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Step 1
Contact your local Housing Authority office. Find out if there is a Section 8 program in your area and whether or not applications are being accepted. Ask if there is a waiting list.
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Step 2
Find out if you qualify. In order to qualify for Section 8 housing vouchers, you must earn no more than 50 percent less than the median income for your area.
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Step 3
Join the alert system. If the waiting list is closed, you can join an alert system. Housing authorities are required to give notice when they are going to open up their waiting lists and accept new applications. Because different towns and counties have different housing programs, you can contact several concurrently and join their waiting lists or alert programs.
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Step 4
Fill out an application. Once you find an open program, fill out the Section 8 application. For a complete application, you usually need to provide your name, address, telephone number, Social Security number, date of birth and information about all of the people who will be living in your household (names, ages and relationship to you). You also need to provide a complete rental history for the last five years including contact information for all of your landlords. For the financial portion of the application, you need to estimate the income and expenses for your household for the next twelve months. This includes your employment information (name of employer, pay stubs), banking information (bank statements), utility and medical bills, tax returns and any other documents that show either income or expenses (such as child support or Social Security income). You must also submit to a background check to verify that you don't have a criminal record. Once your application is approved, you will be added to the waiting list to receive housing vouchers.
