When applying for a Public Housing apartment, knowing what to expect can help reduce the stress of the application process.
This step-by-step guide takes you through everything that is required to apply for Public Housing:
To apply for Public Housing, a housing authority’s waiting list must be open for applications. Housing authorities nationwide regularly open and close waiting lists throughout the year.
Applicants are not required to live in the area to apply to most waiting lists. This means that a renter in California may apply for a waiting list opening in New York. Sometimes there are local restrictions, but it is rare.
Some areas have waiting lists that stay open for a long period of time. In many parts of the country, though, it may take months or years for a waiting list to reopen. So, it’s important to stay on top of the latest waiting list openings when looking for housing in a certain area.
When a waiting list opens, housing authorities release a public notice to announce the application period. A public notice may be published locally (such as in a newspaper), or published online (either on a website or social media).
There are a few ways to find out if there’s an open waiting list in your area:
A. Find open waiting lists on Affordable Housing Online.
Our housing experts keep track of Public Housing waiting list openings nationwide. You can swipe through the latest openings at the top of the page, or scroll down to search for openings by state.
B. Sign up to get email alerts from Affordable Housing Online.
Get breaking news about waiting list openings in your state by signing up for our Waiting List Alerts.
C. Contact a Housing Authority directly.
Housing authorities are required by HUD let renters know when waiting lists are opening. You can contact any housing authority, or visit its website, to find out how waiting list openings are announced. Please note that not every housing authority has a website.
Contact and website information for housing authorities can be found on Affordable Housing Online.
Once you find a waiting list, there’s one piece of information that’s important to check before starting the application. Not doing this check could result in a very long wait for housing assistance.
Many waiting lists have preferences. Applicants who qualify for waiting list preferences will receive assistance before applicants who do not. Applicants who do not qualify for preferences will usually have a longer wait to receive assistance.
Examples of preferences used by housing authorities include persons who are elderly, persons with disabilities, and local residents.
It is important to know that preferences are not requirements. You may still apply, even if you do not qualify for any preferences.
Sometimes, a waiting list may be restricted to applicants from a specific demographic group, such as persons who are homeless, elderly, or have a disability. If a housing authority has restrictions for a Public Housing opening, the information must be approved by HUD, detailed in the PHA’s Annual Plan, and included in the public notice.
After finding a waiting list that’s right for you, it’s important to apply as soon as possible. Waiting lists are not guaranteed to stay open.
Follow the housing authority’s instructions for getting and submitting a Public Housing application. If you don’t follow the instructions, your application could be rejected.
After finding an open waiting list on Affordable Housing Online, the Public Housing Agency pages provide details on how to get an application for open waiting lists.
Applications are usually available online, by mail, or in the housing authority’s office. Housing authority public notices and websites will explain how to apply. The application must be obtained and submitted according to the housing authority’s instructions.
Reasonable Accommodation: Housing authorities must make reasonable accommodations for disabled applicants to apply. In addition, if an applicant cannot complete the application on their own, they may have another person (like a social worker) complete the application on their behalf.
Be prepared for online applications: If the application is online, and you do not have access to the Internet, you can use a friend’s or family member’s computer or device. Most local libraries have computers and internet access. Housing authorities may also have computers on-site, but the number available is sometimes limited and applicants may have to wait in line.
Online applications may require applicants to create a free account through an online portal, and/or have a valid email address. If you do not have an email address, you can create one for free through providers such as Google. Keep your email account information in a safe, easy to access place.
If information on how to apply to a housing authority’s waiting list is not provided, contact the housing authority directly for assistance.
Housing Authority contact information can be found on Affordable Housing Online.
The first application you will complete is called a preliminary or pre-application. Pre-applications sometimes do not ask for all the information required to receive housing assistance. You may have to submit more information after the pre-application.
Some applications are only one page, while others may be longer.
Most pre-applications require at least:
• Applicant’s first and last name
• Applicant’s date of birth
• Applicant’s Social Security Number or Alien ID
• Gross income of all household members, including children (Employment income earned by household members younger than 18 years old is not included)
Other information that may appear on an application includes:
• Current mailing address, email address, and/or phone number
• Gender, disability status, race and ethnicity
• Housing history
• Criminal history
Complete the application according to the housing authority’s instructions. Most housing authorities require the entire application to be completed. Some housing authorities may return incomplete applications and allow you to provide the missing information, but others will simply reject incomplete applications.
Do not provide false information!
Be truthful about the information you provide on an application. Putting false information on the application may not only disqualify you, but can also get you in legal trouble.
If you are unsure about what to write down in a section of the application, contact the housing authority for help.
After completing all required parts of the application, it’s now ready to be sent back to the housing authority for review.
You must submit the application according to housing authority instructions, or it will be disqualified.
Applications must be submitted only by the method specified. For example: Don’t mail in an application if the housing authority only accepts applications online. The letter will be discarded, and will not considered for a housing opportunity.
For waiting lists that have an announced close date, applications must be submitted before the date and time stated by the housing authority. If your application is late, it will be disqualified.
And for almost all waiting list openings, multiple application submissions from the same household will be rejected. There are some exceptions, but they are rare.
After the housing authority gets your application, it will take some time for the office to review it for waiting list eligibility.
Once your application has been submitted, it can take between from a couple of weeks to a couple of months to process.
This depends on the resources available to review applications. Usually, online applications are processed more quickly than paper applications.
The application instructions or public notice may have information on when waiting list status will be available, and how to find out your status.
To contact households, the housing authority will use information provided by the applicant in the application.
This is why it is important to give the housing authority valid, and reachable contact information. If a notice from the housing authority is undeliverable or left unread, the household may be taken off the waiting list.
If you were not placed on the waiting list, you may not get any notice from the housing office. Some housing authorities only reach out to those who were placed on the waiting list.
If you are on the waiting list, keep a record of your notification, along with any other related information. This includes housing authority contact information, login credentials, confirmation number, and your position on the waiting list.
Not everyone will be selected for the waiting list, even if they are qualified. There could be a number of reasons why, but it mostly is because of the high demand for housing assistance. Many times, there are not enough spots available to accept every applicant.
If you are not placed on the waiting list, the housing authority is required to provide the reason why, along with information about requesting an informal conference to appeal the decision.
But for those who are on a waiting list, there is nothing left to do now, but wait.
Depending on the area, it may take a housing authority months or years to get through all households on the waiting list. While waiting, applicants may get a notice that requires a response to stay on the waiting list.
To stay on a waiting list, keep contact information up to date, and reply to all notices that require a response.
While waiting for an apartment, housing authorities allow applicants to check their status on a waiting list. Some housing authorities will tell applicants their exact spot on the waiting list, but others will only confirm if the household is still on the waiting list.
Once an application reaches the top of the waiting list, the household will get a notice from the housing authority. But there is one final eligibility screening before getting a voucher.
he last requirement to get a Public Housing apartment is to complete the final application during an in-person meeting with the housing authority.
Housing authorities will either require all household members, all adult household members, or only the applicant to be present. The attendees must arrive at the scheduled date and time, so plan accordingly if the location is far away from home.
When the interview is over, the housing authority will determine if the household is qualified to receive a Public Housing apartment.
If the household meets all requirements, they will be given a voucher.
However, if the household is denied, there is still one last chance to get an apartment.
If your application for public housing is denied, you can appeal the decision and request an informal conference. The housing authority will provide instructions on how to submit the request.
It is important that you follow the instructions for making the informal conference request, and make sure it is received before the deadline. If your request is received after the deadline, you will not have the chance to appeal your rejection.
After being approved for the Public Housing program, you will be able to move into the unit the housing authority has approved for you. You will not be able to move from this unit and keep the rental assistance.
Housing authorities will review the income of Public Housing residents every two years. The household’s average income for the last two years must be less than 120% of the Area Median Income (AMI).
If a household is over-income, they will not be required to move out. However, they must either pay Fair Market Rent (FMR) for the unit, or the subsidy amount for the unit that the housing authority receives from HUD.
Now that you’ve learned everything there is to know about the Public Housing program, check our affordable housing guide for other programs that may also be a good housing option:
Housing options for immigrants.
Some housing programs do not have a citizenship requirement, such as Low-Income Housing Tax Credit apartments.Cathy Watkins says:
"I’m just glad I could find Affordable Housing Online. If I can find a low-income rental, I can see retirement."