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1. What is Maryland Section 8?
The Maryland Section 8 program is a housing assistance program that helps low-income families in the state of Maryland pay their rent. The Maryland Public Housing Authority (PHA) administers this program funded by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The program works by providing housing vouchers to its participants. Voucher recipients can choose a private-market rental unit as long as it meets basic requirements.
The Section 8 Housing program has two sections as below:
- The Housing Choice Voucher program.
- Project-Based Contract Administration Program (PBCA).
2. Who can qualify for a Section 8 Housing Voucher in Maryland?
Before discovering how to apply for housing voucher in Maryland, you should first find out the requirements of this program and whether you are qualified or not. To qualify for Section 8 Housing Voucher in Maryland, you have to meet:
- You must be at least 18 years old.
- Your household income cannot exceed Maryland’s low-income limit. A single-person household cannot earn more than $47,600 per year. A family of four has a low-income limit of $68,000, while a family of eight has a limit of $89,750.
- You must be a full-time resident of Maryland and a US citizen or permanent naturalized resident.
- You have no drug offenses or sex crime convictions on your record.
- Priority housing will be provided if you have been forcibly displaced from your previous residence, are homeless, or live with the elderly or disabled.
3. Section 8 waiting lists in Maryland
Managing Section 8 extremely long waiting lists in Maryland during this post-Covid 19 pandemic is a massive undertaking for Maryland PHAs. Each housing authority will determine when to open their waiting list, the positions of applications on the list, and whether to remove an applicant.
Here are two examples of Maryland PHAs waiting lists management:
- Section 8 waiting list in Rockville: The Rockville Housing Enterprises PHA will contact applicants on the waiting list regularly to ensure that they still qualify for assistance. Those who do not respond will be removed from the list.
- Section 8 waiting list in Baltimore: The Baltimore City Housing Authority places applicants on the waiting list on a first-come, first-served basis.
Do you take more than a year but didn’t get a Section 8 voucher? To receive Section 8 HCV fast, we can help you here.
4. How to apply for Section 8 in Maryland (MD)?
To apply for Section 8 housing in Maryland, visit your nearest local Public Housing Authority (PHA) office to request an application. Click here to find the location of the PHA you want to contact.
Select the PHA waitlist that serves your area and apply. Once your name is called from the waitlist, you will be guided through the section 8 application process. This will include a criminal background check and a thorough financial history. Documentation proving your finances and household composition will be required. Your public housing authority representative may also require you to complete an interview.
After completing this process successfully, the applicant will be accepted into the program and will begin receiving Maryland Housing Choice Vouchers.
5. How to use your Maryland Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher
Here are 5 steps using your Maryland Section 8 Housing Choice voucher once you have received:
- Finish the PHA interview: A PHA representative will interview you to verify that you still meet the Section 8 requirements.
- Find eligible housing: You can choose any townhome, apartment, or house on the private market that meets the above criteria.
- Notify the PHA to schedule an inspection: Contact your PHA once you’ve found an eligible housing unit. The PHA must schedule a property review to ensure it meets the HUD requirements.
- Complete the lease and the contract for Housing Assistance Payments (HAP): If the property passes the inspection, you can finalize a 12-month lease with the landlord.
- Comply with the regulations and finish the annual PHA review: The PHA will also conduct a yearly inspection of the property and review your information to ensure that everything is still in order.
Are the guidelines about how to apply for Section 8 in Maryland (MD) useful for you? Hanfincal hopes you take advantage of these instructions and reap as many benefits from this housing program as possible. Share your thoughts to let us know if you need more information.
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