Where Do I Sign Up For Section 8 Housing?

Signing up for the Housing Choice Voucher program varies depending on the local Public Housing Agency (PHA). You can find the PHA in your area through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) website. Be mindful that some PHAs only offer applications during certain predetermined enrollment periods. When enrollment is open an approved application does not guarantee immediate assistance, as you may be placed on a waitlist.

Each PHA also has the discretion to select applicants from waitlists as they see fit. Some preferences that a PHA may establish are those families who are homeless, putting more than 50 percent of their income toward rent, or have been involuntarily displaced. All of these factors could be used to choose one applicant from the waitlist over another who does not fall under any preference.

The application to the local PHA will include supplying several pieces of financial information including family income and assets, as well as your family size and composition. Part of the process will be to then confirm all of the information provided is complete and correct. To do this PHA will check what you provide with firms and agencies that hold record of your finances including your employer(s) and bank(s).

Be aware that when you’re dealing with sensitive information (social security number, address, bank account information, etc.) it’s important to remember to be smart with who and how you’re transmitting that information. If you receive a call asking for any of the aforementioned information never volunteer it. This sort of information should only be transmitted through secure channels and only with firms that absolutely need it.

Vouchers will usually not be given to participants, and instead will be directly paid to the owner by the PHA. Though it is a federal program, the money that is paid comes from PHAs, which are part of local government. There are also certain PHAs that will allot vouchers for a modest home purchase, rather than rental. In these cases the payments go toward the mortgage instead of rent.