Everything You Need to Know About Section 8 Housing in Hialeah
To qualify for Section 8 housing vouchers in Hialeah, you’ll need to make less than 50% of the median income.
Written by Heather Bernhard
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
Hialeah Section 8 housing is available to families whose income is 50% or less of Hialeah’s median income. This is a voucher program that provides federal rental assistance.
The Section 8 program, also called the “Housing Choice Voucher” program, is a federal program designed to help low-income individuals find safe, sanitary, and affordable housing through the private sector. If you apply for the program and are approved, your local housing authority will pay some or all of your rent.
Unfortunately, waiting lists often stay closed for years at a time, making it challenging to get into the program. In addition, it can be difficult to figure out how and when to apply.
That’s why
car and renters insurance
super app Jerry
has created this comprehensive guide to Section 8 housing in Hialeah
, Florida
. We’ll cover the basics of the Section 8 program, how to apply, where to look for housing, and more.What is Section 8 housing?
Section 8 is a federal affordable housing program designed to help individuals who would otherwise struggle to find safe and decent housing at their income levels.
It is administered through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), but local public housing authorities issue vouchers. The program provides eligible families and individuals with monthly rental assistance.
Here’s how Section 8 works:
- Individuals can apply to their local PHA for a housing choice voucher or project-based voucher to qualify for rental assistance
- Housing choice vouchers allow tenants to select their own rental unit and negotiate with the landlord
- Project-based vouchers are attached to specific units designated by a landlord to be rented to low-income individuals or families
- A voucher specifies the number of bedrooms, depending on the size of the family and the composition of the household
In Hialeah, tenants who receive housing with a housing choice voucher generally don’t pay more than 30% of their adjusted monthly income in rent, but you may have to pay up to 40%.
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 Hialeah?
The Hialeah Housing Authority (HHA) manages section 8 housing in Hialeah. To receive Section 8 vouchers in Florida, you need to be a U.S. citizen or a non-citizen with eligible immigration status.
In addition, you must be 18 years of age or older, and your household income cannot exceed the highest of the Federal poverty levels, which is 50 percent of your area’s median income.
The Hialeah Housing Authority screens all applicants' criminal histories, and if they believe you may not be a suitable resident, they may deny your application.
You will be automatically denied if you currently abuse illegal drugs, have a history of alcohol abuse, are a registered sex offender, or display habitual criminal behavior.
HHA includes the following in income calculations:
- Wages
- Unemployment compensation
- VA benefits
- Welfare assistance
- Social security benefits
- Alimony and child support
- Property and other items of value
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 Hialeah is $38,471.
However, the exact income limits differ based on your family size and composition, and where you live. In addition, federal law requires the HHA 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 in Hialeah:
Family size | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very low income (50%) | $32,000 | $36,600 | $41,150 | $45,700 | $49,400 | $53,050 | $56,700 | $60,350 |
Extremely low income (30%) | $19,200 | $21,950 | $24,700 | $27,400 | $30,680 | $35,160 | $39,640 | $44,120 |
Pro Tip The Hialeah Housing Authority will deny the application of anyone that currently owes money to the agency or another housing authority until the debt is paid in full.
MORE: What counts as proof of income for a loan?
How to apply for Section 8 housing in Hialeah
In Hialeah, you can only apply for Section 8 housing when the waiting list is open and applications are being accepted. The HHA uses a random lottery process to move applicants onto the waitlist.
Currently, the list is closed, and the HHA is not accepting pre-applications. When it reopens, the
HHA website
will be the only site with accurate information about how to apply. Each year, a limited number of Housing Choice vouchers may be offered, depending on federal allocations and budget. As of early 2022, the HHA is processing vouchers for the last individuals selected for a 2017 waitlist.
Once you apply, you will receive an email to let you know if your name has been added to the waiting list. Then, when a voucher becomes available, you will receive an appointment to determine your eligibility.
If you already applied and want to see if you were placed on the waiting list, you can use the Hialeah Housing Authority
Application Checker
. How to find Section 8 houses to rent in Hialeah
Once you’ve received your voucher, you’ll have 60 days to find housing. Depending on other factors, the HHA may extend the time before your voucher expires. You can use
AffordableHousing.com
or gosection8.com
to search for proper accommodation. Any rental unit is eligible for the Housing Choice Voucher Program as long as it:
- Is properly zoned
- Is rent-reasonable
- Passes an inspection based on HUD Housing Quality Standards
Once you find a unit you would like to rent, you can negotiate a rent with the owner. Together, you will present the proposed unit and lease to the Housing Authority. They, in turn, will evaluate the rent and inspect the unit.
If the HHA approves the rent and the unit passes inspection, you may move in. The HHA will inspect the unit annually and review your income at the same time.
How to save money on car and renters insurance in Hialeah
The cost of living in Hialeah is a whopping 7% higher than the national average. That means everything from housing to groceries costs more.
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FAQs
What is the most Section 8 will pay?
In Hialeah, tenants generally pay 30% of their adjusted monthly income in rent, but they can pay up to 40%. 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 Hialeah landlords a median of $900 a month in rent.
How much is a 2 bedroom Section 8 voucher in Hialeah?
The maximum amount a voucher could pay for a two-bedroom apartment in Hialeah, Florida is between $1,505 and $1,839.
Do I have to accept Section 8 in Florida?
Florida landlords aren’t required to accept Section 8 housing vouchers.
The current low value of the vouchers means that most landlords that do accept them are in high-poverty and often highly segregated neighborhoods.
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