How to Qualify and Apply for Nebraska Section 8

Application Instructions for Nebraska Section 8

Step 1

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is responsible for providing safe and sanitary housing for low-income households. In Nebraska HUD is managed locally by public housing authorities (PHA) located throughout the state. These PHAs are administered by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (NDED) to provide access to the following Section 8 services:

Project-Based Housing program
Housing Choice Voucher program

Moderate- to low-income households that are unable to find a place to live should apply for the Project-Based Housing program. Based on your income and other qualifying factors, this service provides your household with a safe place to live. Project-Based Housing is also known as HUD housing or public housing. There are more than 4,400 apartments within the Project-Based Housing program in Nebraska.

While you do not have an option of the apartment building where you will live while on Section 8, you do have the choice of which PHA to apply to. Typically, you want to apply to a PHA in your city or county. However, if the PHA waitlist is currently closed you will need to apply to another PHA, which will require you to move to that area once you are accepted.

For households that can find a place to live but need help affording their rent, the Housing Choice Voucher program is a viable option. This program lets you find a place to live via a private owner. You can live in a single-family home, apartment, condo, townhome, or some other form of housing as long as the monthly rent does not exceed $2,000.

As with the Project-Based Housing program you will need to apply to a PHA for services in the area where you currently live, or want to live. Your landlord must also be enrolled as a Section 8 provider, and the rental unit must meet health and safety standards.

To get started with the Project-Based Housing or the Housing Choice Voucher programs you will need to qualify for Nebraska Section 8.

Who can Qualify for Section 8?

If your household is considered low-income, then you will likely qualify for Section 8. Check the Nebraska income limits summary to see where your household income falls on the chart. If there is an elderly or disabled individual living in your household you will receive priority assistance. These are the basic qualifications for Nebraska Section 8 according to the local PHA requirements. However, you must also pass the HUD requirements for Section 8 assistance:

You must be 18 to apply for Section 8 in Nebraska.
You are a US citizen or legal permanent resident in good standing with immigration; everyone in your household must meet this requirement.
All adults in the household must undergo a criminal background check and have a clean record free of drug convictions or sexual offenses.

Other qualifying factors include having a decent rental history, as well as a good rental record with your current landlord. If you have been on Section 8 before, you must be in good standing to proceed with a new application.

How to Apply

In Nebraska you will need to contact a local public housing authority to get started with the application process. Each of the PHAs have a waitlist, including a waitlist for the Housing Choice Voucher program and a waitlist for the Project-Based Housing program. You will be placed on a waitlist after you submit a pre-application.

After your household is selected from a waitlist, you will be instructed on how to apply for Nebraska Section 8. This is the application process that involves the criminal background check, as well as extensive documentation to prove your rental and financial histories. If you fail to provide any of the requested information you may be denied Section 8 assistance.

For those applicants who are approved for the Housing Choice Voucher program, here is a list of Section 8 rental homes in Nebraska. If you are selected for the Project-Based Housing program you will be directed on where you will be living.

For more info on how the Nebraska Section 8 program operates contact your local public housing authority. You can also contact the state HUD agent at the Omaha Field Office.