How to Apply for Housing Assistance
- 1). Contact the local HUD office listed in the government section of the phone book. You will be directed to a local housing authority office.
- 2). Call for an appointment. Ask whether you will need to bring in any information or documentation such as pay stubs or benefits statements.
- 3). Go in and fill out an assistance application. You'll be required to answer questions about who will be living with you, your income and any special needs.
- 4). Calculate how much housing assistance programs will allow you to pay for rent. The maximum housing assistance is determined as follows: HUD awards the lesser of the payment standard minus 30% of household monthly adjusted income or the gross rent minus 30% of monthly adjusted income.
- 5). Determine whether your family size and income make you eligible for rent subsidy or other housing assistance.
- 6). Fill out an application for Section 8, a rent subsidy, if you are eligible. The housing authority office will supply the application if you meet the requirements.
- 7). Ask the office to provide a list of affordable housing properties in your area. Most of these government-subsidized housing units fall under Section 8.
- 8). Find out which properties fall under the "rental certificate program" and which fall under the "rental voucher program." These are both Section 8 housing programs.
- 9). Contact the landlords or managers of these properties to arrange a walk-through.
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