Application Instructions for South Dakota Section 8

Step 1

The South Dakota Housing Development Authority (SDHDA) operates as the state administer of the federal Section 8 services under the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These services ensure low-income and otherwise displaced households have a safe place to call home. Households can apply for assistance in paying rent each month or for assistance in finding safe and sanitary housing. The South Dakota Section 8 programs include:

• Project-based Section 8
• The Tenant-based Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program

The project-based Section 8 program provides housing units for household who cannot find affordable housing in South Dakota. Under this program you are provided with a rental unit in a project base housing complex. The amount of rent for the unit is predetermined, and you will not pay more than 30 percent of your monthly income on rent.

With the Tenant-based Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program households are provided with a rent subsidy that helps them afford rent. As with the project-based program, this subsidy will ensure that your household does not pay more than 30 percent of an adjusted monthly income on rent. The biggest difference between the two programs is that when the Housing Choice Voucher program you get to choose where you will live. In fact, your household is required to find affordable housing that meets Section 8 guidelines within 90 days of receiving your housing choice after subsidy. Your landlord must participate in section 8 and the Housing Choice Voucher program. The place that you rent, which can be a townhome, apartment, or single family dwelling, must also meet HUD or requirements for health and safety.

Each of these programs require you to qualify and then apply for South Dakota Section 8 services.

Who can Qualify for Section 8?

To be eligible for Section 8 services in South Dakota your household must meet low income requirements. Check the South Dakota low-income limits summary to see if your household qualifies based on its size. If you fall under the low-income limit then that is the first qualifying factor for section 8. Your household income will include all income sources from those over 18.

When applying for Section 8 you must also meet the age requirement, which is 18 years old to apply for services. Additionally, your household must meet the residency requirements:

• Everyone must be a US citizen or naturalized permanent resident.
• Everyone must submit to a criminal background check and pass without sexual or drug convictions.
• Your household must have a good rental history, in particular if you have had Section 8 services in the past.

If you meet these basic requirements then you may be able to receive South Dakota Section 8 services. The next step is to apply for Section 8 programs.

How to Apply

You will need to contact your local public housing authority in South Dakota to get the application process started. Note that these PHAs often provide Section 8 public housing or the Housing Choice Voucher, and only a few offer both programs. Choose the nearest PHA to you that offers the program you need.

The application process requires you to verify your household’s composition and income. This involves extensive paperwork and documentation to prove everything requested. Make sure to follow the instructions on the application and provide all documentation required to ensure your application is not denied on that basis.

Next up you will be required to get on a waitlist for the program and the area where you want to receive low-income housing assistance. Currently South Dakota has eight Housing Choice Voucher waitlists open to the public, as well as 16 waitlists for project-based housing that are either open now or have no data.

When you apply to Section 8 you are placed on one of these waitlists. The time you will be required to wait can vary greatly depending on funding and availability in your area. If you are selected for public housing in South Dakota you will be directed on where you will be moving to. If you are given a Housing Choice Voucher you have 90 days to find affordable housing. South Dakota has more than 6,000 rental units that qualify as low-income Section 8 HCV housing.

To get more information about South Dakota Section 8 programs contact your HUD agent at the Sioux Falls Field Office.