Who Qualifies for Section 8 Housing?

Section 8 housing is known best for the type of people who live there and the types of problems they cause the people living around them. However, there are some people who qualify for section 8 housing that you might expect.

1. Elderly People
2. Disabled People
3. Family with Children
4. Single Mothers Or Father
5. People Who Are Homeless

1. Elderly People

An elderly person must be at least 50+ years of age or older to qualify for Section 8 housing.

• In addition to the age requirement, an elderly person must meet the other requirements and follow the same application process as any other applicant.

2. People With Disabilities

• Anyone who is disabled and meets the low-income requirements can apply for Section 8 housing.

The U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development offers three different types of vouchers to help accommodate people with disabilities:

1. Mainstream Voucher Program
2. Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8)
3. Family Unification Program Voucher Program (FUP)

3. Family with Children

• Low-income families who have at least one child under the age of 18 or a child who is 18 and full-time enrolled in high school or college can apply for low-cost housing.
• Some families may even qualify for free rent if their income falls below certain levels.

4. Single Mothers Or Father

Single mothers: with children can qualify for Section 8 housing if they meet income limits and other requirements.

• They must have at least one child under 18 years old or at least one child under age 19 who is still attending high school full time.
• In addition to meeting income requirements set by the PHA office where she lives, a single mother must also be able to prove she’s either a U.S. citizen or a legal resident of the United States.
• If she isn’t a U.S. citizen or resident but her child is, the child can apply for Section 8 assistance if he meets all other eligibility criteria.

Single fathers: are eligible for Section 8 assistance if they meet all of the eligibility criteria, including having at least one child under 18 years old living with them at home.

5. People Who Are Homeless

Those who are homeless can be placed in section 8 housing if they have been residents of shelters within the past year.

• In addition, those who have experienced domestic abuse and have fled their homes because of it may be eligible to participate in a section 8 program.

How to Qualify for Section 8 Housing?

Requirements for Section 8 housing vary, but generally speaking, to qualify for Section 8 housing, you must be a U.S. Citizen or legal immigrant and have a very low income.

Section 8 eligibility is based on the following factors:

1. Income limits
2. Family size
3. Immigration status
4. Criminal record
5. History of evictions
6. Credit history