Location: Greene County, PA | Metro: Greene County, PA
| Unit Size | Monthly FMR |
|---|---|
| Studio | $1,020 |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,020 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $1,340 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $1,600 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $1,760 |
| 5 Bedrooms | $2,042 |
| 6 Bedrooms | $2,287 |
| 7 Bedrooms | $2,470 |
| 8 Bedrooms | $2,594 |
U.S. Census Bureau data (2024)
In ZIP code 15357, the economics of Section 8 housing are straightforward. The SAFMR (Standard Area Fair Market Rent) for a two-bedroom apartment is set at $1,260 per month for fiscal year 2026. This figure represents the maximum amount that the Housing Choice Voucher program will pay for rent in this specific ZIP code. However, the local market rent, according to the Census ACS (American Community Survey), is significantly lower at $1,014 per month.
A landlord participating in the Section 8 program should understand how the voucher payment is structured. The voucher itself does not cover the entire rent; rather, it reimburses the landlord for the difference between the tenant's portion and the total rent. The tenant is typically required to pay 30% of their adjusted income towards rent. If the tenant’s portion plus the utility allowances do not meet the SAFMR, the government will make up the difference.
To illustrate, if a tenant’s portion is $300 and the utility allowance is $150, the total they can contribute is $450. In ZIP 15357, where the SAFMR is $1,260, the government would pay the remaining $810 to the landlord. But since the local market rent is $1,014, the landlord would receive the full market rent of $1,014, with the government covering $864 and the tenant paying $150.
The typical reimbursement gap or surplus in ZIP 15357 for a two-bedroom unit is a surplus of $254 per month. This means landlords can expect to receive slightly more than the local market rent when renting to tenants using a Section 8 voucher, assuming the rent is set at the SAFMR level. However, landlords should be aware that setting rents above the local market rate might deter non-voucher tenants who cannot afford the higher price, potentially leading to longer vacancy periods.
Data Sources: FMR data from HUD (2027). Demographics from U.S. Census (2024).
About FMR: Fair Market Rent (FMR) is used to determine payment standards for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program, initial renewal rents for some expiring project-based Section 8 contracts, and rent ceilings for HOME Investment Partnerships.