The Housing Authority of Los Angeles will begin processing Section 8 Waiting List Lottery applications soon and the deadline to apply is Friday.
This is the first time the city will consider new applications in 13 years. Up to 600,000 people are expected to apply, from which 20,000 will be randomly selected to be added to the new Section 8 waiting list.
Section 8 vouchers provide rental assistance by paying a portion of rent directly to private landlords. Section 8 is a federal subsidy and, with some 57,000 vouchers in use, the only way for a new applicant to get one is for someone else who already had one to give theirs up. Some 2,400 become available every year.
The average wait is 23 months to get assistance, according to the Los Angeles Times. To be eligible, applicants must live or work in the city of Los Angeles and make “very low income,” which is $31,550 per year for one person or $45,050 for a family of four.
The application period closes Friday, Oct. 29th at 5:00 p.m. It only takes a few minutes to fill out an application, experts say.
Those interested can apply online or call 1-888-816-6955 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
