What is a Hawaii Section 8 housing list? According to the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), housing lists advertise low-income homes available in a given area. Overall, there are several official resources available from the HUD and from local Public Housing Agencies (PHAs). Moreover, there are various privately-owned listing sites.

Section 8 listings in Hawaii are not limited to apartments. Many of the homes available in the state are condos, houses, forms of assisted living and other approved types of housing. These options help expand the possibilities for recipients of the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program to find housing. However, the task of finding a new place to live is ultimately up to the HCV recipient.

What is an approved Section 8 housing list in Hawaii?

You may find low income apartments for rent in Hawaii by using a variety of online resources. However, the state recommends that you begin your search using an approved housing list. Overall, the homes included on these lists already meet the HCV program criteria.

While apartment for rent apps can help expand your search, they are not necessarily approved by PHAs in HI or the HUD department. For this reason, you may first try using the HUD resource locator and the apartment search tool.

The resource locator can help you locate low-income housing in your area and give you a sense of the market. If you click on different areas of the map, it will give you the following information:

• The names of low-income organizations and properties
• Contact information for different properties
• The number of low-income units in the area

The HUD apartment search tool may also help you build a list of low income apartments for rent available in your area. If you find a housing unit that you want to visit, you may click on the listing to read the contact information for the appropriate management office.

If you are looking for an option other than HUD homes for rent listings, certain PHAs throughout the state recommend housing search tools. These online websites are always free to use. Important information on each listing includes:

• The minimum deposit required for the unit
• The cost of the application fee
• The length of the lease
• Whether you are required to undergo a credit check and criminal check
• The number of pets allowed in the unit, if any
• Utilities that come with the unit

If you are having difficulty finding a new home, you can always try contacting a housing counselor approved by HUD. Housing counselors are typically from a non-profit organization and will offer you key advice on your housing assistance options.

You may get in touch with one online, by phone or by contacting a nearby housing counseling agency. These agencies are available nationwide. To get more information on official housing-list websites, download our trustworthy guide.

Other Ways to Find Section 8 Listings in Hawaii

Sometimes, the approved Section 8 housing list you are using may not give you all the options available in your area. Furthermore, your PHA may not offer any recommended search websites.

If you want to make sure that you see all available housing units in your county, try using a site that is not affiliated with HUD or PHAs in the state. In any case, consider the following search filters when browsing through online listings:

• The number of bedrooms and bathrooms you want in the unit.
• The rent payment amount you can afford to pay.
• The type of property you prefer, such as an apartment, townhome or house.

You have the option of looking for Section 8 approved housing for rent by browsing common rental websites. Some of these sites will not display listings below a certain rental amount. However, they may still be useful to review so that you know how much the average unit costs in your area.

Another downside of using traditional apartment and housing websites is that you may not be able to filter your search for Section 8. In other words, many of the landlords responsible for the homes on these platforms will not take HCV participants.

Section 8 approved housing in Hawaii may be easier to find on a classifieds site. This is because landlords and owners do not have to pay to post listings on this platform. You can also narrow your search on this site by including a filter for Section 8 homes.

Quality Standards for Section 8 Approved Housing in Hawaii

Homes for rent that accept Section 8 in HI must be screened. More specifically, your PHA will send an employee to inspect the housing unit you choose. The employee must make sure that the unit is safe, sanitary and meets the HCV program expectations. For instance, the unit must have certain working utilities, including but not limited to:

• A stove or cooking range.
• A refrigerator that is large enough to accommodate a family’s size.
• A kitchen sink with hot and cold running water.
• A separate bathroom with a door.
• A shower or bathtub with hot and cold running water.

In addition, housing units and apartments for rent that accept Section 8 must pass a health inspection. Units that have evidence of mold, pests or other serious health concerns will not pass the inspection.

Tips to Help You Find Low Income Apartments for Rent in Hawaii

Searching for Section 8 rental listings in HI may be difficult due to the growing presence of scams on the internet. It is important to know what scams look like so that you do not waste your time pursuing homes that do not exist. Common signs of a scam include:

• You are asked to pay money over the phone, by mail or by email.
• You are asked to provide your Social Security Number (SSN) over the phone.
• You are not allowed to see the housing unit in person until paying cash upfront.

GoSection8 active listings and listings on other legitimate sites are usually safe. However, you must always remember to never give out cash or personal information over the phone.