Everything You Need to Know About Section 8 Housing in Fort Worth
To qualify for Section 8 housing vouchers in Fort Worth, you’ll need to make less than 50% of the median income.
Written by Heather Bernhard
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
Section 8 housing in
Fort Worth
, Texas
, is available to applicants whose income is less than 50% of the area’s median income. Housing vouchers allow low-income, elderly, and disabled people to access safe and decent housing with federal assistance. The Section 8 program, also called the “Housing Choice Voucher” program, is a federal program that provides low-income individuals with safe and affordable housing. If you apply for the program and are approved, your local housing authority will pay some or all of your rent.
Unfortunately, there usually aren’t enough Section 8 housing units to serve everyone who applies and waitlists are often long. On top of that, the application process can be confusing.
That’s why
car and renters insurance
super app Jerry
has created this comprehensive guide to Section 8 housing in Fort Worth. We’ll cover the basics of the Section 8 program, required qualifications, applying for a voucher, and more.What is Section 8 housing?
Section 8 is a federal affordable housing program designed to provide access to those who otherwise wouldn’t afford safe and decent housing. It is administered through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), but local public housing authorities issue vouchers.
Here’s how Section 8 works:
- Individuals apply to their local PHA for a housing choice voucher or project-based voucher
- Housing choice vouchers allow tenants to choose and lease any qualified apartment, townhouse, or single-family home
- Project-based vouchers are attached to specific units designated by a landlord to rent to low-income families or individuals
- Each voucher assigns a specific number of bedrooms, depending on the size and composition of the family
In Fort Worth, tenants who receive housing with a housing choice voucher never pay more than 30% of their adjusted monthly income in rent.
Section 8 obligations
Under the Section 8 program, tenants, landlords, and local housing authorities all carry certain obligations. 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 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 |
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Key Takeaway If you qualify for a Housing Choice Voucher, your local PHA will tell you how many bedrooms you are allowed to rent based on the size of your family.
What are the requirements for Section 8 housing in Fort Worth?
Fort Worth Housing Solutions (FWHS) manages section 8 housing in the area. To receive Section 8 vouchers in Texas, you need to be a U.S. citizen or a non-citizen with eligible immigration status.
The FWHS must deny your application if you’ve ever been evicted from housing in the program for a serious lease violation, are a registered sex offender, or have ever produced methamphetamine on the premises of federally assisted housing. Other crimes may also affect your eligibility.
In addition, you must be at least 18 years old and make less than 50% of the median income for your county.
HUD includes the following in income calculations:
- Wages
- Unemployment compensation
- VA benefits
- Welfare assistance
- Social security benefits
- Alimony and child support
Other types of income may be counted in your total income amount.
Take a close look at this list
to determine your income. As of 2020, the median household income in Fort Worth is $64,567.
However, the exact income limits differ based on your family size and composition and where you live. In addition, federal law requires FWHS to give 75% of its vouchers to applicants whose income is 30% or less of the median income. The table below breaks down qualifying income based on family size:
Family size | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very low income (50%) | $28,300 | $32,350 | $36,400 | $40,400 | $43,650 | $46,900 | $50,100 | $53,350 |
Extremely low income (30%) | $17,000 | $19,400 | $21,960 | $26,500 | $31,040 | $35,580 | $40,120 | $44,660 |
How to apply for Section 8 housing in Fort Worth
In Fort Worth, you can only apply for Section 8 housing when the waiting list is open and applications are being accepted. The waitlist is maintained through a lottery system, and FWHS assigns vouchers as they become available.
A limited number of Housing Choice vouchers may be offered each year based on federal allocation and budget. As of early 2022, FWHS is processing vouchers for the last individuals selected for the 2017 waitlist.
Once you apply, you will receive an email to let you know whether you were selected for the waiting list. Then, when a voucher becomes available, you will receive an appointment to determine your eligibility.
If you have already applied and need to change your contact information, you must send requests in writing to
customercare@fwhs.org
or update your information in their portal
. Based on the number of calls they receive, FWHS is unable to respond to telephone calls. Note that if you are in immediate need of housing, you can visit the FWHS
Properties
page and contact one of the affordable Fort Worth communities directly to see if you qualify for reduced rent based on income.How to find Section 8 houses to rent in Fort Worth
Once you’ve received your voucher, you’ll have 60 days to find qualifying housing. FWHS may extend the time they offer you based on other factors. You can use
AffordableHousing.com
or gosection8.com
to search for proper accommodation. Once you find a place, you and the landlord must fill out a Request for Tenancy Approval(RFTA) form. In addition, the owner of the property must provide a copy of their Warranty Deed, a Direct Deposit Form, and a W-9, among other things.
The owner may ask you for a security deposit, but the law prevents them from collecting more than one month’s rent equal to what is currently being charged for unassisted units.
MORE: 12 cheap places to get furniture for a house or apartment
How to save money on car and renters insurance in Fort Worth
The cost of living in Fort Worth is about 2% higher than the national average, including housing, groceries, transportation, and utilities.
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FAQs
What is the most Section 8 will pay?
In Fort Worth, tenants cannot be required to pay more than 30% of their income in rent. The government pays the remaining balance directly to the landlord.
The exact dollar amount you’ll receive depends on the cost of housing in your area, but Housing Vouchers pay Fort Worth landlords an average of $700 a month in rent.
How much is a 2 bedroom Section 8 voucher in Fort Worth?
Depending on your zip code, a 2 bedroom Section 8 voucher in Fort Worth can run between about $960 and $1,860.
Do I have to accept Section 8 in Texas?
Many states have explicitly outlawed discrimination against voucher holders, but Texas has not. As a landlord in Fort Worth, you are not required to accept Housing Choice Voucher applicants.
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