ByHow to Get Section 8 Housing With St Petersburg Housing Authority
St. Petersburg Housing Authority has many programs that assist eligible citizens with safe, sanitary, accessible, decent, and affordable housing. One of those programs is Section 8, which offers vouchers for families to live in private market rental housing.
Read to learn more about how to apply for Section 8 housing with and how DoNotPay can help.
What Is Section 8?
The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, also known as Section 8, was established in 1974 by Congress and is funded by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). It's the largest affordable housing program in the United States and provides rental assistance to families, the elderly, and persons with special needs who have incomes up to 50 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI).
Vouchers enable participants to receive a subsidy while leasing from their choice of landlords in the private market. The rental assistance is designed so that families are not forced to spend an unreasonable portion of the monthly income on shelter.
Section 8 provides what's effectively a discount on your rent – eligible tenants typically pay 30% of their adjusted gross monthly income for rent and utilities. The Section 8 program also affords families the flexibility to select the community or neighborhood where they want to live, and vouchers can move with the tenant.
The issues housing vouchers to qualifying low-income families and offers a briefing or orientation for those new to the Section 8 program. It also contracts with the private market landlord to pay the rental subsidy and ensures thorough inspections are performed to ascertain that the apartment or house is decent and safe per HUD regulations.
Who Is Eligible for Section 8 Housing St. Petersburg?
The following people are eligible for Section 8 housing in St. Petersburg:
- Veterans and military reserve members – status is to be verified by a DD 214, a current enlistment contract, or an unexpired military identification card.
- Disabled or elderly (62 years of age or older) – families where the head of household, spouse, or co-head is elderly or disabled.
- Homeless families currently residing in Emergency Shelter, Transitional Shelter, Permanent Supportive Housing, or participating in homeless services through a participating Pinellas County Continuum of Care agency. You should have received a written letter of recommendation from that agency not less than 30 days ago.
- A resident of Pinellas County, Florida – you must provide proof of residency (a picture ID with a Pinellas County address).
- Victims of domestic violence – status is to be verified by referral from domestic violence agencies such as Hubbard House.
- Involuntary displacement due to a formally recognized natural disaster or government action (letter from Code Enforcement department or similar government agency).
How to Apply for Section 8 Housing in St. Petersburg by Yourself
Applications for Section 8 housing in St. Petersburg will only be accepted when the waiting list is open. Once the waitlist is open, you can apply online. The information requested can vary, but you may be asked for any or all of the following when filling out your application form:
- Your name and the names of all people living in your household
- Name and address information for the head of household
- Dates of birth, Social Security numbers, places of birth, and genders of all people living in the household
- Your preferred bedroom size
- Your veteran or military status
- Your current homelessness status
- Criminal history
- Residency status
- Race, ethnicity, and native language
- Disability status
- Names of previous landlords
- Current employer's name and contact information
When your name comes to the top of the waitlist, you will be sent an email notification to either provide information or a notice of an appointment. You must keep the email address you entered on the application active, as St. Petersburg Housing Authority will communicate with you via this address.
Applying for Section 8 Housing in St. Petersburg With DoNotPay
If you want to apply for Section 8 Housing in St. Petersburg but don't know where to start, DoNotPay has you covered in 2 easy steps:
- 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 Housing in St. Petersburg
DoNotPay is the most effective and efficient way of applying for Section 8 housing in St. Petersburg. We are
- Fast—You don't have to spend hours trying to apply for Section 8 housing on your own.
- Easy—You don't have to struggle to fill out tedious forms or keep track of all the steps involved in applying for Section 8.
- Successful—You can rest assured knowing we'll make the best case for you. DoNotPay will guide you every step of the way in your search for affordable housing in St. Petersburg.
What Else Can DoNotPay Do?
Aside from St. Petersburg Housing Authority, here is more information on applying for Section 8 housing:
Helping you apply for the Section 8 housing program in St. Petersburg is just one of many things DoNotPay can help you with. We can also help you with several other things, such as
- Scheduling DMV appointments
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Applying for Section 8 housing doesn't have to be a hassle with DoNotPay. We make the entire process super easy, fast, and convenient. Join us to get started!