Application Instructions for Washington Section 8
Step 1
Households in Washington that need assistance finding and paying for housing can apply for Section 8 services. These services are managed by the Washington State Housing Finance Commission (WSHFC) and administered locally by public housing authorities (PHA) throughout the state. The Washington Section 8 program is led by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Your household can apply for the following low-income housing programs:
- The Housing Choice Voucher program
- Low Income Public Housing program
Under the Housing Choice Voucher program you will receive a subsidy to help you pay for your rent. If your household income is less than 50 percent of the median income in your city or area, then you will qualify to receive a subsidy. This subsidy ensures that you will not pay more than 30 percent of your income on housing. Once you are accepted for the Washington Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program you have 90 days to get a rental property that complies with HUD standards. The benefit of the program is you can choose what type of housing to live in, i.e. apartments, townhomes, etc., as well as the location of your rental home. If you move you can transfer the HCV to a new rental home, as long as it too meets the HUD requirements and guidelines.
The Low Income Public Housing program is for households that cannot find a place to live. This includes housing for seniors and disabled individuals. If you are currently homeless or have been involuntarily displaced from your home, then you are eligible to apply for this program. Through the Low Income Public Housing program, you are provided with a place to live. Your rent is predetermined based on the low-income limits in that area. You cannot transfer the benefits if you decide to move to another residence.
Who can Qualify for Section 8?
- You must meet low-income limits based on statewide limits for Washington. This is the most important factor in qualifying for Section 8. If your income is less than the low-income limit you can apply for services.
- Your household must include members who are in the US legally, and you must prove everyone’s residency status by providing IDs, Social Security cards, and birth certificates.
- The applicant for Section 8 for your household must be 18 when they apply for services.
- Your household must undergo a criminal background check, and be free of any criminal history involving sex crimes or drugs.
- The rental history of your household must be in good standing, which will be verified during a reference check with your landlord, and previous landlords.
If you meet these qualifications you are eligible to apply for Washington Section 8. Keep in mind that just because you qualify does not guarantee you will be approved for low-income housing assistance. Often applicants are rejected because they cannot provide all of the necessary documentation, so make sure to include everything that is requested by your PHA officer.
How to Apply
Contact the public housing authority that is in your city or county to apply for Washington Section 8 programs. Note that some PHA offices only provide public housing assistance, while others provide the Housing Choice Voucher program. You may have to contact more than one PHA until you find an office in your area that provides the program you want to apply to.
Once you submit your application, along with all the required documents and information, you will be placed on a waitlist. The number of waitlists for public housing in Washington is 30, and most all are currently open to applicants. As for the waitlists for the Housing Choice Voucher program only three are currently open. These include:
- HA City of Walla Walla
- Housing Authority of Asotin County
- Vancouver Housing Authority
The time of the waitlists vary according to housing need and low-income funding currently available. If you want to increase your chances of getting selected get on multiple waitlists. You can also begin the search for subsidized, low-income affordable housing. Currently in Washington there are more than 123,000 subsidized apartments, as well as more than 12,000 public housing apartments.
To learn more about how to apply for Washington Section 8, or to address concerns with the application process, contact your HUD agent at the Seattle Regional Office.