Need A Housing Voucher Now? Try These Tips

Could you wait 10 years to get into affordable housing? Probably not, but some say that waiting lists for such housing can be that long. Why? Blame it on the incredibly high demand for affordable housing mixed with too few vouchers or units available.

Are there ways to speed up the Section 8 process so you can get into a safe and affordable single-family home, apartment, or townhome? There sure are, and here’s a sampling that many housing experts swear by.

Skip The Vouchers Altogether And Apply To Buildings Instead

Since the Section 8 process takes years to complete due to long waitlists, some say you should give this tip a try. There are buildings all over the country that offer affordable housing, either through Section 8 or via their own funding. If you can pinpoint them and contact their management directly, you may be able to bypass the lengthy voucher process altogether.

You can do a Google search for “affordable housing” in your area. Then, you can go to this map to find buildings that work with Section 8. Make a list of all of their contacts and give them a call. Ask if they can help you out without needing to have a voucher in place.

Here’s an extra tip to keep in mind when contacting buildings directly, especially if you’re having trouble finding anything that’s affordable in your area. Ask if they have any subsidized units that only charge 30 percent of your income. If so, ask how you can apply, even if you don’t have a voucher. Remember, some buildings have their own funding, which makes vouchers unnecessary.

Make A List Of Housing Authorities

Many people make the mistake of only contacting one housing authority or Public Housing Agency. Why is that wrong? Because the agency you pick may function slowly, or they may not be as helpful as others. That’s why your best bet is to go here and make a list of several PHAs that you can contact.

You can start by contacting PHAs linked to your city, county, and state. Then you can move to ones in other cities and areas until you find the answers you’re looking for.

Keep Applying To Waitlists

Affordable housing waitlists open and close all the time. If you apply to one that’s long or not working at the moment, keep trying others. The more waitlists you apply to, the better your chances of getting affordable housing faster.

Before making this move, know this: Big cities can have around 50 waitlists you can apply to, while smaller cities should have around 10 or more.

Don’t Rule Out Moving

There are Section 8 and affordable housing opportunities from coast to coast. If you haven’t thought about relocating, know that it could help you get a voucher a lot faster by expanding your opportunities.

Make a list of potential places where you could live, then do as above and contact different affordable housing buildings, PHAs, and waitlists until you strike gold.