RoxanneWell, look no further as we’ll offer some tips and info on how to begin your Section 8 journey today.
Section 8 Background
While many still refer to the government’s affordable housing program as Section 8, it’s more formally referred to as the Housing Choice Voucher program nowadays.
The program is managed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and it makes safe, affordable housing a reality for many low-income families.
The Main Benefit of Section 8 Vouchers
Besides food, the need for shelter is number one for most of us. Unfortunately, this need may not be met due to the high costs of rent. With a Housing Choice Voucher, however, rent becomes much more affordable as a portion of it is paid thanks to funding from the HUD.
A Section 8 tenant will usually pay 30 percent of their monthly income towards their housing costs, while the voucher will take care of the rest via direct payments to the landlord.
In providing such aid, Section 8 offers families and their children much-needed stability to obtain and maintain employment, remain in school, and develop relationships in their community.
Section 8 Eligibility
Even though the HUD provides the funding, your local Public Housing Agency determines voucher eligibility, the application process, and more. You can contact your local PHA by going here.
To give you a general idea of who qualifies, here are some standard requirements:
- You must be a citizen of the U.S. or a non-citizen who has eligible immigration status.
- You must meet the Section 8 definition of a family, which can be just one person and doesn’t necessarily include having children.
- Your household must make less than half of the area median income (AMI).
Again, your PHA can offer more specifics of eligibility, so contact them as soon as possible to know for sure.
Applying for Section 8
Each PHA has its specific rules for applying for Housing Choice Vouchers. Some may have strict open application periods you will have to pay attention to in order to kickstart the process officially.
Since PHAs vary in terms of the areas they cover and demand, your mileage may vary when it comes to the opening of application periods. Your PHA will let you know any relevant deadlines.
The Section 8 Wait
Receiving a Housing Choice Voucher can make a huge difference in your monthly budget as it will pay a significant portion of your rent. And while that’s a life-changing positive, here’s the main negative point when it comes to Section 8: wait times.
If your Section 8 application is approved, you will be moved to a waiting list. Depending on the demand for affordable housing in your area, you may be on this waiting list for a year or longer.
For this reason, the best advice for anyone interested in Section 8 housing is to contact your PHA now, get acquainted with the program, and apply as soon as possible.
The sooner you apply, the sooner you can make the waiting list. Once you have your voucher, you can find various forms of affordable housing.
Should they meet the HUD’s requirements, you can move into the safe and affordable housing your family needs to both survive and thrive.
