Analysis by David Layfield
Last Updated: August, 9th 2024
The Vancouver Housing Authority (VHA) Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher waiting list is currently open on a limited basis. Applications are being accepted from October 16, 2015, until further notice.
Please note: According to the VHA, this waiting list is only open to those who qualify for the following preference:
"Housing Solutions Center referral: At the time you apply you must be literally homeless or fleeing domestic violence. Housing Solutions Center will conduct an assessment of your housing status and provide a referral code if you qualify. To begin the assessment and referral process, please call the Housing Solutions Center at 360-695-9677"
To apply during the opening period, complete the online application. Select "Housing Choice Voucher" from the list, and then select the box that says, "Housing Choice Voucher: Housing Choice Voucher, To Apply You Will Need A Referral Code." The application is available in English, Spanish, and Russian.
This waiting list has the following preferences:
For more information, visit the VHA website.This information was verified on the Vancouver Housing Authority website on August 9, 2024.
The application may be completed online at https://vhausa.myhousing.com/.
Clark County, Washington Limited has preferences for: Elderly, Disabled, Families with Children, In Transitional Housing. Preferences are not required but Section 8 Voucher applicants that meet these criteria will be moved up the waiting list.
Clark County, Washington Limited Section 8 Voucher Waiting List is managed by Vancouver Housing Authority.
Vancouver Housing Authority provides affordable housing for up to 2,966 low- and moderate-income households through its public housing programs.
This housing agency serves Clark County, Washington.
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 apply online, an electronic form must be submitted to the housing authority on the internet. Many online applications require an account to be created to log in, and also a valid email address.
If you are considering applying for a voucher, you may be interested to know who already has a voucher, 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 have a Section or project-based voucher issued by Vancouver Housing Authority.
At the start of 2024, Vancouver Housing Authority was managing 3,410 Section 8 vouchers. Of the total number of vouchers managed, there were 2,421 households with a voucher. This represents 71% of the total voucher allotment for Vancouver Housing Authority.
According to HUD, there is a total of 6,678 people living in households with a Section 8 voucher issued by Vancouver Housing Authority, with the average number of people per household being 2.
Though Section 8 voucher programs are over-subscribed across the nation with all programs having a waiting list, each month, each housing agency managing vouchers has vouchers that are not issued to renters. This can result from turnover in the program if someone with a voucher buys a home, sees an increase in their income, passes away, or otherwise discontinues the use of their voucher.
The time it takes to transfer voucher funding from one recipient to another can be many months. Managing the Section 8 waiting list, qualifying new voucher holders, and approving new homes or apartments takes time. In addition, in some areas, there is an extreme housing shortage or landlords may refuse to rent to persons using a Section 8 voucher to pay their rent. This results in longer than usual ramp-up times for new voucher holders.
The Vancouver Housing Authority Section 8 HCV program that this waiting list covers had 71% of its vouchers utilized by households with 29% unutilized at the start of 2024. This means that 989 Section 8 vouchers out of a total of 3,410 were in processing at the time HUD reported the data.
Of the 2,421 Section 8 voucher-holding households with the Vancouver Housing Authority, 1,057 have at least one child. There are 171 two-parent households in the Vancouver Housing Authority voucher program, and 887 single-parent households. There were 921 households with children with a female head of household.
The average annual household income for Vancouver Housing Authority Section 8 Voucher holders is $18,404 The average annual income per person is $9,254 The average voucher holder earns 20% of the local Area Median Income.
| Annual Income Range ($) | Number of Households | % of Vouchers |
|---|---|---|
| Less than $5,000 | 48 | 2% |
| $5,000 - $9,999 | 315 | 13% |
| $10,000 - $14,999 | 799 | 33% |
| $15,000 - $19,999 | 484 | 20% |
| $20,000+ | 775 | 32% |
Of all voucher holders, 648 (19%) receive the majority of their income from wages and/or business. 136 (4%) voucher-holding households receive the majority of their income from welfare programs like TANF, General Assistance or Public Assistance. 2,489 (73%) voucher-holding households derive the majority of their income from some other source (other than wage or welfare).
The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program pays 70% of the cost of rent plus utilities for any household receiving the housing assistance.
For the Vancouver Housing Authority Section 8 program, the federal government is providing, on average, $1,419 per month to each household, for an average annual cost of $17,028. The program as a whole is paying landlords $3,435,399 per month, for an annual economic benefit to landlords of $41,224,788
HUD refers to the portion of rent paid by the Section 8 tenant as the Total Tenant Payment, or Family Expenditure.
For the Vancouver Housing Authority Section 8 HCV programs, the average family expenditure is $519 per month or $6,228 per year. The combined payment from all tenants in the program is $1,256,499 per month, which is $15,077,988 per year.
The average total rent paid to Section 8 landlords is $1,938 per month which includes payment contributed by both tenant households and the federal government. This is a program-wide rent average across all bedroom size rentals.
The average cost of utilities for renters in this program is $126 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 3,410 households with a Section 8 voucher, 968 (40%) live in a studio or one-bedroom unit, 896 (37%) rent a 2-bedroom rental home and 533 (22%) have a 3-bedroom or larger rental. 21% of Housing Choice Voucher recipients are overhoused with more bedrooms than people in the household.
26% of Vancouver Housing Authority Section 8 HCV 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 | 145 | 6% |
| Black Non-Hispanic | 266 | 11% |
| Native American/Alaskan | 48 | 2% |
| White Non-Hispanic | 1,792 | 74% |
| Black Hispanic | 0 | 0% |
| White Hispanic | 121 | 5% |
| Other Hispanic | 24 | 1% |
| Age Range of Head of Household | Number of Households | % of Households |
|---|---|---|
| Under 24 | 24 | 1% |
| 25-50/td> | 944 | 39% |
| 51-61 | 508 | 21% |
| 62-84 | 847 | 35% |
| 85 or Older | 97 | 4% |
Section 8 vouchers can be moved to another area.
Once certain conditions are met, a Section 8 voucher may be transferred to another area (known as "porting").Steve Rubin says:
"Affordable Housing Online is an excellent resource, and an important service for those who need it."