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We Can Help. 914-345-5900 • help@mhawestchester.org |
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Section 8 Rental Housing VouchersThe Section 8 Rental Housing Voucher is the federal government’s program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly and the disabled to rent decent, safe and sanitary housing in the private market. Since the rental assistance is provided to you or your family, you or your family have the choice to lease privately owned housing, including single-family homes, townhouses and apartments, providing the housing falls at or below fair market rents. In Westchester County, 16 municipalities and the County Department of Planning operate Section 8 programs. Is It For Me?To be eligible for rental assistance or what is called a Section 8 Rental Housing Voucher, you must be within the household income levels established by the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) based on family size. You must be within the 50% of the Westchester County median level for income. Listed below are the approved total very low income levels (established in 2008) currently in force to qualify for a Section 8 Rental Housing Voucher in Westchester:
Additionally, Section 8 Rental Housing Vouchers are limited to U.S. citizens or non-citizens who have eligible immigration status. If you or your family can locate housing that falls at or below Fair Market Rents (FMR) you may pay 30% of your income toward rent, and the balance will be paid through Section 8 Rental Housing Vouchers. You can look for housing up to 10% above the FMR rates, but you will have to pay 40% of your income toward rent. You cannot choose housing rents that are higher than 10% above FMR and receive a Section 8 Rental Housing Voucher. As of October of 2006 (HUD changes FMR on an annual basis) the FMR monthly rates for Westchester County are:
The size of the unit you may rent depends on the number of people in your family. What is the Benefit?If you meet the eligibility requirements, you generally pay 30% of your monthly-adjusted income towards rent and HUD pays the rest. When Do the Benefits Apply?Since the demand for housing assistance often exceeds the limited resources available to HUD and local housing agencies, long waiting periods are common. In fact, a housing agency may close its waiting list when it has more families and individuals on the list than can be assisted in the near future. To find out which Section 8 office has a waiting list please call the Westchester County Department of Planning’s Section 8 office at 914-995-2415. There are also federal priority categories that affect the waiting list. A housing agency may give preference to a family who is:
Families who qualify for these preferences will move ahead of other families on the list that do not qualify for any preference. You will be served on a first-come, first served basis, taking into consideration all of the above preferences. Additionally, Westchester County and the 16 municipalities have Section 8 offices that may establish their own waiting list preferences. For further information please call the Westchester County Department of Planning’s Section 8 office at 914-995-2415. You may apply for the Section 8 rental Housing Voucher as long as your income does not go beyond the HUD established limits of income identified above. However, there are additional requirements for you and your proposed housing that will be discussed with you during the application process. How Do I Apply For the Benefit?In Westchester County there are 16 municipalities and the Westchester County Department of Planning that have Section 8 offices. You can apply to any municipality as long as their waiting list is not closed. You may also apply to the Westchester County Department of Planning for a Section 8 Rental Housing Voucher; their waiting list never closes. Although you do not have to be a resident of the municipality where you apply, most municipalities give priority in their waiting lists to their own residents or to persons working in that municipality. To get in touch with the Westchester Section 8 office or to get information on contacting the other 16 Section 8 offices, please contact: Westchester County Department of Planning The Section 8 Rental Housing Voucher is available online at http://www.westchestergov.com/planning/housing/sec8application.pdf. For additional information on Section 8 you can go to the HUD web site at http://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/programs/hcv/index.cfm. When you go to the Section 8 office, they will collect information on family income, assets and family composition. Bring check stubs, bank statements and proof of family composition to the office. The Section 8 office may verify this information with other local agencies, your employer and your bank. The Section 8 office will use the information to determine your eligibility. Once you receive a Section 8 Rental Housing Voucher, it is up to you to locate the housing that is within the approved Fair Market Rents. The rental unit must meet an acceptable level of health and safety before the Section 8 office will approve payments to the landlord. Once the housing unit has been approved, you will pay a minimum of 30% of your family income (40% maximum) to the landlord, and the Section 8 office pays the rest. Is There Any Cost to Me?You are responsible for the portion of the rent not covered by the Section 8 rental Housing Voucher, which can be between 30% and 40% of your income. Also, you may be responsible for a security deposit to the landlord when you move in. Who Provides the Benefit?Housing and Urban Development (HUD) of the federal government provides the funds for these rent subsidies. The program is administered on a local level through the Westchester County Department of Planning and the 16 Westchester County municipalities. Return to the top of the page.
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