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Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV) (legacy: converting to regular Section 8 vouchers in 2026): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens next

Emergency Housing Vouchers were federal rent vouchers created by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. No new families can get one. HUD's Notice PIH 2026-25 converts every family under lease on 30 September 2026 to a regular Housing Choice Voucher by 31 December 2026, when the program ends.

What Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV) is, in one paragraph

Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV) were rent vouchers created by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which authorized $5 billion for them (rule:what_it_was). PHAs could not reissue them after 30 September 2023 and were told to stop issuing them to new families in March 2025 (rule:no_reissue_after_2023, rule:no_new_families). This program is legacy. HUD Notice PIH 2026-25, issued 29 September 2026, gives every family under an EHV lease on 30 September 2026 a Tenant Protection Voucher by 31 December 2026, converting it to a regular Housing Choice Voucher (rule:tpv_conversion, rule:converted_to_hcv). The EHV program then ends (rule:program_end). The successor is Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) (rent help paid to a private landlord): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens next.

31 December 2026
the date by which no PHA has EHV families under lease; all are converted to Housing Choice Vouchers (HUD Notice PIH 2026-25, rule:program_end)

Who may qualify

Nobody can apply. No new families are admitted (rule:no_new_families).

Current holders. A family under an EHV lease on 30 September 2026 is converted to a Tenant Protection Voucher. It does not go back on a waiting list, is not rescreened, and stays in its unit (rule:no_rescreen, rule:no_interruption).

Former holders. A family that already moved to a regular voucher or another program before 30 September 2026 keeps that assistance and is not part of the conversion (rule:former_families).

DateWhat happensRule
30 September 2023EHVs could no longer be reissuedrule:no_reissue_after_2023
26 March 2025No EHVs to new familiesrule:no_new_families
30 September 2026Lease cutoff for the conversionrule:tpv_conversion
1 November 2026Last day for a PHA's other transitions (regular voucher or project-based unit)rule:other_transitions_nov1
31 December 2026Conversion done; EHV program overrule:program_end

How to apply, and what happens after

There is nothing to apply for. A current holder deals only with the PHA that holds the voucher.

After conversion the family is a regular voucher holder: it reports changes, recertifies every year, and can ask for an informal review of a PHA decision, typically within 10 to 14 days (rule:report_changes, rule:recert, rule:review_deadline). The voucher is not reissued to anyone when the family leaves (rule:not_reissued). Funding for 2027 depends on future appropriations (rule:funding_2027).

The procedure, stage by stage, as data
JSONThe procedure, stage by stage, as data
6 items
10 keys
"id""stage:screen_eligibility"
"order"1
"name""Check status"
"what_happens""Holder confirms with the PHA that the family was under lease with an EHV on 30 September 2026"
"who_acts""Holder + PHA"
"timeline""Now"
"evidence""Lease, PHA letters"
"failure_mode""Assuming the voucher simply ends"
"model_role""Explain rule:tpv_conversion and rule:no_rescreen"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:issuance_use"
"order"2
"name""Conversion"
"what_happens""PHA converts the EHV to a Tenant Protection Voucher under the regular voucher rules; the family stays in its unit"
"who_acts""PHA"
"timeline""By 31 December 2026 (rule:tpv_conversion)"
"evidence""PHA notice"
"failure_mode""Missing PHA letters during the conversion"
"model_role""Remind the holder to answer every PHA letter"
"automation_class""D - done by the PHA"
10 keys
"id""stage:report_changes"
"order"3
"name""Report changes"
"what_happens""Report income and household changes to the PHA"
"who_acts""Holder"
"timeline""When the change happens"
"evidence""Proof"
"failure_mode""Unreported changes"
"model_role""Remind the holder"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:renew_recertify"
"order"4
"name""Renew / recertify"
"what_happens""Yearly recertification as a voucher holder"
"who_acts""Holder + PHA"
"timeline""Every 12 months (rule:recert)"
"evidence""Income documents"
"failure_mode""Missed recertification"
"model_role""Calendar the date"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:appeal_fair_hearing"
"order"5
"name""Appeal / fair hearing"
"what_happens""Informal review or hearing for a PHA decision"
"who_acts""Holder"
"timeline""Typically 10 to 14 days (rule:review_deadline)"
"evidence""PHA notice"
"failure_mode""Missing the short window"
"model_role""Draft the written request"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:overpayment_exit"
"order"6
"name""Exit"
"what_happens""When the family leaves the program, the voucher is not reissued to anyone"
"who_acts""PHA"
"timeline""On exit (rule:not_reissued)"
"evidence""Notice"
"failure_mode""Giving up the voucher without knowing it cannot come back"
"model_role""Explain rule:not_reissued"
"automation_class""B"

The same facts open other programs

A former or current EHV holder's facts open:

Those connections are read from the California benefits graph, the object that holds all 80 programs, the life events that trigger them and the facts they share.

What this article shares with the graph
JSONWhat this article shares with the graph
6 keys
"program_id""B069"
"graph""california-benefits-graph"
"related_program_ids" 5 items
"B035"
"B079"
"B036"
"B042"
"B040"
"related_programs" 5 keys
"B035""Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8)"
"B079""Continuum of Care shelters + Coordinated Entry"
"B036""Public housing + project-based rental assistance"
"B042""Legal aid: eviction defense & benefits advocacy"
"B040""CalWORKs Housing Support Program + county rapid rehousing"
"triggered_by_events"
"shares_facts_with" 2 keys
"benefits.currently_receiving[]" 4 items
"B001"
"B009"
"B043"
"B047"
"household.income.annual" 4 items
"B012"
"B049"
"B050"
"B056"

Official addresses

Related pages
Beside
Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) (rent help paid to a private landlord): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextContinuum of Care shelters and Coordinated Entry (the front door to homeless housing in each county): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextPublic housing and project-based rental assistance (subsidized apartments where rent follows income): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextLegal aid: eviction defense and benefits advocacy (free lawyers for tenants and people denied benefits): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextCalWORKs Housing Support Program and county rapid rehousing (housing help for CalWORKs families): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens next
References (18)
  1. Notice PIH 2026-25: Availability of Tenant Protection Vouchers for Emergency Housing Voucher Families (issued 29 September 2026): purpose — U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development“establishes the requirements, funding process, and timeline for awarding tenant protection vouchers (TPVs) by December 31, 2026, to all families under emergency housing vouchers (EHVs) housing assistance payments (HAP) contracts as of September 30, 2026”
  2. Notice PIH 2026-25: Availability of Tenant Protection Vouchers for Emergency Housing Voucher Families (issued 29 September 2026): conversion to HCV — U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development“After implementing this provision, all EHVs will be fully converted to the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program”
  3. Notice PIH 2026-25: Availability of Tenant Protection Vouchers for Emergency Housing Voucher Families (issued 29 September 2026): not reissued — U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development“they cannot be reissued upon turnover.”
  4. Notice PIH 2026-25: Availability of Tenant Protection Vouchers for Emergency Housing Voucher Families (issued 29 September 2026): background — U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development“authorized $5 billion for the provision of EHVs”
  5. Notice PIH 2026-25: Availability of Tenant Protection Vouchers for Emergency Housing Voucher Families (issued 29 September 2026): no new families — U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development“directed PHAs to stop issuing any EHVs to new families”
  6. Notice PIH 2026-25: Availability of Tenant Protection Vouchers for Emergency Housing Voucher Families (issued 29 September 2026): program end — U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development“Once this conversion is complete, the EHV program will end. No later than December 31, 2026, PHAs will no longer have EHV families under lease.”
  7. Notice PIH 2026-25: Availability of Tenant Protection Vouchers for Emergency Housing Voucher Families (issued 29 September 2026): reissuance ended 2023 — U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development“ARP prohibited PHAs from reissuing EHV vouchers after September 30, 2023.”
  8. Notice PIH 2026-25: Availability of Tenant Protection Vouchers for Emergency Housing Voucher Families (issued 29 September 2026): continuously assisted — U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development“PHAs do not need to add families to the waiting list or rescreen families, and families can remain in units under lease.”
  9. Notice PIH 2026-25: Availability of Tenant Protection Vouchers for Emergency Housing Voucher Families (issued 29 September 2026): no interruption — U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development“Families converted to EHV-TPVs will continue to receive tenant-based assistance under 24 CFR 982 without interruption.”
  10. Notice PIH 2026-25: Availability of Tenant Protection Vouchers for Emergency Housing Voucher Families (issued 29 September 2026): family leaves — U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development“When the EHV-TPV family leaves the program, the PHA must not reissue the voucher.”
  11. Notice PIH 2026-25: Availability of Tenant Protection Vouchers for Emergency Housing Voucher Families (issued 29 September 2026): transitions to HCV or PBV — U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development“All transitions to HCV or PBV must be completed no later than November 1, 2026”
  12. Notice PIH 2026-25: Availability of Tenant Protection Vouchers for Emergency Housing Voucher Families (issued 29 September 2026): former EHV families — U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development“is not eligible for inclusion in any”
  13. Notice PIH 2026-25: Availability of Tenant Protection Vouchers for Emergency Housing Voucher Families (issued 29 September 2026): 2027 funding — U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development“Future EHV-TPV funding will be provided as first-time renewals, subject to the availability of future appropriations.”
  14. Notice PIH 2026-25: Availability of Tenant Protection Vouchers for Emergency Housing Voucher Families (issued 29 September 2026): continuing resolution — U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development“which provided for continued government funding through December 11, 2026.”
  15. Housing Choice Voucher Tenants: annual recertification — U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development“Annual Recertification: Complete a yearly review to check if you still qualify for the program.”
  16. Housing Choice Voucher Tenants: changes — U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development“If your income or household members change (persons move in or out of your home), you must notify your housing agency.”
  17. Housing Choice Voucher Tenants: grievance — U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development“The tenant typically has 10-14 days to submit a written request for an informal review”
  18. Housing Choice Voucher Tenants: PIH Customer Service Center — U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development“please first contact the PIH Customer Service Center at (800) 955-2232”