Everything You Need to Know About Section 8 Housing in Detroit
To qualify for Section 8 housing vouchers in Detroit, you’ll need to make less than 50% of the median income.
Written by Katherine Duffy
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
Detroit’s Section 8 program is an important resource for families in need of financial assistance. The program assists families whose total gross income is 50% lower than the median income, allowing these families to get ahead financially, provide for their children, and save for the future.
While this program is extremely beneficial to low-income families, it’s also extremely bothersome to apply for. Between lengthy waitlists, an overwhelming amount of supporting documents, and overburdened systems, qualifying for Section 8 housing vouchers in Detroit is tough.
If you’re unsure about where to start with your Section 8 housing application in Detroit,
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What is Section 8 housing?
Section 8 is a nationwide subsidized housing program that assists low-income families, senior citizens, and disabled people to cover their monthly rent bills.
Eligible families and individuals only have to use a maximum of 40% of their adjusted income towards rent while the government covers the remainder of the bill. This federal program is named after Section 8 of the 1974 Housing and Community Development Act, which is where the housing voucher program in the first place.
This is how the Section 8 housing program works:
- Applicants contact their local housing authority to start the application process for housing choice vouchers or project-based vouchers to have their rent subsidized by the government.
- Housing choice vouchers allow qualified applicants to live in a unit of their choosing, as long as it sticks to the required criteria on their voucher.
- Project-based vouchers let tenants live in specific units and properties that fit certain designations.
- The local housing authority gives families vouchers for a certain amount of bedrooms based on how many family members there are and the unique family composition.
- Tenants with a housing choice voucher are only required to pay a maximum of 40% of their income in rent. The government covers the rest.
Section 8 obligations
The Section 8 housing program designates specific responsibilities for the qualified participants in the program, the lessors who provide participants with a place to stay, and the community’s legal housing association or commission.
Each group’s specific responsibilities are described in the table below:
Tenant | Landlord | Housing authority |
|---|---|---|
Provide accurate and complete documentation | Screen tenants | Determine applicants’ eligibility and issue vouchers |
Find suitable housing and complete all required paperwork before the voucher expires | Comply with fair housing laws | Approve units, rental amounts, and leases |
Pay rent promptly and attend all required appointments | Complete all necessary repairs and maintenance | Inspect subsidized units annually |
Notify the housing authority of any changes in income or family composition | Provide housing authority with documentation of any notices to tenants, including eviction notices | Ensure that both tenants and landlords comply with program rules |
Key Takeaway The government will cover a large portion of your rent if you qualify for Section 8 housing, but the qualification process can be tough to navigate, and you may be waiting a long time before you receive housing vouchers.
What are the requirements for Section 8 housing in Detroit?
Section 8 housing in Detroit is managed by the
Detroit Housing Commission (DHC).
To qualify for Section 8 housing in Detroit, you need to be at least 18 years old and your family’s total gross income can’t exceed 50% of the median income in your general area. Here are other key requirements you’ll have to meet to qualify for Section 8 housing in Detroit:
- You and your family members meet citizenship or eligible immigrant requirements.
- You and your family members must provide criminal history.
- You must provide DHC with information associated with your family’s income, assets, expenses, and family composition.
The median income in Detroit from 2016 to 2020 is $32,498.
How to apply for Section 8 housing in Detroit
Detroit’s Section 8 housing program opens and closes based on community needs. Currently, the Section 8 housing program is closed to new applications, but when it opens again, you can submit an online application through the
DHC’s online application portal
. Once you’ve applied, you’ll be put on a waitlist with all other applicants. You’ll be selected from the waitlist by lottery. Your eligibility is determined once you’re selected. You’ll be required to submit documentation that substantiates information about your family's income, assets, expenses, and family composition.
You may be required to have an in-person interview with the DHC to fully evaluate your eligibility. Once you’re deemed eligible, the DHC provides a housing voucher to your family for subsidized rent.
How to find Section 8 housing in Detroit
Once you’ve received a housing choice voucher from the DHC,you can find housing that fits the specifications of your voucher. After you’ve found suitable housing, your unit must undergo a Housing Quality Standard (HQS) Inspection to make sure your unit is safe, clean, and livable.
If your unit passes the HQS Inspection, the DHC creates a HAP (Housing Assistance Payment) contract for your unit. This contract establishes that the DHC will make rental subsidy payments to the owner of the property on your behalf. Generally, you’ll only have to pay 30% of your adjusted income towards your rental payment in Detroit.
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FAQs
How much will the government cover under Detroit’s Section 8 program?
You’re only required to pay a maximum of 40% of your income in rent, but Detroit’s program often only requires participants to pay 30%. That means that the government will cover at least 60% of your monthly income, with a potential for them to cover 70%. The specific amount varies depending on your income, your family size, and your local housing market.
Does it cost anything to apply for the Section 8 program?
No, it doesn’t cost any money to apply! Beware of anyone who claims to work for DHC asking for money for you to apply to this program. This person is most likely a scam artist. You can contact the DHC Security Specialist at 313-516-7527 if this happens to you.
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