Learn About Section 8 Housing in Michigan
The Housing Choice Voucher Program, commonly referred to as Section 8, is a federal program that provides rent subsidies to very low-income individuals, seniors and disabled households. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and is administered through a local Public Housing Agency (PHA).
The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) is responsible for the program in Michigan, administering approximately 28,000 vouchers to qualifying households.
If you are wondering how Section 8 housing works, the process is fairly simple. Participants receive a voucher or subsidy that covers a portion of their rent. They can choose to remain in their current home or they can find low income housing elsewhere, as long as the unit meets Housing Quality Standards (HQS).
Typically, participants will pay no more than 40 percent of their adjusted gross income for rent and utilities. The vouchers will take care of the rest. Although, the amount a household will pay will depend on their income. Learn more about the government subsidy program in the Sections below.
To apply for Michigan’s Housing Choice Voucher Program, you will need to submit a Section 8 application to MSHDA. This can be done by using MSHDA’s online pre-screening system. There are no paper applications available or accepted. You can call the office to apply via telephone if you cannot apply for Section 8 online due to a disability.
Additionally, applications are only accepted for open waiting lists and preferences are given to those living or working in the county in which they apply. The pre-application makes an initial assessment of a family’s eligibility. Once a household is deemed eligible, they will be placed on a waiting list.
Once the family is selected from the waiting list, they will continue with the Section 8 housing application. This requires providing additional proof of eligibility, such as proof of residency for the county in which they applied.
You may also be required to attend an interview face-to-face with an MSHDA representative. Here, you will provide all of the required documentation to prove your eligibility for the program.
If you do not provide all of the documentation necessary at the time of the interview, you will receive a written list of items that must be submitted within 10 days. You will then be notified of your acceptance or denial into the program within 10 business days of the determination.
If you are ineligible for the Section 8 waiting list in Michigan, you will receive a written verification within 10 business days informing you of your denial. Otherwise, the MSHDA’s online system will provide an automated written notification immediately after you submit your pre-application that confirms your acceptance on the waiting list.
Keep in mind that placement on the Section 8 waiting list does not indicate a final determination of eligibility. This will be determined once you have been selected from the list. Your number on the list will depend on the date and time you completed your application, as well as any preferences for which you qualify. Preferences include those who are homeless, disabled and live or work in the county of application.
If you claimed a residency preference on your pre-application, you will be required to submit verifying documentation once you are selected from the pool of applicants. The MSHDA will remove you off the waiting list if you are deemed ineligible. You can check your Section 8 waiting list status online on the MSHDA website.
Discover Michigan Section 8 Requirements
To qualify for rental assistance, you must first meet Section 8 requirements. There are four main factors that determine eligibility:- Your household’s total gross income
- Your U.S. citizenship status
- Your criminal background
- Whether you qualify as a family as defined by HUD and MSHDA
- An extremely low-income family whose income does not exceed 30 percent of the median income for the area or the federal poverty level, whichever is higher.
- A very low-income family whose income does not exceed 50 percent of the median income for the area.
- A low-income family whose income does not exceed 80 percent of the median income for the area.