A Section 8 rental assistance application can only be completed when the Wichita housing authority has an open Section 8 waiting list.
The Wichita Housing Authority (WHA) Section 8 Rental Assistance Program is designed to help income-eligible families pay their rent to private landlords. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) determines the rules and regulations for the Section 8 Program. Income eligibility is determined using current Federal Income Limits. 2009 Federal Adjusted Income Limits
Persons determined eligible for the program receive a Housing Choice Voucher to lease a dwelling unit of their choice within the Wichita city limits. Section 8 provides families a choice in determining any type of dwelling unit; as long as it meets certain requirements for rent limits, rent reasonableness and Housing Quality Standards (HQS). The landlord retains private property rights, including management, tenant selection, and maintenance.
Participants pay approximately 30 percent of their adjusted income directly to the landlord. The Wichita Housing Authority (WHA) subsidizes the balance of the rent. The WHA currently administers over 2,500 vouchers, with a value of approximately $12M.
You can find more information about how to obtain a Section 8 lottery application and how to get involved in affordable housing with the Section 8 and Subsidized Housing Online Packet.
Section 8 landlords can discover the benefits of participating in subsidized or affordable housing programs, and they can also list their properties for free on this site (low income or otherwise).
What are tenant based vouchers?Under a tenant-based voucher, a tenant gets a voucher and can move into a unit with financial assistance. If that tenant chooses to move to another unit, the voucher carries over to the next unit, offering continued assistance to the tenant wherever they decide to live.Under a project-based voucher, a tenant gets assistance so long as they remain in the unit that the voucher was issued for. The voucher lasts for a specified unit and time. If the family chooses to leave the unit, the assistance does not carry over to the next unit. A family may still, however, be eligible for a tenant-based voucher. Determine your eligibility. Whether or not you qualify for Section 8 housing is based on multiple factors, including your familys income, the median income in your area, how much rent you're paying, your assets, and the composition of your family. Here's a general breakdown of the eligibility requirements: You are a US citizens or non-citizen who has eligible immigration status. You earn, as a family, less than 50% of the median income for the county or city in which you choose to live.In fact, most Section 8 recipients earn closer to 30% of the median income for the county or metro area in which they choose to live. That's because the PHA must provide 75% of its vouchers to families who earn less than 30% of the median income. You meet other criteria on assets and family composition. 3Document your income and housing costs. Have pay stubs from your employer verifying your salary, and either your mortgage information or something in writing from your property owner that confirms your current rent. You'll need these documents to apply for vouchers. 4Know what kind of voucher you need. HUD provides assistance to both renters and homeowners. Apply for Section 8 if you rent the premises where you’re living. Find section 8 listings and complete a Section 8 application if you would like financial assistance with paying a mortgage for a condominium, townhouse or home that you own. In some cases, Section 8 vouchers can be used to purchase a modest home and make mortgage payments. Apply for vouchers. Contact your local PHA to begin the application process. Find a list of PHAs here. Ask if its possible to complete the forms online. Get assistance with completing the necessary paperwork if you are not fluent in English. Call your local public housing authority to find out their office hours so you can complete the paperwork in person. Find out whether someone will be available to translate or to help you complete the forms. Be prepared for a long wait. In many cases, people who apply for Section 8 are waitlisted. Your local PHA may have more applications than it can afford to approve vouchers for, and will therefore have a waiting list for applicants. In some cases, there are as many as 100,000 applicants for only 10,000 spots. It can take upwards of 3 to 6 years in these areas to be enrolled in Section 8 while on the waiting list. Be aware of prioritizing. PHAs develop local preferences for moving applications up or down the Section 8 waiting list, and may give preference to families who are currently homeless or living in substandard housing, families who pay more than 50% of their income in rent, or families who are involuntarily displaced. Inquire at your local PHA office if you have any questions about how prioritizing is allotted or about becoming a Section 8 landlord. If the PHA in your area has more applicants than it can assist in the near future, it may temporarily close down. Find open Section 8 waiting lists and program availability for the following states with the Online Packet:
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