FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS – APPLYING FOR SECTION 8 ASSISTANCE

Is Lexington Housing Authority accepting applications for Section 8 assistance?

Yes. You may CLICK  HERE TO APPLY

How long is the waiting list?

Currently, the waiting list is 1 – 3 years.

Are there any preferences or special circumstances considered?

Applicants who are elderly (62+), disabled head of households and/or veterans (other than dishonorably discharged) are given preference.

What’s the difference between tenant based vouchers (Section 8) and project based vouchers?

Under the tenant-based housing choice voucher (HCV) program, LHA issues an eligible family a voucher and the family selects a unit of its choice. If the family moves out of the unit, the contract with the owner ends and the family can move with continued assistance to another unit.

Under the project-based voucher (PBV) program,  LHA has an assistance contract with the owner for specified units (Southside Village/Terrace Lane) and for a specified term. LHA refers families from its waiting list to the project owner to fill vacancies. Because the assistance is tied to the unit, a family who moves from the project-based unit does not have any right to continued housing assistance. However, they may be eligible for a tenant based voucher when one becomes available; this is called Choice Mobility.

TIPS

The need for housing assistance is greater than the number of vouchers available; long waiting times are common. If your family is eligible, you will be placed on a waiting list, or, in some rare cases, you can be assisted immediately. When your name reaches the top of the waiting list, LHA will contact you in writing about receiving a housing voucher.

Families who qualify under local preferences  move ahead of other families on the list. LHA has the authority to determine selection preferences that address community priorities and housing needs.

Generally, a family must pay 30% of its income for rent and utilities (for project based vouchers, minimum rent is $50 which includes utilities). The voucher covers the remaining costs, up to a cap, known as a “payment standard,” set by your LHA.

The payment standard represents the cost of renting a moderately-priced home in the area. Families can select a home with a rent below calculated payment standard.