Learn About Section 8 Housing in Idaho
Section 8 is a rental assistance program designed to be a low income housing solution for families, the elderly and people with disabilities. The program is outlined on the national level through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), but is administered in each state through local Public Housing Agencies (PHAs).
Also known as the housing voucher program, the beneficiaries of Section 8 in Idaho are able to afford suitable housing by only paying a part of their rental expenses. With HUD housing, local PHAs pay landlords directly on behalf of the renters, and renters are responsible for the remaining portion.
In order to qualify for Section 8 housing in Idaho, applicants must meet certain eligibility requirements. However, the demand for the program often outweighs the available resources. Therefore, eligible residents must first be placed on a PHA waiting list in order to receive any type of assistance. Read on to learn more about the eligibility requirements and application process for Section 8 housing.
The Idaho Section 8 application process may vary slightly depending on the PHA. However, there are generally two steps to the application process:
It is important to note that the demand for housing vouchers typically outweighs the available resources of each PHA. Therefore, the Section 8 waiting list may be closed for extended periods of time when the list gets too long.
Before you start the application process, make sure to check whether your local PHA has an open waitlist. Moreover, you may want to consider applying to more than one PHA to increase your chances of being pulled from a waiting list.
It is important to note that, for certain PHAs, qualifying for benefits will not guarantee that you are placed on a waiting list. Sometimes, the number of applications comes in such high volumes that PHAs have to resort to a lottery system to determine who gets placed on the Section 8 waiting list.
Discover Idaho Section 8 Requirements
Income is the most important factor among the Section 8 requirements in Idaho. Overall, Section 8 income limits are based on the median income for the area where the PHA is located, but may vary based on the size of each family that applies for this type of assistance. In general, a family’s income must be between 30 and 50 percent of the area’s median income. However, keep in mind that local PHAs may have higher or lower requirements. For example, the Boise City/Ada County delegates 25 percent of its housing vouchers to families that have incomes that reach up to 80 percent of the area’s median income. Furthermore, residents must be able to prove their U.S. citizenship or legal status in order to meet Section 8 eligibility. As an example, proof of citizenship with a Social Security Number (SSN) will be required during the enrollment process. Certain PHAs may determine specific Section 8 qualifications for families that will be given priority. For instance, homeless families may receive preference and move up on a waiting list.How to Apply for Section 8 Housing in Idaho
- Being placed on a waitlist
- Confirmation of eligibility after being selected from a waitlist
- Information about the size of your household.
- The household’s total income and assets.
- SSNs for each member of the household.
- Documentation of your income and assets.
- Proof of citizenship.
- Signatures of each household member who is older than 18 years of age, verifying that all the provided information is accurate.
- Other documents for verification purposes, such as proof of disability (if applicable).