Interesting Facts About Public Housing

Public housing programs are very demanding in many areas. Do you know the average time of reaching the top of the waiting list? This knowledge can help you make a better decision with regard to affordable housing programs.

1. Average Time On The Waiting List

According to the data in the past 12 months, the average time of reaching the top of the waiting list is 6 years. Receiving a housing voucher is a long journey, and the waiting time may vary from one county to another.

2. Total Amount Of Section 8 Vouchers

The federal government currently funds more than 2 million Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers. These vouchers are then distributed to local public housing agencies.

3. Priority Groups

Apart from ordinary affordable housing programs, senior citizens, veterans and the disabled have access to some special programs designed for them. Children are also considered disadvantaged groups, but these programs require the applicant to be 18 or older.

4. Open Until Further Notice

Some waiting lists can last for several years, with the open status: open until further notice. In contrast, some waiting lists are only open for a short period of time, which means a bunch of vouchers are made available in the area.

5. Tenant-Based Or Project-Based Vouchers

There are generally two types of Section 8 Vouchers: tenant-based vouchers and project-based ones. The holders of tenant-based vouchers can take their housing assistance to the rental market. In comparison, the latter can only be used in the lease of certain properties.

6. Transferable Vouchers

Most of the tenant-based vouchers are non-transferable, which means that they can only be used in local areas. About 20 percent of all tenant-based vouchers are transferable, and the holders can take them to other cities or even other states for house renting.