section 8 housing

[Amber & Ahmed 133]

Actually some landlords do not like to rent to people with the voucher because of all the requirements upon the landlord to make his house according to required codes. Usually those type of landlords are not desirable to anyone anyways, who wants to live in a place that the owner doesnt put forth every effort to make the dwelling at the very least livable?

Landlords actually have a certain protection within the program for cases of eviction. It DOES NOT make it harder to evict a person at all, no more difficult than evicting someone with a lease. The same procedures are followed for eviction section 8 or no, it is the LEASE that makes an eviction difficult, but that is good and bad all at the same time.

As for the rent being raised. Yes this is true, it is difficult to raise the rent for someone with the voucher... meaning they must wait until the end of the lease period before raising said rent. Also they cannot go from charging 500 per month to 1000 per month. Each unit has a certain cutoff amount which goes according to the number of bedrooms within the unit. But again a landlord cannot raise the rent on a person that does not have section 8 unless it is specified within the lease. Other than that at the lease renewal date the landlord can raise the rent.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Actually some landlords do not like to rent to people with the voucher because of all the requirements upon the landlord to make his house according to required codes. Usually those type of landlords are not desirable to anyone anyways, who wants to live in a place that the owner doesnt put forth every effort to make the dwelling at the very least livable?

Landlords actually have a certain protection within the program for cases of eviction. It DOES NOT make it harder to evict a person at all, no more difficult than evicting someone with a lease. The same procedures are followed for eviction section 8 or no, it is the LEASE that makes an eviction difficult, but that is good and bad all at the same time.

As for the rent being raised. Yes this is true, it is difficult to raise the rent for someone with the voucher... meaning they must wait until the end of the lease period before raising said rent. Also they cannot go from charging 500 per month to 1000 per month. Each unit has a certain cutoff amount which goes according to the number of bedrooms within the unit. But again a landlord cannot raise the rent on a person that does not have section 8 unless it is specified within the lease. Other than that at the lease renewal date the landlord can raise the rent.

This is true, many landlords do not want to be section 8. The trade off is guaranteed payment and your property is never vacant. But there are no particular "section 8" housing places. Section 8 does not mean you will be living in a ghetto. The idea behind section 8 was to eliminate ghettos.

A US citizen is ALWAYS eligible for these benefits. The immigrant is not. Being married to a person that came on a K-1 has no affect on the eligibility of means tested benefits for the citizen(s). However, it could complicate the process of AOS if that has not already been done. The Removal of Conditions has no support qualifications so it is not an issue once the conditional green card is received.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Far and few between. Section 8 is designed for poor people, not affluent people.

Pffft!

Yes it is for poor people. It is also so poor people do not have to live in ghettos. The fact is that Alla does interpretation for the agencies that qualify people for section 8, among other things. Our next door neighbors are poor people living in a subsidized $300,000 house. With a family of four, the cut-oof for subsidy in Vermont is somewhere around $3500 per month total income. They pay approx. 1/3 of their monthly income for rent, the rest is subsidized.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Say what you will. The fact is, Section 8 is made for poor people, not middle class or rich people. God bless those who need it and receive it. Don't make it out to be something that it is not. "Scourge" and "ghetto" is your language, not mine. Let's get that clear.

Peace.

No one ever said it is for rich people. Where? People with section 8 subsidies live in some pretty affluent nieghborhoods and that is true. And it is in no way rare or "few and far between" Right up the street is a complex of very nice, new townhomes that accept section 8. There are no "ghettos" anywhere in Vermont, yet Alla gets several appointments per month to interpret for people applying for benefits, including section 8.

What it IS is a program to get people OUT of the usual "poor people" housing, get them out of poor schools, poor neghobrhoods and give them real opportunity.

Fortunately it is a public forum and Licia has been given the correct answers by others.

[nurse1967 287]

I find it difficult to believe there are no ghettos ANYWHERE in Vermont. If that's true might be time to rename Vermont to Nirvana.

[Ayman___ 92]

Actually Boing I got to disagree with you on this one. Your attitude reflects many people's attitude and it is sad actually. It is not meant so much for the "scourge" of society as you state. It is also not true that a person will live in the "ghetto" Gary ad Alla's comment reflects the truth in the matter. It is a program that tends to help poor homeless people, but it also helps families that are trying to make a better life for themselves as well as families that fall a little short on income, not just homeless people. As I was making my way thru college and a single mother I too had section 8 housing. I DID NOT live in the "ghetto" and I found many landlords more than willing to rent to me, at times it seemed much like a bidding war, because the landlords know their rent in almost certain to be on time every month. I lived in a very beautiful home, in an awesome neighborhood, with great neighbors. I have never had to go to the ghetto. In the ghetto there are already homes with a low rental price and almost never will you find someone living on section 8. A little time invested in research before making such outrageous claims would go a long way here Boing.

To the OP... I say go for it. If you can get it to help supplement your income I think it is a fabulous idea. Even if section 8 only pays a little amount which they will calculate 30 percent of your income when figuring out your portion to pay and you will not pay more than 30 percent of your income for rent. It is a good program to help you through hard times and it is nothing to be ashamed of. Again I also do repeat... JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE ON THIS PROGRAM IT DOESNT MAKE YOU THE SCOURGE OF SOCIETY AND IT DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN YOU WILL LIVE IN THE GHETTO. BEST WISHES TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

I Agree With You 100% Beautiful Private Homes Privately Owned Are Renting To People On Section 8. This Is To Help The People Who Need It .Couples,Single Parents or elderly and people with disabilities.

[damulag 26]

Here in Madison WI a two person household can make up to $32,000 and still qualify. The program is so succesfull that they have not been taking applications since 2007 because the program is full.

[LIFE'SJOURNEY 970]

Please define the word ghetto and Poor. According to US census data 75% of Americans are poor, living from one paycheck to another. Ghetto are what???? as in the content of this discussion? Are ghettos a state of being?

[Otto 83]

** Topic may be more appropriate in our Moving Here and Your New Life In America forum (rather than K-1 Process/Procedure); moving thread there.

[BellaRose 7]

This thread seems to have ignited a large debate. I live in New York and I am on public assistance so I would like comment.

Section 8 is not a quick fix, as one said earlier there is a long waiting list. Public housing is another unreliable option as they normally take only those in immediate need (i.e. those homeless, evicted, with children or domestic violence cases). That being said there are other alternatives.

If I were in your situation....

I would supplement my losses from rent increase by finding other programs I qualify for. Right now, just by applying for public assistance, I am receiving food stamps, metro cards, medicaid, paid child care, educational grants, free cellphone with monthly minutes, paid electricity and heat, and get a little pocket money every two weeks. This is all while I am in non-subsidized housing of my own choice.

If you are making an income of any kind then they will take into consideration your income...your expenses...and from that they will formulate what you are qualified for. You will also have to comply with them when it comes to going to all of there appointments and may even place you in a back-to-work program if you are ever out of a job.

If you could get an extra 75 dollars a month for food stamps alone....your rent increase will no longer seem so daunting.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I find it difficult to believe there are no ghettos ANYWHERE in Vermont. If that's true might be time to rename Vermont to Nirvana.

It is true. The worst areas in the city (one city of 42,000) is the "old North End" which is hardly a "ghetto" by any standard. Just an old neighborhood of homes, mostly mid 1800s-early 1900s construction which demand lower rent than other places.

The poorest people live in very rural areas which, again could hardly be considered "ghettos"

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Please define the word ghetto and Poor. According to US census data 75% of Americans are poor, living from one paycheck to another. Ghetto are what???? as in the content of this discussion? Are ghettos a state of being?

Technically a ghetto is a concentration of a particular type of people. Cambridge MA could be considered a "ghetto" or so could Evanston, IL. A ghetto of white rich people.

I use the term to describe an area of concentrated poverty associated with high crime and generally a "bad neighborhood" Maybe not the best use of the term. The affluent "suburb" I live in has plenty of section 8 housing available. There are no "bad neighborhhoods" in Vermont in any sense that would apply in other parts of the country.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Here in Madison WI a two person household can make up to $32,000 and still qualify. The program is so succesfull that they have not been taking applications since 2007 because the program is full.

The availability of section 8 housing varies by area also. Supply and demand. The "demand" in this area comes from mostly "working people" who do not make a lot of money. They are not "welfare queens" for the most part, they have jobs and look for subsidies. Our neighbors who receive section 8 assistance are like anyone else here and certainly not a "problem", they are a working couple, they mow the lawn and go to work pretty much like anyone else. The landlord receives the market rate for rental.

There is available section 8 housing here because enopugh landlords will accept it. The reason they accept it could be dependent as well on the local demand for it.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I find it difficult to believe there are no ghettos ANYWHERE in Vermont. If that's true might be time to rename Vermont to Nirvana.

That has been suggested in the past.

[reeses16 8]

yes we have a 6 months old baby and rent is going up 75$ more wich is kind od a lot for us now with an income of about 1600 a month. i just wondered if i'll qualy with my husband's status.

If you haven't done so already ask your apartment manager or leasing staff if it is possible that your rent can be exempt from the $75/month increase. I would make this request in writing and state the reasons why you are requesting the exemption ( added expenses of 6 month old baby, etc.) as well any relevant information about your family as tenants (rent always paid on time? Do you contribute in anyway to the apartment community? etc.) It should take you less than 10 minutes to write the letter and if they say yes, it will save you a lot of time and stress finding a new place to live.

2 years ago, I asked for a $100 reduction in rent and my apartment manager was happy to give it us. We're still paying the lower rent. You never know unless you ask!