Location: Dallas County, AR | Metro: Calhoun County, AR
| Unit Size | Monthly FMR |
|---|---|
| Studio | $680 |
| 1 Bedroom | $730 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $960 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $1,140 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $1,350 |
| 5 Bedrooms | $1,566 |
| 6 Bedrooms | $1,754 |
| 7 Bedrooms | $1,894 |
| 8 Bedrooms | $1,989 |
U.S. Census Bureau data (2024)
The economics of Section 8 housing in ZIP code 71742 are governed by the SAFMR (Small Area Fair Market Rent) which is specifically tailored for this region. For a two-bedroom apartment, the SAFMR for FY 2026 is set at $930. However, it's important to note that the local market rent for the same type of unit is significantly lower, running at an average of $636 according to the Census ACS.
A landlord participating in the Section 8 program should understand how the voucher system operates. When a tenant has a voucher, they pay a portion of their income towards rent, typically 30% of their adjusted gross income. This amount is known as the tenant portion. The remaining balance is covered by the housing authority up to the SAFMR limit of $930. Additionally, there are utility allowances which vary but are generally around $200 per month for a two-bedroom unit.
To walk through a practical example, let's assume a tenant with a voucher has an income that would require them to pay $400 towards the rent. In this scenario, the housing authority would cover the difference between the tenant's payment and the SAFMR limit. So, if the tenant pays $400, the housing authority would reimburse the landlord $530 (SAFMR - Tenant Portion). Furthermore, the landlord would also receive the utility allowance of approximately $200. Thus, the total reimbursement from the housing authority would be $730.
This means that the landlord would effectively receive a total of $1,130 per month for a two-bedroom unit (Tenant Portion + Housing Authority Reimbursement + Utility Allowance). However, since the local market rent is only $636, the landlord would be receiving a surplus of $494 per month over the market rate.
In conclusion, for a two-bedroom apartment in ZIP 71742, the typical voucher reimbursement gap or surplus is a positive $494 per month, indicating that landlords can expect to earn above the local market rent when participating in the Section 8 program.
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.