How to Apply for New Jersey Section 8

New Jersey Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program is a federally funded program for assisting low-income families, elderly, and the disabled to afford quality housing. Section 8 recipients can choose any residence in public housing, be it a single-family home, apartment, or a town house as long as it meets program requirements. Section 8 recipients can also choose a housing unit in subsidized Section 8 buildings. You can use this link to search for affordable apartment (http://www.hud.gov/apps/section8/step2.cfm?state=NJ%2CNew+Jersey) in New Jersey.

New Jersey Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program is funded by US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD uses local Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) for administering the program throughout the country, including the state of New Jersey.

If your household income is very low and you can't afford quality housing, you should apply for Section 8 rental assistance. If you meet the requirements and funds are available, you will receive rental assistance to afford quality housing. However, it may take some time before you finally start receiving the assistance due to a long list of applicants already on the waiting list. The best way to speed up the process is to apply with more than one PHAs.

When you qualify for a Section 8 voucher, you will select a housing unit that meets your family requirements and you can afford to pay up to 30% of its rent. Your local PHA will pay up to 70% of the rent to ease the financial burden on you. You will keep getting the benefits for as long as you're eligible for public housing and you continue to comply with the lease terms.

If you need to re-locate, you can do so and still continue to receive Section 8 benefits. You can move to any part of the country but you will fist have to inform your PHA providing the rental assistance. PHA will help you with relocation as well as getting the new housing unit approved for Section 8 rental assistance.

To apply for New Jersey Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program, you will simply need to contact your local PHA, which will help you with rest of the process. You will need to show various documents and provide detailed information about your household and its income in order to meet initial eligibility list. Once you're cleared, you will be put on waiting list. Depending on the number of applicants already on the waiting list and the amount of available funds, you will receive a notification for final interview and eligibility determination as soon as your name comes on top.

Who can Qualify for Section 8?

To receive New Jersey Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher, you will need to meet program requirements.

Family definition: You should meet family's definition as defined by your PHA to receive Section 8 assistance.

Citizenship status: You will need to be a US citizen or an eligible alien to receive Section 8 assistance.

Drug-related criminal background: If you've been evicted from a public housing or Section 8 housing due to drug-related criminal activity, you won't be able to apply for Section 8 housing for a specified period.

How to Apply

To apply for New Jersey Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program, you need to contact your local PHA. You can find contact information for your local PHA using this directory (http://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/pha/contacts/states/nj.cfm). You can also contact your local PHA by visiting its website. You can find website for your local PHA using this link (http://www.hud.gov/local/nj/renting/hawebsites.cfm).

When you contact your local PHA, you will be helped with the entire application process. You will simply need to take your documents with you and provide all the information that your PHA requires from you.