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What is Section 8 housing?

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Section 8 housing is a federally backed voucher received by an individual to pay a portion or the full amount of their rent each month. Sometimes, there can be a large waiting list for this to become available for a citizen. Depending on the city, it could be even longer. In the United States, plenty of people may find their selves on this waiting list. That could take months, even years, for someone to get approved.  It also has certain local and city requirements to be on the Section 8 waiting list.

 

Who qualifies for Section 8?

Just about anyone can qualify or apply for Section 8 housing. If you are a veteran, elderly, disabled, or low-income individual. Your income has to be below a certain level based on the number of people who will be living in the house. So the certain could vary by how large your household will be. You must also have no criminal record to apply for Section 8 housing. You will also have to be free and clear from any local evictions. That will play a huge role in whether they will accept you or not.

 

How does Section 8 work?

It is a government-funded program through taxes and other local resources. That will make partial payments to the landlord of a home that is approved for Section 8. Each landlord has to go through a process to get approved with yearly inspections. Once approved as a tenant, you can then use these vouchers to make partial payments to your approved housing. Typically, they do not want to pay your full rent; they still expect you to come up with a small portion. It shows people how to pay their bills while having assurance that they won’t be evicted.

 

How to apply for Section 8?

There are many ways to apply for Section 8. You need to first find your local housing development agency; each state is different. Once you know what that company is called, you can contact them through their local online site. Once you begin the process, you will need to fill out their application. They will also request things such as your income, W-2s, pay stubs, and other financial information you can provide.  Along with any medical records or doctors’ information regarding any disabilities you might have that prevent you from earning an income. You will then have to wait for the local housing authority to hear back.

 

Disadvantages of Section 8

There can be long waiting lists due to high demand, especially in urban areas. Living in Section 8 housing may negatively affect you as a tenant needing government assistance. Some landlords may not maintain their properties since the rent is guaranteed every month. The program sets rent limits, which may not reflect the actual market value. So you may get a limit on where you can get a Section 8 home. Not every landlord will accept a Section 8 voucher. Also, there are limits on how much money you actually can make. So you might get stuck staying below a certain amount of yearly income just to keep your home.

 

Importance of Section 8 homes

There are plenty of important of having Section 8 homes in effect. They make a difference to people in need. They not only help the veterans who may not be able to work find housing. It also helps people who might be in a bad financial position find homes. Also, it helps plenty of single mothers who can not afford to raise a child and find housing. It will also bring down the homeless population by helping people who are not in the best financial situation get into a residence.  Plenty of people across America struggle with high housing prices.

It may be tough, especially in larger cities, to find homes. The real estate market over the past couple of years has really seen a serious increase in values. With interest rates being so high. It makes homeownership seem almost impossible at times. Plenty of people struggle not only financially, but they struggle with everyday tasks. That is why Section 8 is extremely important in certain areas.

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