I've been on the section 8 waiting list for close to 2 years. The other day I got a letter saying they needed a written verification of my income. So I went to take it and I talked to this really nice lady. She was like "well it took long enough for you to get off the waiting list, huh? I was TOTALLY suprised because the letter I got didn't say anything about me actually getting it. The lady said she let it slip but when you get that kind of letter is usually means they are working with your file and you should get sec. 8 soon. Does anyone know how section 8 works? How do they decide how much of the rent they will pay? I want to start looking now for a house or an apartment so when I finally find out how much I'll get I"ll already have an idea of what is avaliable....I just don't know what price range to be looking in. If anyone knows how they decide what you get, let me know. THANKS!!!!
I dont know much about section 8 because where I live, they closed Section 8 (as in they wont take new applicants) because there are so many people waiting.. but I do know that only some apartments accept section 8, so when your looking for an apartment be sure to ask if they accept section 8.. I know where I live, a lot of places dont accept it
Wow, I don't have any advice on how to find a place, because the manager at the apartment complex helped me apply for Sec.8
However, this is how it worked for me:
When I had no income, I had to tally up all my expenses, which other people were obviously covering--car insurance, toiletries, diapers, etc. All that, and my rent ended up being $21/ month, with the rest of the rent going straight from the govt. to the land lords.
When I did have income, they calculated a third of my net (I think) income, minus the day care bill. I was making $7.05 an hour full time, and the rent went to $233/month.
Good luck finding a place!
wow good luck you finally got on section 8!!!! I was never able to get on it :( but i looked in the paper and a few advertised as " section 8 approved" . sadly alot of places do not take section 8 because they are wary of the kind of people on section 8, its a total classist issue but that does limit in the kinds of area's accept it. do not lose heart, alot of places take it they just do not advertise so pick up one of those free apartment finders and look in an area you wanna move and start calling page by page asking if they take it. good luck mama
thank ya'll for the replies. I have found, like said in a PP, there aren't a lot of great houses in great neighborhoods that take section 8. The sec. 8 houses are rundown...might as well stay where I am now. Can u believe that once you get to the top of the list, you only have 30 days to find a place or you get put back on the waiting list!!!!! that is SO not fair.