What are the Housing Quality Standards (HQS) designed to ensure?

The Housing Quality Standards (HQS) are a set of minimum quality requirements that ensure housing provided through the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program is safe and decent for tenants. These standards cover various aspects of the living environment, including health and safety, structural integrity, sanitation, and the overall condition of the property. The purpose of HQS is to protect the welfare of families living in subsidized housing by guaranteeing that their homes meet essential living standards.

In this context, ensuring safe and decent living conditions directly addresses the fundamental goal of providing tenants with a secure and healthy environment. This focus on quality is crucial because it helps prevent housing-related issues that could adversely affect tenants' well-being. While aspects like access to utilities, public services, and affordability are important in the broader context of housing assistance, they are not the primary focus of HQS. Instead, HQS is specifically targeted at the physical condition and safety of the housing itself.