Can You Pass This Section 8 Screening Test?

What can a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher give you? The peace of mind knowing that you don’t have to pay so much of your income towards the rent anymore. How can it do this? By paying some of your rent directly to your landlord, while you pay the rest.

With a Section 8 voucher, you can rest easy knowing you’ll only pay around 30 percent of your income in rent. This is excellent news if you’ve always had trouble paying the rent on time, have faced eviction, or have lived on the streets.

What’s the downside to Section 8? The fact that the program is so popular. Funding is limited, while demand for Housing Choice Vouchers is through the roof. Depending on where you live, you could find yourself sitting on a waiting list for a year or longer. In short, don’t count on Section 8 for emergency rental assistance, as it’s meant to be more of a long-term solution.

Now, if you’d like to fix your rent issues in the long run so you can get some much-needed stability for you and your family, Section 8 can help. But since the demand’s so high and the wait can be potentially long, you’ll want to do your homework before wasting your time.

We’ll help you with a bit of that homework now, as here are some basic hurdles you’ll have to jump through to be a Section 8 candidate:

Criminal History

Can you be a felon or on parole and get Section 8 assistance? Believe it or not, the answer is yes, depending on your Public Housing Agency (PHA). They’ll run background checks to look at your past, but some have more lenient rules that could allow you in the door despite a criminal record.

It’s worth noting that you can have a criminal record, but certain red flags could disqualify you automatically. They are:

1. Placement on the lifelong sex offender registry.
2. Conviction for producing methamphetamine within federal housing.
3. Eviction within the last three years due to drugs.

Immigration Status

At least one person in the Section 8 applicant’s household must have legal immigration status. This is very important, as some believe that every household member must have such status.

What happens if you’re in a mixed household regarding immigration status? If approved, your voucher will only apply to those with that status. In short, you may receive less money for your rent.

Income

Check the income limits for your area. You’ll have to meet them to qualify for Section 8. If you’re concerned that you make too much, keep in mind that the more people in your household, the higher income that’s allowed. Only low-income families are eligible for Section 8, as it’s meant to help those with the greatest needs.

Location

Think long and hard about where you want to live. Whatever you decide on, that’s the location where you’ll need to apply to. You can find Public Housing Agencies all across the U.S. by going here.