Application Instructions for Arkansas Section 8

Step 1

To apply for the Section 8 program in Arkansas contact your local public housing authority office. The PHA office will provide you with the application, and they will answer any questions you have about the application process. Be prepared to provide plenty of documentation to prove your situation. This will include your income tax return, bank account information, banking statements, employment contacts, Social Security number, and photo ID. You will also be required to grant permission for the PHA agent to contact your employer, past landlords, and personal references.

At some of the PHAs in Arkansas including the North Little Rock Housing Authority, you will only be able to submit your application during the open enrollment periods. Check with your local PHA to find out when the next open period for enrollment will be. You can also check the local newspapers as this will typically be announced in print for the public.

After you apply, and if you receive an approval letter, then you can proceed to the next part of the process. If you receive public housing your PHA will provide you with a rental home. If you are approved for the Housing Choice Voucher program you will receive a subsidy to help pay for rent. In this case you will have to find a landlord that participates in the Arkansas Section 8 program. Your PHA office will have a list of the landlords available to Section 8 recipients.

Who can Qualify for Section 8?

Save time by self-qualifying for Arkansas Section 8. If you meet the following eligibility requirements, you will have a much better chance of getting accepted for a Housing Choice Voucher or public housing:

• You must be a full-time resident of Arkansas, as reported on your income tax filing status.
• You must be a US citizen or a legal permanent resident.
• You must not have anything on your criminal record in the past five years. Drug and sexual offenses are a cause for disqualification.
• Your credit report should not show any rental payment defaults.
• Your income must be less than 80 percent of the area median and considered very low-income. Households with low-income limits of 30 percent can apply, but the lower the income the better your chance of getting housing assistance.

If you meet these individual requirements, then you are eligible to apply for Section 8 assistance. Keep in mind even if you qualify you may not receive public housing or housing vouchers due to financial constraints or space issues. For example, if you apply and are accepted, you may be placed on a year-long waiting list. At this point you can only wait for your turn to come around. However, the Arkansas Section 8 list changes with the seasons, so you may be fortunate enough to receive housing soon after applying.

How to Apply

To apply for the Section 8 program in Arkansas contact your local public housing authority office. The PHA office will provide you with the application, and they will answer any questions you have about the application process. Be prepared to provide plenty of documentation to prove your situation. This will include your income tax return, bank account information, banking statements, employment contacts, Social Security number, and photo ID. You will also be required to grant permission for the PHA agent to contact your employer, past landlords, and personal references.

At some of the PHAs in Arkansas including the North Little Rock Housing Authority, you will only be able to submit your application during the open enrollment periods. Check with your local PHA to find out when the next open period for enrollment will be. You can also check the local newspapers as this will typically be announced in print for the public.

After you apply, and if you receive an approval letter, then you can proceed to the next part of the process. If you receive public housing your PHA will provide you with a rental home. If you are approved for the Housing Choice Voucher program you will receive a subsidy to help pay for rent. In this case you will have to find a landlord that participates in the Arkansas Section 8 program. Your PHA office will have a list of the landlords available to Section 8 recipients.