Each Wednesday, Dave Layfield, our founder and resident affordable housing expert, does a live video chat with our users at 3:00 pm ET on Blab.im. He usually spends an hour or more answering users’ questions about affordable housing assistance. Users can come on camera live with Dave and ask any question. Most of the time, he has the answer, but if he is unable to answer the question at the time, he will research the question after the chat and then reach out to the user.
Following are the questions and Dave’s answers from the live video chat of Wednesday, October 21, 2015. We have embedded the recording of the video chat for you to watch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-BC6_0nn0Q
@tweety8_: "If your Public Housing apartment was condemned because the roof caved in due to snow. can the housing authority provide us a hotel?"
Dave: Technically, if your unit is uninhabitable, the housing authority should put you up somewhere else. There is a document called the Uniform Relocation Act (URA) that provides guidance on what any entity that provides federally subsidized housing has to do in certain scenarios. Housing authorities that provide the Public Housing program are subject to the URA, and are required to provide you with comparable accommodations while your unit is being repaired. If the housing authority is not, you may mention the the URA to them or consult with an attorney or your local HUD office. For example, I am in the business of buying and renovating affordable, federally financed apartment communities. When my company buys a property to renovate, we are required by federal law to follow the URA. About 40 families couldn't live in their unit for three months while we were renovating, so we rented out two buildings in an apartment community nearby, and temporarily moved these families to these units. If the relocation is far away, then the managing organization must also pay travel costs.
You can search our database for housing authority contact information.
@earnestinejon15: "I would like to be placed on an affordable housing program. I am a senior citizen. What do I do?"
Dave: There are many different programs in this country for seniors. For example, in rural areas, there is a rural development Section 515 program that has properties for both families and seniors who are 62 years old or older; but there tends to be a lot of senior residents even in the family properties. There is also a HUD 202 program that is just for seniors who are 62 years old or older. When it comes to the Section 8 program, there are often times preferences for seniors. Check the pre-application information to find if there is a preference. A lot of openings we report on are for seniors.
Please view
all open Section 8 waiting lists we are aware of, and
all open Public Housing waiting lists we are aware of. You may also
search for your area of interest through our database.
@MarleyGhost: "I've been filling out Section 8 pre-applications in different states and I'm wondering if the vouchers are transferable between states, like New Jersey to Massachusetts, once you are approved?"
Dave: No, the vouchers are not immediately transferable. However, if you get a voucher in New Jersey, you can live within the jurisdiction of that housing authrotiy for one year, and then take it to Massachusetts through the portability process. Let's say that five years ago, you applied to a waiting list in your own city, and got a call give years later that you are about to receive a voucher, then you could port immediately without waiting because you lived in that city when you applied.
@MarleyGhost: "Do you guys have an email or someway to talk privately?"
Dave: We do not have the resources to give private individual assistance to our users. However, we do provide limited assistance on
our Facebook page, and you can send us a message there.
@Monique51809909: "Can I apply for more than one waiting list?"
Dave: Yes, we have users who have applied to dozens, if not, hundreds of open waiting lists in the country. We have catologued many waiting lists that are open indefinitely, and we recommend applying to those. The more waiting lists you apply to, the greater chance you have of receiving assistance. Don't forget that you must be willing to move where you apply. Once you receive assistance, you must live within the jurisdiction of that housing authority.
Please view
all open Section 8 waiting lists we are aware of, and
all open Public Housing waiting lists we are aware of. You may also
search for your area of interest through our database.
@Monique51809909: "Do you know why New York City, including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx isn't opening its Section 8 waiting list?"
Dave: One problem with the section 8 program is that it is extremely oversubscribed; meaning there is far more demand for the subsidy than funds available. This problem is true everywhere in the country. However, the funds don't get allocated based on the population of an area. It's more based on how many vouchers are available in the area, which were allocated many years ago. The population of large cities like New York City has grown substantially, but the Section 8 funding hasn't. We need more housing subsidies to accommodate the amount of people in need. Specifically for New York City, Mayor de Blasio has published a great 10-year housing strategy with a number of initiatives. He wants to create 200,000 additional affordable housing units over the next 10 years. The good news is that all of the city agencies in New York City have strategies in place to tackle the city's affordable housing problems. But as far as Section 8 goes, I wouldn't see anything changing in the area soon.
The
New York City Housing Authority Public Housing waiting list is open, however the wait to receive assistance is several years.
@DarnellFrazier1: "What is the difference between Section 8 housing and low-income housing?"
Dave: They are both very generic terms, and it's hard to differentiate. Section 8 housing is a unit occupied by someone who has a Section 8 voucher. Low-income housing is any unit occupied by a person who earns 60% of the area median income, or less. There are many programs, including Section 8, that are low-income housing programs.
You can
search for your area of interest through our database to find out what affordable housing programs are available.
@DarnellFrazier1: "If there is a property that has a HUD sign in front of it, does that mean they have to set aside units for low-income people?"
Dave: I want to make sure you aren't confusing the HUD logo with the Equal Housing logo. Every housing provider is supposed to have the Equal Housing logo displayed when they advertise available units. But, if the sign is for HUD, then yes, it is an affordable housing property for low-income persons. It is also possible that these properties do not have rental subsidies. There are two primary types of subsidies for housing assistance in this country: rent subsidies and bricks and mortar (or capital) subsidies. A rent subsidy goes to individuals to help them pay rent. A bricks and mortal (or capital) subsidy goes to the owner of the property to help them build it for less money, but there probably is discounted rent for residents. Most new properties being built are through bricks and mortar subsidies, and not rent subsidies. This is a big reason why affordable housing waiting lists are so long in this country.
@DarnellFrazier1: "How do we keep track of our applications for the waiting lists?"
Dave: I would recommend to keep a simple log, whether it is a piece of paper or document on your computer or phone, of all waiting lists you have applied to. We are planning on releasing a product in the future to help applicants keep track of all waiting lists they have applied to, and will keep our users informed when that comes close to coming out.
@DarnellFrazier1: "What to do when you are trying to apply online to a waiting list, but their website wont allow you to register and apply. It says that they can't find my information, but I haven't created an account with them."
Dave: There could be a number of factors. The website may be down, or there may be a problem with your internet service. It is also possible that you are confusing the online pre-application with the log in portal for people who have already applied. If you are having difficulty completing an online pre-application, contact the affiliated housing authority for assistance.
You can search our database for housing authority contact information.
@mizstephnie: "If my family composition changes when it's time to move in to my Project-Based Section 8 unit, would the office have to accommodate for my new bedroom size, or can they reject me?"
Dave: Usually, if you are on a waiting list and you get to the top, but your family size has changed, the housing authority will try to accommodate you. However, if there are no units available for your family composition, it may be impossible for the housing authority to accomodate you. But the housing authority should at least try, and you should let them know as soon as your family size changes. In the example that a single pregnant woman is on a waiting list, she is to be treated as a two-person household in anticipation of the family composition changing from one to two people. So, she is supposed to be provided with a two-bedroom unit.
@karamarie2504: "Is there any way to get moved up the waiting list faster?"
Dave: Not really, but if you meet certain preferences, you will be bumped up the waiting list. For example, if you are a veteran applying for a waiting list with a veteran preference, you will be placed higher up the waiting list than applicants who don't have a preference. In that case, you would be moved up faster, but that is a relative term, and you may still have to wait years for assistance.
@toyya_young: "I was wondering about the Section 8 residency waivers. What are they and what cities offer them? For example, in Pittsburgh, PA their residency waiver is expiring on October 31st this year. It states once the waiver expires that those approved for Section 8 must stay in Pittsburgh for one year, until their eligible to transfer anywhere else."
Dave: I did some research, but unfortunately could not find much information about Section 8 residency waivers. Since we are not well versed on this subject, we recommend contacting your housing authority for more information.
You can search our database for housing authority contact information.
