ByHow to Apply for Section 8
The Housing Choice Voucher program, also known as Section 8, funds very low-income families to afford safe, decent, and clean housing. The beneficiaries of this program have the freedom to select a house that meets their requirements. This includes single-family homes, apartments, townhouses, and units in a subsidized housing project. However, they must first ensure that the house owner agrees to rent under the terms of the program.
These housing funds are issued by the Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) mainly according to the family size and annual gross income. The agencies pay the housing subsidies directly to the landlord. The family then clears the remaining balance by also paying directly to the house owner. The Section 8 application process may be extended, frustrating, and tedious if it is your first time. DoNotPay helps you apply for Section 8 in any state. The platform is easy to use and allows you to submit a comprehensive application to the PHAs quickly.
Who Is Eligible for Section 8 Housing?
To qualify for the program, you must:
- Be 18 years of age or over.
- Have a low income. You must have a household income of not more than 50 percent of the area's median income.
- Have a clean house eviction record. Individuals who are evicted from the program or public housing due to criminal activities may not qualify for section 8 for at least three years from the date of eviction.
- Meet the documentation requirements for U.S citizenship or qualify for immigration status.
If you or a member of your household meets any of the following criteria, you may get priority on your public housing authority's waiting list:
| Low income | Your income is 30 percent or less than the average for your area |
| Homelesness | You are homeless, at risk of becoming homeless, or reside in a public shelter |
| Disability | You have a physical or mental disability |
| Senior Citizen | You are 62 years of age or older |
| Military Veteran | You were honorably discharged from the US Military |
How to Apply for Section 8 on Your Own
The essential documents to prepare before making the application include details about your family size, family income, and assets. Below are the steps to follow when applying for Section 8 on your own.
- Locate your public housing agency. Visit the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development and search for your local PHA by state, city, and zip codes. The website also has your local PHA contact information.
- Confirm that you are eligible for the Section 8 program. Applicants must be 18 years and over, be a U.S Citizen or eligible for immigration status, and have a low annual gross income.
- Check if your local PHA has any limitations or preferences. In some cases, the PHA may choose families who will get housing subsidies before others. For example, the PHA may give a hire preference to people with disabilities, seniors, residents, and the homeless.
- Acquire an application form for the Section program. You can obtain the application form online, by mail, or at the local PHA office.
- Fill in the required details in the application form. Some of the specific information to fill in include your name, date of birth, SSN number, phone numbers, housing history, criminal history, gross income if applicable, and mailing/email address.
- Submit your Section 8 application. Submit your complete application form according to the PHA's guidelines. Ensure to submit by the due date to avoid application rejection.
- Wait for the housing authorities to review and process your application. The PHA may take a few months before they completely process your application. They usually make notifications to the applicants online or by mail.
The housing authorities may reject your application if you fail to provide enough proof of eligibility or if you turn in your application by the due date. Each local authority has a unique process, making it challenging to know where to start or see whether you qualify for the program.
One way to make a successful application is through using DoNotPay. Our rental assistance product allows you to apply for the housing program efficiently and quickly and thus helps you avoid making late submissions. We will ask you a few simple questions about your income and then reach out to your local PHA on your behalf to enquire about your eligibility and the waitlist.
Apply for Section 8 With the Help Of DoNotPay
To apply for the housing choice voucher program using DoNotPay;
- Answer a few questions about your income, family size, veteran/disability status, which county you hope to live in, etc.
- DoNotPay will find the PHA in charge of that county and contact them with all of your eligibility information to determine if you can start applying. They'll get back to you directly via email with the next steps.
Why Use DoNotPay to Apply for Section 8?
Applying for Section 8 with DoNotPay is:
- Fast--You don't have to spend hours figuring out if you're eligible. We do that for you.
- Easy--You don't have to struggle filling out tedious forms. Just answer a few basic questions to get started and we keep track of the application process for you.
- Successful--You can rest assured knowing we'll make the best case for you
DoNotPay Can Help You Apply for Section 8 Anywhere in the US
DoNotPay helps low-income families apply for Section 8 housing all over the US. We provide Section 8 resources for specific municipalities such as San Antonio, TX and Las Vegas, NV as well as general Section 8 topics.
What else can DoNotPay do?
Some of the other significant tasks that our products and features can help you execute include:
- https://donotpay.com/learn/help-with-bills/
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- https://donotpay.com/learn/missing-money/
- https://donotpay.com/learn/file-a-complaint/
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