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Housing authority accepting low-income applicants for subsidies

It's a program that's in high demand, and for the first time in two years the Boise City/Ada County Housing Authority is accepting new applicants.

BOISE - No money for the rent: That's a reality for many people.

But the Boise City/Ada County Housing Authority provides a program that helps people get by.

“Some people just need a little help to get by. Some people need a lot,” said Jillian Patterson, Housing Programs Director for the housing authority. “Some people just don't have the ability to obtain or maintain an income that they'll be able to afford a rental on their own.”

The housing authority provides the Housing Choice Voucher or Section 8. It's a subsidy to help families pay their rent until they can support themselves.

“Families typically spend between 30 and 40 percent of their monthly adjusted income,” Patterson said. “They pay their rent portion directly to their landlord we subsidize the difference.”

It's a program that's in high demand, and for the first time in two years, the housing authority is accepting new applicants.

To qualify a family's household income must be 50 percent of the area median income or below.

“So, for instance, a household of three people would have to make an income of $31,650 or less to qualify for the program,” Patterson said.

In addition, when reviewing applications, the housing authority gives preference to senior citizens, people with disabilities and families with children.

If a household qualifies, they will then be entered into a lottery where they will draw 2,500 families to go on the waiting list.

“We have a few hundred families left on our current waiting list,” Patterson said. “We'll continue to serve them and once we have our new waiting list established, then we will start processing those names.”

As people who are currently receiving vouchers transition out of the program, those on the waiting list begin to receive assistance. But that assistance might not be instant.

“Some people will be invited in the next eight months; some people will be invited in the next couple of years. We have to go through that process,” Patterson said. “It just depends on where they were placed on the list.”

The idea is to give people the tools to increase their income so they can be self-sufficient.

“We have success stories of people that came from homelessness,” Patterson said. “Over the years we've been able to work with them, and then they purchase a home and then eventually go off program.”

The online application process runs April 16 through May 11.

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