Established by the federal government in the 1970s, the Section 8 program was designed to help low-income families afford housing. With a Section 8 voucher, you only have to pay up to 40% of your monthly income in rent and the federal government will assist with the rest.

Unfortunately, the process for qualifying for and receiving Section 8 vouchers can be extremely difficult. It usually involves a nearly endless stream of paperwork and red tape just to get an application in, and so many Section 8 systems have too many applicants and too few vouchers, meaning getting assistance can be nearly impossible.

That’s why

Jerry

, the

super app

for car and

renters insurance

, put together this guide to help navigate the Section 8 program in

Wyoming

, Michigan. We’ll walk you through the application process, how to choose housing, and how to maintain your eligibility while you wait.

What is Section 8 housing?

Section 8 is an affordable housing program established by the federal government. It was created to help low and fixed-income families better afford housing. It allows the federal government to pay a portion of housing costs for families that are eligible to receive vouchers. The name Section 8 comes from section 8 of the Housing and Community Development Act passed in 1974.

Here are the basics of how Section 8 operates:

Families who need assistance apply for vouchers at their local housing authority. Available vouchers are usually housing choice vouchers or project-based vouchers

Housing choice vouchers allow a tenant to choose their house or apartment to rent as long as it meets certain standards

Project-based vouchers are for already established Section 8 apartments or houses agreed upon by landlords and the housing authority

Vouchers will specify how many bedrooms the rental needs to have based on your family size and makeup

Eligible families with a housing voucher aren’t required to pay more than 40% of their monthly income in rent.

Section 8 obligations

The Section 8 program outlines specific rules that tenants, landlords, and the housing authority have to abide by to maintain eligibility. Here’s a look at each party’s responsibilities:

Tenant	Landlord	Housing authority
Provide all necessary documentation	Screen tenants	Determine applicant eligibility and issue vouchers
Find qualified housing before the voucher expires	Abide by fair housing laws	Approve rentals, leases, and rent amounts
Attend all meetings and pay rent on time	Maintain units and keep them in good repair	Inspect Section 8 properties once a year
Notify local housing authority of income or family changes	Provide copies of all notices to tenants to local housing authority	Make sure all tenants and landlords comply with Section 8 rules

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Key Takeaway Families who need housing assistance can apply for Section 8 vouchers, but the process is long and fairly complicated.

MORE:

Car insurance for low-income drivers

What are the requirements for Section 8 housing in Wyoming?

The

Wyoming Housing Commission

manages the Section 8 program in Wyoming, Michigan. The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has specific qualifications for anyone wanting to apply for vouchers.

First, you must be 18 years of age or older, and you must be a US citizen or a documented immigrant. Your application will be automatically rejected if you’ve ever been evicted for a serious violation of a lease agreement—especially an eviction for drug manufacture or use—or if you’re a convicted sex offender.

Also, your income cannot exceed 50% of the average median income in your area. To calculate your income accurately, you need to add the following:

Wages

Business income

Interest

Welfare assistance

Social security benefits

Alimony and child support

There are other sources of income you may need to add as well.

Check this list

to make sure you calculate your income correctly.

The current median household income in Wyoming is $57,088. Where you fall on the income table will depend on your family size, however. The table below breaks down what qualifies as “very low income” (or below 50% AMI) and “extremely low income” (below 30% AMI) in Wyoming based on family size:

Family size	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Very low income (50%)	$28,000	$32,000	$36,000	$40,000	$43,200	$46,400	$49,600	$52,800
Extremely low income (30%)	$16,800	$19,200	$21,960	$26,500	$31,040	$35,580	$40,120	$44,660

MORE:

How to find the best cheap car insurance

How to apply for Section 8 housing in Wyoming

Currently, the Wyoming Housing Commission is not accepting new applicants for Section 8 housing vouchers. However, if you keep checking the Wyoming Housing Commission

website

, you can stay up to date on when the application window opens again.

When you can apply, be prepared to provide plenty of documentation on your application, mostly regarding your income.

Once you’ve applied for Section 8 in Wyoming, you’ll be placed on a waiting list if you’re eligible to receive a voucher. The Wyoming Housing Commission issues around 1,150 vouchers. To issue vouchers, the application software conducts a random lottery of all applicants.

The applicants chosen are notified when they’ve been selected. It’s very common to be on the waiting list for a long time—the Wyoming Housing Commission estimates their applicants wait an average of 2-5 years before being selected for assistance.

If you are selected for assistance, you must fill out and return all paperwork by the date on your selection letter. If you do not submit your paperwork on time, or if you fail to include your current address, you’ll be removed from the waiting list and they’ll select another applicant.

How to find Section 8 housing in Wyoming

If you do get selected for a housing voucher, you have a deadline to find suitable housing—typically 90 days or 120 days for applicants who are elderly or disabled. To find Section 8 approved housing, you can search on

AffordableHousing.com

or use

this map

from HUD.

When you’re searching for housing, document everything, including all your meetings with landlords, applications you’ve submitted, and copies of lease agreements. This will give you enough evidence to apply for a 30-day extension if you can’t find housing in the given time.

Keep in mind that landlords cannot refuse to accept Section 8 vouchers. If you come across any that do, you can report them to the housing authority.

Once you find housing, submit a copy of your rental agreement to the Wyoming Housing Commission. The local housing authority will inspect the housing you’ve chosen to make sure it meets all Section 8 requirements and conduct an inspection every year after you move in to make sure you and the landlord are still meeting all Section 8 requirements.

MORE: 10 ways to get cheap car insurance that’s actually good

How to save money on car and renters insurance in Wyoming

Although getting housing assistance in Wyoming can seem impossible, saving money on your

home

and

car insurance

is easier than ever with the

Jerry

app. Drivers in Wyoming pay nearly $1,000 more per year than the Michigan state average, but Jerry can help you shop for great rates and find discounts.

Unlike Section 8, you can have car insurance quotes in under a minute when you fill out your information on the app. You can compare policies from the nation’s top providers to find a policy that fits your needs and budget. Jerry will even help you bundle your car and renters insurance for extra savings.

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FAQs

What is the most Section 8 will pay?

The exact amount of rent Section 8 will cover is based on your income and family situation. You aren’t required to pay more than 40% of your monthly income in rent, but the exact amount the federal government will cover varies slightly.

How much is a 3 bedroom Section 8 voucher in Wyoming?

The amount that a 3 bedroom Section 8 voucher will pay in Wyoming will vary slightly based on your income and family size, but typically it’s around $1,645.

How long will I have to wait for a Section 8 voucher in Wyoming?

The current waitlist for a Section 8 voucher in Wyoming is quite long. The Wyoming Housing Commission estimates most applicants wait between 2 and 5 years for assistance.

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