The North Carolina Section 8 Housing Voucher Program helps lower-income residents and families find affordable housing in the state of North Carolina. Section 8 housing lists are open at different times depending on your city.
Section 8 Eligibility in North Carolina
Income
Eligibility for the North Carolina Section 8 program depends largely on income. In this case, low-income means less than 30% of the state median income. Based on the latest information available, the median income for a family of four in North Carolina is $72,830. That means the eligibility cut-off is around $21,800.
Citizenship
Section 8 applicants must be either US citizens or naturalized aliens resident in the state of North Carolina. Only one person in the household needs to meet this requirement for eligibility.
Criminal
Unlike the citizenship requirement, all members of the household have to pass the criminal background requirements. If anyone in the household has a drug or sexual offense charge, eligibility will not be met. Other criminal charges are taken on a case by case basis.
Other
If you have been evicted from Section 8 housing, you will lose your eligibility until 3 years have passed. After 3 years, you are free to reapply.
How do I apply for Section 8 Housing in North Carolina?
For the most part, you should be prepared to obtain a printed copy of the application, fill it out by hand, and submit it to a PHA representative. There are a few exceptions to this depending on the city. In some cases, the process can be completed online. There is also a pre-application form.
Because online resources are not available in most places, you need to apply in person at the local office. Here is a list of PHA contact information in North Carolina.
Note: It is crucial that you fill out every portion of the application correctly. Errors and discrepancies can immediately disqualify you from consideration. All required documents must be provided without exception. The type of documents one might need is characterized by the following:
- ID
- Verification of other government benefits
- Current school transcripts
- Birth certificates
- Tax returns
- Pay stubs
- Verification of assets and debts
- Social Security cards for all occupants
- Proof of residency such as a utility bill
North Carolina Section 8 Landlord
If you wish to rent to Section 8 Voucher holders, you will need to have your property inspected by HUD authorities annually. Your rents must be in accordance with local standards and cannot be inflated for Voucher holders. Any such discriminatory practices are forbidden.
The Section 8 landlord application is sometimes referred to as the Housing Assistance Payment contract. The voucher recipient uses those vouchers to pay a portion of the rent. Vouchers represent the state’s payment to the landlord on behalf of the renter. The renter is responsible for the remainder of the balance.
Should you decide to accept Section 8 vouchers, you need to inform the local housing authority of your property’s availability. It is also advisable to include mention that you accept Section 8 vouchers in your advertising. You are not required to accept an applicant just because they have Section 8 vouchers. You accept or deny applications based on your current policies you use for any other applicant.
Section 8 Waiting List North Carolina
There are 70 housing authorities in North Carolina. You need to apply to areas with an open waiting list. These are the times when applications are accepted. Waiting lists are only open for a few weeks at a time. There are four waiting lists open indefinitely:
Piedmont Triad Regional Council
Raleigh Housing Authority
Twin Rivers Opportunities Inc.
Western Piedmont Council of Governments Regional Housing Authority
The following counties are served by these authorities:
Davie County, Surry County
Raleigh, Wake County, Garner +8 More
Pamlico County, Craven County, Jones County +25 More
Alexander County, Catawba County, Caldwell County +36 More
The Charlotte Housing Authority waiting list has been closed since September of 2014. Wilmington has been closed for slightly longer. Orange County has only been closed since 2017. But many others have been closed for between 1 and 2 years.
Best Practices for Receiving Your Section 8 Vouchers
It bears repeating that the most important thing you can do is fill out the application accurately and submit it in person so that you can ask questions of an expert. Be aware of which counties are open, as there is no guarantee of when other counties will become open. Be honest about criminal records and let them work with you. And be sure to mention anything like pregnancy or disability that would make you a priority candidate.
