Ask about . . . Application Process for Subsidized Housing
Prospective tenants must fill out an application form in order to live in a subsidized housing development or to get on a waiting list of people waiting for a vacancy. Application forms, as well as a list of any other required materials you must submit, can be obtained from the development's manager or rental contact person.
The information in an application form and any additional required documentation is used:
- To determine if you are eligible (age, income, health status, family size, disability status, etc.) to live in a specific housing development,
- To assign your position on the waiting list, and
- To determine your rent charges.
Different housing developments have different eligibility rules for living in subsidized housing. Do NOT expect the application form or process to be the same from one development to the next. Do NOT expect each development to want the same type or amount of information.
A subsidized development is supervised by the government agency that provided the development with construction or operating funds, and the development's owners and managers must follow the eligibility and application rules specified by that supervising government agency. These rules may apply to an applicant's age, household income, health status, family size, disability status, current housing situation, and other aspects.
Since subsidized housing is built with public funding to create an affordable option for people who cannot afford market rate rents, potential tenants must undergo financial screening to determine if their household income falls within the development's maximum income-eligibility limits or guidelines.
A development's required rules and regulations will have an effect on HOW your monthly rent is determined. For example, some developments will deduct certain medical or other expenses to determine the net amount of your income that will be "countable" towards determining if your household income meets the income-eligibility guidelines. To determine your "countable income," some developments will use only sources of INCOME, such as wages, pensions, dividends, and interest income. Sometimes, a certain amount of an applicant's ASSETS (savings accounts, stocks, bonds, etc.) will be counted as income. Public benefits such as food stamps, shelter allowances, Medicaid, and SSI may or may not be counted as income. Some developments will grant a partial deduction from the rent for a utility allowance.
Since each tenant's rental charge is based upon his amount of income and his own specific expenses, each tenant's rental charge in a building may differ because of the differences in each tenant's income and expenses.
You can ask the development's manager or contact person for an explanation of HOW the rent is determined, as well as for a list of the items that are included in the formula used for determining the amount of rent. You can ask about the conditions under which different items will or will not be deducted from your rental charge.
When you complete and submit your application form, you will be asked to submit documents that verify your income, assets, and expenses— such as income tax forms, bank statements, medical forms, and others. When you become a tenant, your eligibility for residency in the development must be re-certified annually. You will be requested to resubmit current income, asset, and expense documents.
NOTE: Many developments will not enter your name onto the waiting list until your application is "complete." To be complete, it must be fully filled out and properly signed, and ALL required documents and information must be submitted.
You will receive a written notice that your application has been approved and that you are on the waiting list. Keep your approval notification in a safe place. If you do not receive an approval notification, but you think everything has been submitted appropriately, you should call the development to inquire about your application status.
Many developments receive numerous applications. Sometimes application forms get lost. Sometimes people do not respond to letters from the development asking them for additional information or documents. Sometimes development staff do not return phone calls from someone who wants more information or guidance about the application process. Sometimes an approved application packet gets mislaid. These can affect your application status.
NOTE: You should put the date and your name on all materials you send to the development. You should keep, in a safe place, a copy of all application materials you send. You should make a note of the date of any phone call you have with the development, as well as the name of the person you have spoken to. You should keep notes about the conversation. You also should keep, in a safe place, any letters sent to you by the development and a copy of any replies and any materials you send back to the development. That way—if an application is lost, you will have copies of everything you have received and everything you have sent. Particularly important, if you received an approval notification and your application file is lost by the development, you can show your notification.
Many developments have long waiting lists. You should inquire about the status of your application at least every six months because if an application file has been lost, your name will never come up on the waiting list. Do not expect a development to inform you about a lost file. It is up to you to make sure your application is complete and currently on file.
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