Because of a several years’ long waiting list, the last time Seattle Housing Authority (SHA) added new people to their Housing Choice Voucher, or Section 8, waitlist was in 2008.
The good news is they are about to make a new wait list for 2,000 new households, but to be eligible to be selected for that waitlist, you need to register now. Here’s how it works. If you earn 30% or less of area median income you can participate in a lottery to be put on a Housing Choice Voucher waitlist. Then, if you get a voucher, you can rent a unit from any landlord in Seattle eligible to participate in the program and pay only 30 to 40 percent of your monthly income in rent.
Area median income (AMI) means that half of the people in the area, in this case Seattle, earn more than the median, and half of the people earn less. For Seattle, 30% AMI for a single person household is $18,200/yr, for a 2 person household it is $20,800/year and for a 3 person family it is $23,400. Find eligibility for larger families here.
Registration is NOW and it is online only. You can register until February 22nd, 5 p.m. If you do, you will be entering a “lottery” for a chance to be placed on this new waitlist. Of all the households who register during this three-week registration period, 2,000 households will be selected at random to be placed on the waitlist. The first households on the list could begin receiving vouchers as early as spring. Here is a Frequently Asked Questions.
Seattle doesn’t have enough low income housing. I’m glad that SHA is giving those in greatest need this opportunity for safe, decent and affordable housing. If you are interested in registering for the lottery, visit http://seattlehousing.org/waitlist. A Waitlist Hotline to take questions or to help you register is also available by calling 206-239-1674.