Everything You Need to Know About Section 8 Housing in Atlanta
To qualify for Section 8 housing vouchers in Atlanta, you’ll need to make less than 50% of the median income.
Written by Heather Bernhard
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
Families whose income is 50% or less of Atlanta’s median income are eligible for the Section 8 housing voucher program, which provides affordable housing to low and moderately-low-income individuals and families.
The Section 8 program, also called the “Housing Choice Voucher” program, is a form of government rental assistance. If you apply for a housing voucher and are approved, your local housing authority will send payments directly to your landlord. The voucher will cover some or all of your rent.
Unfortunately, good information about Section 8 can be challenging to find, and trying to sign up can be confusing.
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What is Section 8 housing?
Section 8 is a federal affordable housing program administered through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); the name comes from Section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937. The program provides eligible individuals (including low-income, elderly, or disabled) with monthly rental assistance.
Here’s how Section 8 works:
- Housing vouchers are issued by Public Housing Agencies (PHAs)
- Interested individuals can apply to their local PHA for a housing choice voucher or project-based voucher to qualify for rental assistance
- Housing choice vouchers allow tenants to live in any eligible apartment, townhouse, or single-family home
- Project-based vouchers are attached to specific units designated by a landlord to rent to low-income families or individuals
- Vouchers are assigned for a specific number of bedrooms based on family size and composition
In Atlanta, tenants who receive housing with a housing choice voucher never pay more than 30% of their adjusted monthly income in rent.
Section 8 obligations
Under the Section 8 program, tenants, landlords, and local housing authorities all carry certain obligations. Here’s what each party is responsible for:
Tenant | Landlord | Housing authority |
|---|---|---|
Provide accurate and complete documentation | Screen tenants | Determine applicants’ eligibility and issue vouchers |
Find suitable housing and complete all required paperwork before the voucher expires | Comply with fair housing laws | Approve units, rental amounts, and leases |
Pay rent promptly and attend all required appointments | Complete all necessary repairs and maintenance | Inspect subsidized units annually |
Notify the housing authority of any changes in income or family composition | Provide housing authority with documentation of any notices to tenants, including eviction notices | Ensure that both tenants and landlords comply with program rules |
Key Takeaway A Housing Choice Voucher will allow you to live in the apartment or home of your choice, while a Project-based Voucher requires you to live in a specific unit.
What are the requirements for Section 8 housing in Atlanta?
The
Atlanta Housing Authority
(AH) manages section 8 housing in Atlanta. To receive Section 8 vouchers in Georgia
, you need to meet HUD’s definition of a family (one or more individuals who live together). In addition, you must be 18 years of age or older and either a US citizen or an eligible immigrant to qualify. Any non-elderly, non-disabled household member must maintain employment of over 20 hours a week, or participate in a combination of job training/part-time work.
The AH must deny your application if you’ve ever been evicted from housing in the program for a serious lease violation, are a registered sex offender, or have been evicted from federally funded housing for a drug violation in the last three years.
Lastly, you need to make less than 50% of the median income for the county in which you live.
HUD includes the following in income calculations:
- Wages
- Business income
- Interest
- Welfare assistance
- Social security benefits
- Alimony and child support
Other types of income may be counted in your total income amount.
Take a close look at this list
to determine your income. As of 2019, the median household income in Atlanta is $66,657.
However, the exact income limits differ based on your family size and where you live. In addition, federal law requires the AH to give 75% of its vouchers to applicants whose income is 30% or less of the median income. The table below breaks down qualifying income based on family size in Atlanta:
Family size | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very low income (50%) | $30,200 | $34,500 | $38,800 | $43,100 | $46,550 | $50,000 | $53,450 | $56,900 |
Extremely low income (30%) | $18,100 | $20,700 | $23,300 | $25,850 | $27,950 | $30,000 | $32,100 | $34,150 |
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How to apply for Section 8 housing in Atlanta
In Atlanta, you can only apply for Section 8 housing when the waiting list is open, and applications are being accepted. Atlanta Housing must give public notice of when the waitlist will open and where they are accepting applications. AH advertises the information in local newspapers, radio ads, social service agencies, and their
webpage
. The most recent opening of the AH Section 8 housing waitlist closed in March 2017.
Once you apply, you will receive an email to let you know whether you were selected for the waiting list at the email address you provide on your application. Then, when a voucher becomes available, you will receive an appointment to determine your eligibility.
If you apply and later need to change your contact information, you must send requests in writing to:
Waiting List Manager
Atlanta Housing
230 John Wesley Dobbs Ave. NE
Atlanta, GA 30303
How to find Section 8 housing in Atlanta
Once you’ve received your voucher, you’ll have 60 days to find housing. AH will automatically extend your search time by another 60 days if you need more time. You can use
AffordableHousing.com
to find a place or try the Georgia Department of Community Affairs
. With a housing voucher, you can choose where you want to live. Apartments, townhomes, and single-family homes are all eligible, but they must offer a 12-month lease and undergo yearly inspection by a representative of the program.
Generally, three months before the end of the lease, an inspector will stop by to make sure the unit still meets program requirements and meet with the renter to make sure they are still eligible for assistance. Voucher recipients must comply with the terms of their lease and pay their rent on time to continue receiving aid.
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What is the most Section 8 will pay?
Section 8 payment limits are based on the housing unit and the number of bedrooms in the unit. In Atlanta, they range from about $1,500 for a studio apartment to $5,600 for a 6-bedroom unit.
How much is a 2 bedroom Section 8 voucher in Atlanta?
Depending on the unit, a 2-bedroom Section 8 voucher in Atlanta can range from $1,300 to $2,600.
Do I have to accept Section 8 in Georgia?
Under the Housing Act, there is no provision requiring landlords to accept Section 8 vouchers; however, you must consider any prospective Section 8 tenant as you would any other tenant.
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