, offers rental assistance for families that make 50% or less of the area’s median income. This government-funded program will cover up to 60% of your monthly rent.

Section 8 helps low-income earners, elderly, and disabled people afford decent housing. Since the 1970s, the Section 8 program has offered vouchers that authorize the U.S. government to cover the majority (or sometimes all) of tenants’ rent.

Though the program offers incredible benefits for participants, navigating the application process often comes with extremely long wait times, paperwork, and overburdened systems.

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What is Section 8 housing?

As part of the federal affordable housing program, Section 8 has been in place since 1974 with the Housing and Community Development Act.

Here’s a recap of the nuts and bolts of Section 8:

Eligible tenants may receive housing choice vouchers or project-based vouchers

With housing choice vouchers, tenants can live in an apartment of their choosing, so long as the residence fits the voucher’s specified qualifications

Project-based vouchers are more limited—this type can only be used for specific properties and permits landlords to set certain units aside as low-income dwellings

Your voucher will be assigned a certain number of bedrooms based on family size and composition

Tenants won’t be required to pay more than 40% of their income in rent—the government handles the remaining rent amount by paying the difference to the landlord

Section 8 obligations

Depending on whether you’re the tenant, landlord, or local housing authorities, your responsibilities will vary under Section 8. Here’s what each party is responsible for

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 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 tenant, including eviction notices	Ensure that both tenants and landlords comply with program rules

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Key Takeaway If you qualify for Section 8 housing, the government will pay more than half of your rent—but you will deal with major wait times and be restricted to certain properties.

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What are the requirements for Section 8 housing in Fort Lauderdale?

Section 8 housing in Fort Lauderdale is managed by the

Housing Authority for the City of Fort Lauderdale

(HACFL).

Before you apply, be sure to review the requirements set for by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the HACFL.

HUD has some basic requirements that applicants must meet in order to be eligible for Section 8 housing:

You and the residents in your household must be a family

Your household’s combined total income must be within the income limits

You need to have Social Security Numbers

You must hold U.S. citizenship or be an eligible immigrant

To qualify, your income must be 50% or less than your area’s median income. When calculating income, HUD includes the following:

Wages

Business income

Interest

Welfare assistance

Social security benefits

Alimony and child support

Other types of income that aren’t listed above may sometimes impact your income total—visit HUD’s website for a

closer look at other factors

that can impact this amount.

As of the 2020 census, Fort Lauderdale’s median household income is $64,313. However, the income limits you and your family must meet will vary depending on the number of people in your home.

Consult the table below for a look at the qualifying income based on family size in Fort Lauderdale:

Family size	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Very low income	$30,800	$35,200	$39,600	$44,000	$47,550	$51,050	$54,600	$58,100
Extremely low income	$18,500	$21,150	$23,800	$26,500	$31,040	$35,580	$40,120	$44,660

In addition to income, HACFL has their own

set of requirements

for applicants:

If you’ve previously been enrolled in the Section 8 program, you have not violated any family obligations (i.e., health issues in the family, need for additional care such as nursing or hospice, death, etc.) in the past three years

No one in your household has committed fraud, bribery, or any other criminal act considered the Section 8 housing program in the past five years

Unless there was good cause, you have not violated any of the FSS program requirements

You will pay in full any debt you owe to other housing authorities (if applicable)

No one in your household has been involved in drug-related or violent criminal activity in the past five years

In the past five years, you have not been evictedfrom public housing

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How to apply for Section 8 housing in Fort Lauderdale

Applying for Section 8 housing in Fort Lauderdale requires multiple steps, starting with applying for a spot on the HACFL’s waiting list.

Before filling out your application, check to see whether the HACFL has any available openings on the waiting list—since this list fills up quickly, the HACFL only accepts applications when there is an opening on the list in order to manage the volume of applications.

Not sure how to check for openings? Public notices are printed in local newspapers and sent to public assistance agencies that are part of the HACFL network.

Once the HACFL is accepting new applicants, submit your written application to the HACFL. This

application is available to be printed out online

or through public assistance agencies and the HACFL office, located at:

The Robert P. Kelley Building

500 West Sunrise Boulevard

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311

Your family will eventually reach the top of the waiting list and at this point, the HACFL will review your application to make sure you meet all HUD and local requirements. If you do, then you’ll receive a Section 8 housing voucher.

Keep in mind that if any changes occur in your family’s composition, income, or address, you are required to notify the HACFL within ten days of the change. If you don’t update the HACFL about any changes, you will be removed from the waiting list.

How to find Section 8 housing in Fort Lauderdale

After getting your voucher, you have 60 days to find approved housing. When you’re ready to start looking for places, head to

AffordableHousing.com

to search for units in your area. To expand your search, HUD provides an

interactive map online

As you’re looking for housing, keep in mind that the unit must be a registered participant in the Section 8 program. Once you’ve found a place that meets your family’s needs, submit a Request for Lease Approval (RFLA) to the HACFL—they must approve the lease in order to receive subsidized rental payments.

If your RFLA is approved, the HACFL will begin sending rental payments directly to the landlord.

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How to save money on car and renters insurance in Fort Lauderdale

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FAQs

What is the most Section 8 will pay?

Section 8 will cover up to 60% of a participant’s income, meaning the most that program participants will be required to pay is 40% of their income.

The exact amount you’ll be given for rent depends on three factors—your income, the size of your family, and your city’s fair market rent.

How much is a 2 bedroom Section 8 voucher in Fort Lauderdale?

Though it will vary depending on the size of your income, family size, and city zone, a two-bedroom Section 8 voucher in Fort Lauderdale will cover monthly rents ranging from $1,240 to $2,720.

Do I have to accept Section 8 in Florida?

Florida law does not require landlords to accept Section 8 applicants.

However, it is illegal to

deny housing based on

race, national origin, sex, disability, familial status, or religion anywhere in the U.S.

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