How to find a house on section 8

The Section 8 program is an initiative run by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), whose purpose is to assist low-income families, the disabled and the elderly to pay for housing. People who meet certain income requirements can apply to the program to receive housing choice vouchers, which participants can then use to afford safe, decent and clean housing. Vouchers may cover some or all of the participant's rent, and the process is conducted through the participant's local housing authority.

Who Is Eligible for Section 8 Housing?

Eligibility for Section 8 is based on four factors, says The Balance. These factors include your income level, family size, citizenship status and eviction history. Regarding income level, the program is reserved for people making a certain amount of money compared to the area where the person chooses to live. In general, your total annual gross income may not exceed 50 percent of the median income for your chosen county or metropolitan area, and priority is granted to extremely low income levels.

In addition, your household must meet HUD's definition of a family in order to be eligible; applicants are encouraged to contact their local Public Housing Agency (PHA) to determine exact family status criteria. The program is limited to U.S. citizens or specified categories of noncitizens who have eligible immigration status. Finally, those who have been evicted from a property within the last three years for a drug-related offense or those who have been convicted of producing methamphetamine in an assisted housing project are not eligible to receive Section 8 vouchers.

How Do I Apply for Section 8 Housing?

Section 8 applications are handled at the state level. Thus, HUD recommends beginning the application process by contacting your local PHA (via their website) for more information about how you can apply where you live. As part of the application process, the PHA will collect information on family income and assets among other background details. The agency will then verify this information with other local agencies, like your bank and employer. All housing authorities do criminal background checks but note that it's still possible to get approved if you have a felony or are on parole; be sure to inquire about this with your PHA.

Once you've applied, you'll likely be placed on a wait list. During this period, ProPublica recommends keeping a written record of your communications with the PHA (take pictures of all documents, save all emails, etc.) and responding immediately to any notices you receive in the mail from the PHA so that they know you're still interested in being on the wait list. Be patient, as this process can take months or sometimes years depending on demand. Long wait lists are unfortunately common since the demand for assistance often exceeds HUD's limited resources.

How Do I Find Housing Once I'm Approved?

Section 8 housing is not limited to subsidized housing projects. Rather, participants can find their own housing (including single-family homes, townhomes and apartments) provided that it meets all standards for cleanliness and safety under the program. Once you have your Section 8 voucher in hand, don't hesitate to contact your PHA if you have any questions or concerns and don't miss the PHA's in-person briefing. In addition, there are some key things to keep in mind before you begin your housing search.

Those who have recently been approved for Section 8 housing should take care to document everything during the search process, including addresses, the dates and times of meetings and names and job titles of everyone you meet (staff turnover within housing authorities is common, so it's important to do your own recordkeeping).

It can also be very helpful to join local Section 8 groups across social media. There are many other people in the same boat who can support you and supply you with on-the-ground information. Finally, note that HUD has a list online of all the apartment buildings it has worked with through Section 8, or you can use sites like Zillow, Trulia and GoSection8.

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