Section 8, also known as the Housing Choice Voucher Program, has been around for years to provide housing subsidies for low-income renters.
While the vouchers are generally for assisting with rent, sometimes, the payments can go toward a mortgage.
These subsidies are available to families, elderly people, and people with disabilities who are unable to afford housing in the private market.
But to qualify for this program, you must meet certain eligibility requirements.
In this article, take a look at what you need to know about Section 8 eligibility.
Income Requirements
The first thing that needs to be satisfied for your household to be eligible for Section 8 is that the income standards need to be met.
This indicates that the combined income of everyone living in your family must be at or below the median income level for the area.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) of the United States of America calculates the median income level by taking into account the number of people living in each home.
In addition to meeting the income threshold, in order to qualify for Section 8 assistance, you must also have a consistent source of income.
This could be derived via working, receiving Social Security, or receiving other forms of government assistance.
Citizenship Status
The second requirement for Section 8 eligibility is that all members of your household must be U.S. citizens or have eligible immigration status.
This means that all adult members must have valid Social Security numbers, and all non-citizens must have documentation from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that shows they are eligible to receive housing assistance.
Criminal Background
The third requirement for Section 8 eligibility is that all members of your household must pass a criminal background check.
This is to ensure that no one in the household has a history of violent crime, drug-related offenses, or any other criminal activity.
This criminal background check is conducted by the local public housing agency (PHA) and is designed to keep communities safe.
The PHA will look at the criminal records of all household members, including any arrests and convictions.
Depending on the severity of the offense, the PHA may deny Section 8 assistance if the offense is deemed too serious.
In addition, the PHA may deny assistance if the criminal activity occurred within the last three years or if the applicant has committed more than one offense within the past seven years.
The PHA may also deny assistance if the applicant is found to be a registered sex offender.
The PHA will also consider mitigating circumstances when evaluating an application for Section 8 assistance.
This includes looking at the applicant’s age at the time of the offense and any rehabilitation efforts.
It's important to note that not all criminal convictions will automatically disqualify an applicant from receiving Section 8 assistance. The PHA will look at each application on a case-by-case basis to determine eligibility.
Rental History
The fourth requirement for Section 8 eligibility is that all members of your household must have a good rental history.
This means that you must have a history of paying your rent on time and not having any evictions in the past three years.
Other Requirements
In addition to the eligibility requirements listed above, there are also other requirements that must be met in order to qualify for Section 8.
For example, you must be able to provide proof of identification, such as a driver’s license or state ID card.
You must also be able to provide proof of income, such as pay stubs or bank statements.
Conclusion
The Housing Choice Voucher Program, also known as Section 8, is a government-funded housing program that provides housing subsidies to very low-income households.
In order to qualify for this program, you must meet certain eligibility requirements.
These include income requirements, citizenship status, criminal background, rental history, and other requirements.
It’s important to understand these requirements before applying for Section 8, so you can be sure that you meet all the necessary criteria.
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