How to Locate Section 8 Buildings in Illinois

Section 8 apartment vouchers provide renters with a choice in housing. Many landlords participate in the Section 8 program, but they are not required to do so. You must look closely at listings to make sure Section 8 vouchers can be used for your new home. There are several ways to find Section 8 building listings in Illinois.

Instructions

1. Turn to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which offers an online Section 8 apartment search that allows state-by-state searching. Independent Section 8 rental sites include Affordable Housing Online and My New Place.

2. Check Craigslist's Illinois section. There are 12 Illinois cities listed here, from Chicago to Springfield. Small towns are not listed individually, but the closest listed city usually has listings for the smaller areas nearby. Enter "Section 8" into the text box at the top of the Apt/Housing page to search for buildings that allow Section 8 vouchers.

3. Check local newspapers. The classified sections have a real estate in which you may find rentals that often aren't listed elsewhere. Landlords that allow Section 8 vouchers to be used advertise this fact. This method takes a bit more work than searching online, but it can be well worth it.

4. Look through The Apartment Guide. This is a free publication that lists apartments and houses for rent. It can be found at local grocery stores and other businesses. The Apartment Guide for Illinois is published specifically for the Chicago area, but its online version has an expanded city search.

References

• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Section 8 Apartment Search
• Craigslist: Illinois
• Apartment Guide