Analysis by Lorena Bentley
Last Updated: June, 14th 2024
This waiting list is for Public Housing rental housing assistance in Ithaca, New York.
The Ithaca Housing Authority (THA) is accepting Public Housing waiting list applications from the earliest confirmed open date of June 14, 2024, until further notice.
Preferences
Preferences have not yet been confirmed.
Selection Process
It is not known how applicants will be placed on the waiting list, by order of preferences.
Application Method
To apply while the waitlist is open, print the paper application.
Once the paper application has been completed, it must be either:
For more information, visit the IHA website.
Sources: This information was verified by the IHA How to Apply page on June 14, 2024.
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The application may be printed out from https://dfcc51.a2cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/PH-WL-Application2019.pdf.
The application may be mailed to the IHA office, 798 South Plain Street, Ithaca, NY 14850.
The application may be turned in to the IHA office or drop box, located at 798 South Plain Street, Ithaca, NY 14850.
The application may be faxed to 607-273-5738.
Ithaca, New York Public Housing Waiting List is managed by Ithaca Housing Authority.
Ithaca Housing Authority provides affordable housing for up to 1,374 low- and moderate-income households through its Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher and public housing programs.
This housing agency serves Ithaca, New York.
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 can apply for a waiting list that is open until further notice while it stays open for an unknown period of time. Usually, the housing authority is accepting applications until the waiting list closes, but some of these waiting lists never close.
To print out an application, a paper form must be printed from a device that is connected to the internet. This document is usually in the form of a .doc, docx, or .pdf. 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 Ithaca Housing Authority.
At the start of 2024, Ithaca Housing Authority was managing 235 Public Housing units. Of the total number of units managed, there were 209 units occupied. This represents 89% of the total number of Public Housing units managed by Ithaca Housing Authority.
According to HUD, there is a total of 220 people living in Public Housing units managed by Ithaca Housing Authority, with the average number of people per household being 1.
The 209 households living in Public Housing units at the start of 2024 waited on average 18 months before being able to move in. Of those households, 21 occupied their unit in the last year. This represents 10 percent of Public Housing tenants in units managed by Ithaca Housing Authority.
The Ithaca Housing Authority Public Housing program that this waiting list covers had 89% of its units occupied by households with 11% unoccupied at the start of 2024.
The average annual household income for Ithaca Housing Authority Public Housing tenant households is $17,695 The average annual income per person is $16,810 The average Public Housing household annual income is 24% of the local Area Median Income.
| Annual Income Range ($) | Number of Households | % of Vouchers |
|---|---|---|
| Less than $5,000 | 4 | 2% |
| $5,000 - $9,999 | 10 | 5% |
| $10,000 - $14,999 | 102 | 49% |
| $15,000 - $19,999 | 38 | 18% |
| $20,000+ | 52 | 25% |
Of all Public Housing households, 19 (8%) receive the majority of their income from wages and/or business. 5 (2%) households receive the majority of their income from welfare programs like TANF, General Assistance or Public Assistance. 207 (88%) households derive the majority of their income from some other source (other than wage or welfare).
For the Ithaca Housing Authority Public Housing program, the federal government covers the cost of, on average, $776 per month for each household, which equates to annual cost of $9,312.
HUD refers to the portion of rent paid by the tenant as the Total Tenant Payment, or Family Expenditure.
For the Ithaca Housing Authority Public Housing program, the average family expenditure is $394 per month or $4,728 per year. The combined payment from all tenants in the program is $82,346 per month, which is $988,152 per year.
The average cost of utilities for renters in this program is $34 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.
28% of Ithaca 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 | 8 | 4% |
| Black Non-Hispanic | 27 | 13% |
| Native American/Alaskan | 4 | 2% |
| White Non-Hispanic | 151 | 72% |
| Black Hispanic | 4 | 2% |
| White Hispanic | 10 | 5% |
| Other Hispanic | 2 | 1% |
Even if it looks difficult to get housing, apply anyway.
Some factors make it look like a longshot to get housing. Any waiting list opening is a legitimate chance to get housing, no mattter how long it takes.Bri-Anna Barbosa says:
"Affordable Housing Online is very informative and helpful by keeping you up to date with housing, including what's available and how to apply."