How to Get Help With Rent Assistance in Allentown, Pennsylvania

You may be on the waiting list for Section 8 for several years.

Extremely-low to low-income families in Allentown, Pennsylvania, can receive monthly assistance with paying their rent. The income standards for rental assistance are predetermined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Section 8 program is a federally funded program that can cover up to 70% of a family's rent each month. In Allentown, the housing authority administers the program. The office is responsible for processing applications for Section 8, or rental assistance, and determining eligibility.

Instructions

1. Contact the Allentown Housing Authority at 610-439-8678 and ask if applications are currently being accepted for the Section 8 housing program.

2. Visit the housing authority and request an application for the program. As of November 2010, the office is located at 1339 West Allen Street in Allentown.

3. Complete and submit your application to the housing authority. The application can be filled out at the office or at home. If you take the application home, you can either submit it in person or mail it back to the office. If the application is submitted in person, request a receipt showing the date and time your application was submitted. After your application is processed, you will be placed on a waiting list.

4. Fill out an information packet and mail it back to the housing authority. The information packet is mailed to you when your name nears the top of the waiting list. You are required to provide information regarding your current living conditions and income on the form. Do not skip any portion of the packet.

5. Attend a briefing session at the housing authority. Participants in the Section 8 program are required to attend the briefing. During the briefing, the guidelines for the program will be explained. You also receive your voucher during the briefing.

Tips & Warnings

• Update in writing any address changes while on the waiting list. You can mail a letter to the housing authority with your name, previous address and new address. The written notice can also be submitted in person.

References

• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Housing Choice Vouchers Fact Sheet
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: PHA Contact Information