Section 8 housing is the short-hand term for subsidized rental vouchers given to individuals and families in the United States. In order to receive Section 8 vouchers, your household income must be below a certain threshold. Unlike government housing projects in which people receive low-cost apartments, under Section 8 you can rent any home that is registered for the program, and pay a percentage of your income to the landlord. The government pays the difference between your portion of the rent and the market rent. In Wisconsin, organizations such as Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority help with Section 8 housing issues.
Instructions
1. Gather proof of income, including all pay stubs for every member of your family who works.
2. Calculate your monthly household income, and determine how many people live in your household.
3. Contact your local Public Housing Agency in Wisconsin; see the website link in the Resources section. For instance, if you live in Appleton, you would contact the Appleton Housing Authority. Call the agency and ask whether your monthly income and number of household members make you eligible to apply for Section 8 housing. If yes, proceed to Step 4. If no, you cannot apply.
4. Go to the housing agency in person if possible. Bring all documents related to income and identity (i.e. a driver's license or state-issued ID, paystubs, tax records, bank records). Fill out an application for Section 8 housing. The public housing authority will confirm the information you give them by contacting employers, banks, etc.
5. Wait for the public housing agency to contact you with one of three answers: rejection, waitlist, or immediate approval. In Wisconsin, some areas are more popular for Section 8 than others. If your household income is too high, or information cannot be verified, you may be rejected for a Section 8 voucher. You might be approved, but be put on a waiting list until a spot opens for a voucher. The third option--immediate approval--allows you to go on to Step 6.
6. Take your approval letter, which will detail the exact amount of rent you are required to pay, and begin to apply for an apartment with approved Section 8 housing. Once you select an apartment and have a signed lease, return a copy of the lease to the public housing agency in your town in Wisconsin for final approval.
Tags: Section housing, household income, housing agency, public housing, your household, your household income
