Application Instructions for Minnesota Section 8
Step 1
Are you having trouble finding affordable housing in Minnesota? If you are considered a low-income housing, then you may be eligible for Minnesota Section 8 services. Here in Minnesota these services are administered federally by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and locally by public housing authorities (PHA) throughout the state. Under the direction of HUD the state offers the following programs for low-income households:
- Public housing rental units
- Housing Choice Voucher program
If you need housing and do not have the means to find your own rental unit, consider applying for public housing via Section 8 in Minnesota. You may be eligible to live in apartment complexes, townhomes, senior apartments, or single family homes depending on your location. Through the Section 8 program you are given a pre-set rate for rent. You are able to stay in public housing, once approved, until you move out.
For households interested in choosing their own housing, the housing choice voucher program offers more flexibility. With this form of Section 8 assistance you choose a privately-owned property to rent. After completing the application process for the rental property, your landlord will receive a subsidy provided by Minnesota Section 8. This program guarantees you will not have to pay more than 30 percent of your adjusted gross income on rent. Keep in mind that the rental property you choose must be approved and registered by HUD and your public housing authority.
Who can Qualify for Section 8?
If you are ready to apply for Minnesota Section 8 services start by pre-qualifying your household. This will save you a lot of time and energy in the instance that your household does not qualify for services. The primary factor for Section 8 is having a low income. Use the income limits summary to determine where your household income falls on the charts. If your household income exceeds the limits for Minnesota, then you will not be eligible to apply for Section 8 services.
Next take a look at your family composition. If there is someone in your low-income household who is disabled or elderly, you will qualify for Section 8 and be placed on a priority list.
You must also meet other qualifications, and these must be met by all of the individuals living in your household:
- All household members are able to pass a criminal background check.
- The applicant for Section 8 must be at least 18 years old.
- All household members must be a US citizen or a naturalized permanent resident.
- Your household must not have any previous defaults on the rental agreements or leases, and no one should have a negative rental history with a landlord.
Keep in mind these are the basic qualifications for applying for Minnesota Section 8 services. You must also be able to prove via document and references each of these qualifications for all of the adults in your household.
How to Apply
The next up is to pre-apply for Minnesota Section 8 programs. The pre-application process starts by contacting your local PHA office and getting your name on a waitlist. There are waitlists for both the public housing and the Housing Choice Voucher program. Your household can apply to multiple waitlists, but you must choose housing within the service area the PHA where you officially apply.
The official application process begins when your name is pulled on a waitlist. You will be contacted by the PHA office and required to submit documentation and a criminal background check. You may also be interviewed by a PHA representative who will trust check your references and documents on your application.
After your application is received to you Will be contacted regarding your approval for services. Households that are selected for the Housing Choice Voucher program will need to find affordable Section 8 housing in Minnesota.
Contact your local public housing authority or the Minneapolis Field Office for your HUD agent to request more information about section 8 in Minnesota.