How to Apply for Washington Section 8

Washington Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program provides rental assistance to low income families living in the state of Washington so that they can afford appropriate housing that's safe and good for living. United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds the program. The availability of housing vouchers depends on the availability of funding from HUD.

If you are accepted for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program, you will be able to choose a house of your choice in private housing market that meets HUD's quality and safety requirements. You will have to pay a portion of your rent and utilities while Section 8 will pay the remaining. You will usually pay 30% of the rent and utilities while Section 8 will pay the remaining amount.

You will sign a contract of lease with the landlord while the local Public Housing Agency (PHA) providing Section 8 assistance will will provide rental subsidy directly to the landlord.

Relevant housing authority will review and re-determine your eligibility each year to make that you continue to meet the eligibility for the program. If you violate any conditions in your lease dead, your landlord will be free to exercise its right to evict you. Similarly, change of income or other eligibility for Section 8 will also impact rental assistance that you're receiving under Section 8.

if your lease agreement has come to an end, you can move to another housing that passes HUD's quality and safety test. However, you will need to re-submit your income and household information and obtain a new voucher to use for the new housing unit.

If you need special assistance or medical facilities in your house due to disability or other reason, you can inform your local PHA at the time of filing an application. In most counties, PHAs are able to entertain such special requirements once they are verified.

To receive assistance through Washington Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program, you will need to meet program requirements. If you don't meet any of the requirements, you will be refused assistance even if you prove that you need housing.

Who can Qualify for Section 8?

To receive Washington Section 8 rental assistance, you will need to meet eligibility requirements for the program.

• You must be a family according to HUD's definition of a family. A family can be an individual or a group of people living together.

• You must meet income guidelines set by HUD for Section 8 program. Households with income at or below 30% of the area median income will qualify to receive rental assistance through Section 8 program. If funds are available, PHAs can issue vouchers to households with income up to 50% of the area median income. When computing your household income, your assets generating income will also be included. However, the actual worth of assets is irrelevant for the purpose of Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program.

• You must have a clear criminal and drug related record. If you indulge in an activity related to use of illegal drugs, you will be ineligible for the program for certain period. You can also become ineligible if you've a pattern that shows your alcohol dependency. Sexual offenders are also ineligible for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program.

• You will need to provide proof of your U.S citizenship to receive Section 8 voucher. Legal aliens can also qualify for Section 8 assistance if they can provide necessary proof of their status.

How to Apply

To apply for Washington Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program, you will need to find your nearest PHA and ask if the waiting list if open. You can find contact information for local PHAs in state of Washington using this link (http://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/pha/contacts/states/wa.cfm).

If a waiting list is open with your local PHA, you can obtain an application from PHA office or check PHAs website to see if they offer an online application. You can check this link to find website for your local PHA (http://www.awha.org/contact.html).