Section 8 Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility Requirements:

• Qualify as a Local Preference (not applicable for the Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation or Project-Based Programs).
• Qualify as a family
• Annual income plus income from assets does not exceed the Income Limits
  Total Tenant Payment does not exceed the current FMR for Forsyth County.
• No indebtedness to the Housing Authority.
• No felonious violent criminal act or drug related act within the last four (4) years.
• No misdemeanor violent criminal act or drug related act within the last one (1) year.
• Not a registered sex offender.
• Has not committed fraud, misrepresentation or falsified information.
  Has not been evicted from any Assisted Housing in the past year (3 years for drug-related activity).
• Must submit evidence of citizenship or eligible applicant status.
• Family must not have violated any family obligation during previous participation in the Section 8 Program in the past 3 years.

Voucher Size based on Family Household Size:

Maximum rent range is dependent on the participant’s income. The higher their income, the higher in the range they will be eligible.

Local Preferences for the Section 8 Voucher Program

The local preferences are as follows: Preference must be applicable at time of application AND at time of interview.

1. Involuntarily Displaced which is beyond the applicant's control (Does not include families being evicted from their current housing.)
2. Working Family
   a. Employed for the last 12 consecutive months (no more than a 30 day lapse), or
   b. Applicant is 62 or older, or receiving Social Security or SSI disability, or any payments based on inability to work.
3. Family Self-Sufficiency
   a. Applicant is participating in a DSS/Social Service Agency sponsored program, or
   b. Applicant is enrolled in a job training program or full-time in an accredited college or technical school.

Preferences are not applicable to the Section 8 moderate rehabilitation or project-based programs.

Waiting List:

The current Section 8 Waiting List was closed to all new applicants effective October 1, 2004. There are approximately 4000 applicants on the waiting list and the estimated waiting time is 18 months to 4 years depending on where the applicant is on the list.

We opened our waiting list effective January 6, 2004, and closed it on October 1, 2004. During this time over 4300 people applied for Section 8. We are currently still on April 23rd (pulling applicants from the waiting list). Over 300 applied on that single day.