Rental assistance online

Some people misuse government rental assistance programs. You have to wonder if housing authorities even look at a section 8 application because they receive so many. The section 8 program is for low income people, but do the HA’s really have the resources to check every person that is granted a voucher. If you apply for section 8 online, the normal practice by the housing authorities is to issue vouchers in a lottery format. When several thousand applications are submitted, it’s hard to believe that they can be sorted and investigated by PHA employees. In other words, there’s a good chance that a lot of the applications that are being accepted are invalid. That is to say that some of these applicants might not even meet the HUD low income standard.

HOW DO I APPLY?
 If you are interested in applying for public housing, contact your housing authority. If you have trouble contacting the HA, contact the local PHA.

HOW DOES THE APPLICATION PROCESS WORK?
 The application must be written. Either you or the HA representative will fill it out. An HA usually needs to collect the following information to determine eligibility. In most cases today, the housing authority will allow applicants to sign up for section 8 by completing a section 8 application online:

(1) Names of all persons who would be living in the unit, their sex, date of birth, and relationship to the family head;

(2) Your present address and telephone number;

(3) Family characteristics (e.g., veteran) or circumstances (e.g., living in substandard housing) that might qualify the family for tenant selection preferences;

(4) Names and addresses of your current and previous landlords for information about your family’s suitability as a tenant;

(5) An estimate of your family’s anticipated income for the next twelve months and the sources of that income to complete a HUD application online;

(6) The names and addresses of employers, banks, and any other information the HA would need to verify your income and deductions, and to verify the family composition; and

(7) The PHA also may visit you in your home to interview you and your family members to see how you manage the upkeep of you current home.

After obtaining this information, the HA representative should describe the public housing program and its requirements, and answer any questions you might have.

WILL I NEED TO PRODUCE ANY DOCUMENTATION?
 Yes, the HA representative will request whatever documentation is needed (e.g., birth certificates, tax returns) to verify the information given on your section 8 application form. The PHA will also rely on direct verification from your employer, etc. You will be asked to sign a form to authorize release of pertinent information to the PHA.

WHEN WILL I BE NOTIFIED?
 An HA has to provide written notification. If the HA determines that you are eligible, your name will be put on a section 8 waiting list, unless the HA is able to assist you immediately. Once your name is reached on the waiting list, the HA will contact you. If it is determined that you are ineligible, the HA must say why.

When a person finds an open section 8 waiting list and is able to apply for section 8 online, they are entitled to certain rights. If a landlord refuses to rent to them solely because they are on section 8, then that is considered discrimination.

WILL I HAVE TO SIGN A LEASE?
 If you are offered a house or apartment and accept it, you will have to sign a lease with the HA. You may have to give the HA a security deposit. You and the HA representative should go over the lease together. This will give you a better understanding of your responsibilities as a tenant and the HA’s responsibilities as a landlord.

ARE THERE ANY SELECTION PREFERENCES?
 Sometimes there are. Giving preference to specific groups of families enables an HA to direct their limited housing resources to the families with the greatest housing needs. Since the demand for housing assistance often exceeds the limited resources available to HUD and the local HAs, long waiting periods are common. In fact, an HA may close its waiting list when there are more families on the list than can be assisted in the near future.

Read more about rental subsidies that can be found online

and, if you wish, you can request an informal hearing.