Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Specialist Certification Practice Exam

In the context of the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, public housing agencies (PHAs) have a clearly defined set of responsibilities. Among these are processing applications from potential participants in the program, issuing payments to landlords on behalf of tenants, and conducting inspections to ensure that housing units meet the required quality standards.

Providing legal aid for tenants, however, is generally not considered a core function of PHAs within the HCV framework. While PHAs may offer resources or referrals to other organizations that provide legal assistance, they do not have the responsibility to directly offer legal representation or services. Their primary role is focused on the administration of the housing choice voucher program, rather than providing legal support to tenants. Thus, recognizing that the provision of legal aid falls outside the standard duties of PHAs helps to clarify why this choice is not aligned with the functions of the agency in the HCV program.