross rent minus the TTP. Importantly, only the shelter and utility costs are factored into the calculation — food service costs are excluded entirely.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating congregate housing facilities under the HCV program should be aware that § 3.3 requires the HAP calculation to be based solely on the private living area's bedroom count, excluding bathrooms and kitchens. Compliant operators ensure that rent figures submitted to the PHA reflect only shelter and utility costs, never bundling food service charges into the gross rent. When a PHA-approved live-in aide is part of the household, operators should account for that individual when the PHA determines the appropriate family unit size, as this can affect the payment standard applied.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under HCV Guidebook § 3.3, tenants living in congregate housing facilities have the right to have their assistance calculated based only on the private bedroom space in their unit, with food service costs kept separate from the rent used in the HAP formula. If a tenant believes their HAP has been miscalculated — for example, because food costs were improperly included in the gross rent — they can raise this concern with their local Public Housing Authority (PHA). Tenants may also contact a local tenant-rights organization or HUD directly for guidance on how the payment standard and HAP rules apply to their housing situation.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 26, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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