Do This To Get Into Affordable Housing Quicker

Are there ways to accelerate the voucher process? Absolutely, and we’ll reveal them so you can discover new ways to get into affordable housing quicker.

How much of your income is going to your landlord each month? If it’s more than half, you’re not alone, as many low-income households are paying that much or more for rent.

That’s where a Section 8 housing voucher can save the day, as it will limit that amount of your income that can go towards rent to just 30 percent. Who pays for the rest? The government, via your voucher, which is the main reason why the Section 8 program is so popular.

With Section 8’s popularity comes a problem, though. The demand for vouchers is exceptionally high, while the supply is low. This means that many people who want Section 8 can’t get it, or those who are eligible may have to wait a long time to enjoy affordable housing.

How can you accelerate the process? Following these simple tips is a great place to start.

Make A List Of Places Where You Could Live

As you’re about to see, a couple of main themes appear when it comes to seeing Section 8 success. The first is persistence, as you’ll have to keep trying and knocking on doors until you get your desired result. And the second is opportunities or options, as you’ll need tons of them to increase your chances of getting a housing voucher.

How can you expand your housing options? By choosing various places where you’d like to live. Why? Because your current location may be swamped with voucher demand, and that could lead to closed waitlists or very long waiting times.

Although relocation may seem scary or expensive, a Section 8 voucher can make it worth your while. So keep this in mind, whip out a map, and start thinking of where you could live. Then, apply to every waitlist, building, and housing authority in those areas, so you maximize your chances of getting a voucher.

Get In Touch With Several Housing Authorities

A housing authority acts as an agency. In some cases, they may own buildings that offer affordable housing, while they can also distribute vouchers that you can use to pay the rent for an apartment, townhome, or single-family home.

Since some housing authorities can be challenging to deal with, you’ll want to contact as many as you can until you get the help you need. You can do this by making a list of housing authorities in your city, county, and state. Then expand that list by adding housing authorities in neighboring cities and counties so you have even more contacts you can get in touch with.

An official list of housing authorities from the HUD can be found here.

Apply To Section 8 Buildings

Use Google or this map to find Section 8 buildings in your area. Then contact them to see if they have any openings. You can skip the voucher process if you apply directly to a building since some have their own funding.

This may be the most valuable Section 8 tip of all, as it’s helped some people find affordable housing within a few months versus several years.

Don’t Quit If A Waitlist Is Closed

Some Section 8 waitlists close when they don’t have enough vouchers. If a waitlist you apply to says they’re closed, move on to others. Since large cities usually have over 50 waitlists and smaller ones typically have around 10, you have many more options than you think.