How to Apply for Section 8 Assistance
- 1). Contact the PHA that runs the Section 8 program in your area. You can find a searchable list at HUD's website.
- 2). Ask if your PHA's HCV program has a waiting list. As HUD's Housing Choice Vouchers fact sheet explains, in some cities "long waiting periods are common." The exact time varies from place to place. In San Diego, for instance, the county office of Housing and Community Development states that the wait for assistance ranges from five to eight years, as of 2010.
- 3). Get on the list if it is open in your area. Most PHAs will ask you to complete a pre-application to determine eligibility. You'll need to prove that you are a U.S. citizen or that you hold an "eligible immigration status," notes HUD. Your PHA will also ask you to verify the identities of all household members using birth certificates and Social Security numbers.
- 4). Check to see that you fall within your area's income limits for Section 8. While HUD caps income eligibility at 50 percent of an area's median income, the exact income limit varies by family size and location. For example, in the Salt Lake City, Utah metropolitan area, a family for four cannot make more than $35,000, based on HUD's 2010 income limits.
- 5). Confirm your eligibility when you reach the top of the waiting list. Your PHA will call you when your name comes up. It will make sure that you still qualify for the program before issuing a housing choice voucher.