Analysis by Rachel Lynch
Last Updated: February, 23rd 2024
This waiting list is for Public Housing rental housing assistance in Decatur, Alabama.
The Decatur Housing Authority (DHA) Public Housing waiting list for 1-Bedroom apartments at East Acres, Sterrs Homes and Westgate Gardens is currently closed. It is not known when this waiting list was last open, or when it will reopen.
To apply during the opening period, applicants were required to call the DHA.
Preferences have not yet been confirmed.
It was not known how applicants will be placed on the waiting list.
For more information, visit the DHA Facebook page.
Sources: This information was verified by the DHA Facebook page on June 1, 2021.
East Acres, Sterrs Homes and Westgate Gardens 1-Bedroom has preferences for: Preferences Unconfirmed. Preferences are not required but Public Housing applicants that meet these criteria will be moved up the waiting list.
East Acres, Sterrs Homes and Westgate Gardens 1-Bedroom Public Housing Waiting List is managed by Decatur Housing Authority.
Decatur Housing Authority provides affordable housing for up to 1,652 low- and moderate-income households through its Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher and public housing programs.
This housing agency serves Decatur, Alabama.
After applying, it's a good practice to keep a record of any application that you submit. This will help you keep track of your application, and is especially useful if you apply to multiple waiting lists. You can do this easily with a document on your computer or mobile device, and also with a notebook or piece of paper.
Make sure to write down your application or confirmation number with the application details. This number will be important to reference in the future. Once you have this information written, keep it stored in a place that's easy to access when you need it.
With this information safely stored, all you have left to do is wait to find out if you've been selected for the waiting list.
Depending on the area, it may take weeks or even months to know if you've been selected for the waiting list. Your wait for an announcement is usually the longest in areas with large populations and a high demand for housing assistance.
Check if the public notice states when the housing authority plans to announce the results, or how long it may take to review applications. Contact the housing authority if this information isn't available.
Once all applications are reviewed, the housing authority will either contact everyone who has been placed on the waiting list, or message everyone who applied to check their results.
The housing authority will use the contact information you give in the application to reach you (usually by mail, email, or phone). For this reason, it is very important to put valid contact information on your application. Make sure you keep your contact information up to date, and that you respond quickly if any further action is required.
If you don't get contacted by the housing authority, it might mean that you were not chosen for the waiting list. Sometimes, housing authorities do not contact applicants who were not placed on the waiting list. Check with the housing authority for confirmation.
To check your status on the waiting list, you usually have to log into an online portal, call a phone number, or visit the office. Each housing authority has different ways for you to check your status.
Some housing authorities will give your spot on the waiting list, but others might only confirm that you're still on the waiting list. Make sure that you have your application or confirmation number with you when checking your status.
To update your waiting list application, you usually have to log into an online portal, call a phone number, or submit a form to the office. Each housing authority has different ways for you to update your application.
Make sure that you have your application or confirmation number with you when updating your application.
You cannot apply for a waiting list that is closed until it is reopened by the housing authority. It is not known when the housing authority will announce the next opening.
To request an application by phone, you must call a phone number and ask for the housing authority to send you an application. The housing authority will offer at least one way to get an application, usually by mail, email, or fax. The application must be completed and sent back to the housing authority according to their instructions.
If you are considering applying to live in a Public Housing unit, you may be interested to know who already lives in these units, and what the households tend to look like. Fortunately, we can provide some helpful statistics using HUD's 2023 Picture of Subsidized Households. The following data describes the economic and demographic characteristics of renters who live in Public Housing units provided by Decatur Housing Authority.
At the start of 2024, Decatur Housing Authority was managing 600 Public Housing units. Of the total number of units managed, there were 432 units occupied. This represents 72% of the total number of Public Housing units managed by Decatur Housing Authority.
According to HUD, there is a total of 800 people living in Public Housing units managed by Decatur Housing Authority, with the average number of people per household being 2.
The 432 households living in Public Housing units at the start of 2024 waited on average 27 months before being able to move in. Of those households, 17 occupied their unit in the last year. This represents 4 percent of Public Housing tenants in units managed by Decatur Housing Authority.
The Decatur Housing Authority Public Housing program that this waiting list covers had 72% of its units occupied by households with 28% unoccupied at the start of 2024.
The average annual household income for Decatur Housing Authority Public Housing tenant households is $14,419 The average annual income per person is $7,732 The average Public Housing household annual income is 26% of the local Area Median Income.
| Annual Income Range ($) | Number of Households | % of Vouchers |
|---|---|---|
| Less than $5,000 | 91 | 21% |
| $5,000 - $9,999 | 30 | 7% |
| $10,000 - $14,999 | 168 | 39% |
| $15,000 - $19,999 | 52 | 12% |
| $20,000+ | 91 | 21% |
Of all Public Housing households, 90 (15%) receive the majority of their income from wages and/or business. 6 (1%) households receive the majority of their income from welfare programs like TANF, General Assistance or Public Assistance. 504 (84%) households derive the majority of their income from some other source (other than wage or welfare).
For the Decatur Housing Authority Public Housing program, the federal government covers the cost of, on average, $823 per month for each household, which equates to annual cost of $9,876.
HUD refers to the portion of rent paid by the tenant as the Total Tenant Payment, or Family Expenditure.
For the Decatur Housing Authority Public Housing program, the average family expenditure is $298 per month or $3,576 per year. The combined payment from all tenants in the program is $128,736 per month, which is $1,544,832 per year.
The average cost of utilities for renters in this program is $45 per month. It is important to note this is not the actual cost renters will pay for utilities, but an estimate based on the energy cost estimates of the program.
Of the 600 households living in Public Housing units, 229 (53%) live in a studio or one-bedroom unit, 121 (28%) rent a 2-bedroom rental home and 78 (18%) have a 3-bedroom or larger rental. 12% of Public Housing households are overhoused with more bedrooms than people in the household.
67% of Decatur Housing Authority Public Housing program households have a minority head of household who is Black, Native American, Asian or Pacific Islander; or of Hispanic ethnicity.
| Race | Number of Households | % of Households |
|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0 | 0% |
| Black Non-Hispanic | 276 | 64% |
| Native American/Alaskan | 0 | 0% |
| White Non-Hispanic | 143 | 33% |
| Black Hispanic | 0 | 0% |
| White Hispanic | 13 | 3% |
| Other Hispanic | 0 | 0% |
| Age Range of Head of Household | Number of Households | % of Households |
|---|---|---|
| Under 24 | 26 | 6% |
| 25-50/td> | 138 | 32% |
| 51-61 | 52 | 12% |
| 62-84 | 199 | 46% |
| 85 or Older | 17 | 4% |
Do you have little or no income?
Be aware that some housing assistance programs have a minimum income requirement, such as Low-Income Housing Tax Credit aparments.Sabrina Roberts says:
"Affordable Housing Online is a wonderful resource that will assist an enormous amount of people."