Application Instructions for North Carolina Section 8
Step 1
The North Carolina Department of Administration and the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) help North Carolina households find safe and affordable housing. If you have been displaced from housing, such as due to domestic violence, or are currently homeless you may be eligible for assistance. Additionally, low-income households and those including disabled or elderly members can receive aid. The North Carolina Section 8 programs include:
- The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program
- Project-based Section 8 subsidized apartments
Individuals and families that have housing or access to safe accommodations, but are unable to afford rent, can apply for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program. Under this program your household will receive a subsidy that helps you afford monthly rent payments. You are required to pay 30 percent of your income toward rent. The subsidy is sent directly to your landlord, and you must choose a rental home that is approved under the North Carolina Section 8 program.
The project-based Section 8 subsidized apartments offer housing for individuals and families with nowhere safe or sanitary to live. This applies to households that are:
- Currently or soon to be homeless
- Displaced involuntarily due to domestic violence, natural disasters, etc.
- Including someone who is disabled
- Including an elderly member
Project-based subsidized apartments, also known as HUD apartments, include nearly 20,000 units throughout North Carolina. If you are selected for public housing you will be directed where to live. Your rent is likely pre-determined and you will have to pay the rent amount, which will be affordable for moderate- to low-income households. You do not have a choice to where you will live in project-based housing, and if you move you will need to reapply for assistance, if desired.
Who can Qualify for Section 8?
In North Carolina you may qualify for Section 8 services if you are unable to find or affordable decent and sanitary housing. As a result, you will have to provide information about your finances and household composition to receive these services. The first question you will be asked is regarding your income. Your household income must not exceed the low-income limit for your household size. You will have to provide documentation to prove your household income.
Additionally, you will need to be at least 18 to apply for services. All of the members of your household must be US citizens or naturalized immigrants with legal residency status. Each of you will be required to complete a criminal background check to ensure that no one has a history of sexual or drug convictions.
How to Apply
To apply for North Carolina Section 8 programs including the Housing Choice Voucher program and the project-based Section 8 subsidized apartments, contact your local public housing authority. There are 70 PHAs in North Carolina serving the Section 8 programs.
Once you apply you will be placed on a waitlist:
- Five waitlists for the Housing Choice Voucher program are currently open.
- 87 waitlists are available for project-based Section 8 subsidized apartments, and most are open.
You can apply to multiple waitlists in order to increase your odds of being approved for processing. When your name is chosen from a waitlist you will be contacted and required to complete an in-office interview. During this interview the PHA rep will review your application in detail and request any additional information. Follow all instructions and procedures during this process to ensure your application is not rejected due to missing paperwork issues.
Households that are selected for the project-based Section 8 subsidized housing program will be instructed on where they will be moving in to their new home. Those households provided with a Housing Choice Voucher are required to find housing in North Carolina that meets Section 8 standards.
For additional information and clarification about the Section 8 programs in North Carolina contact a public housing authority or the HUD Greensboro Field Office.