SECTION 8 HOUSING
THE HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM (SECTION 8) WAITING LIST IS CURRENTLY CLOSED
A Helping Hand
The Housing Choice Voucher Program is a federal program administered through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Spokane Housing Authority (SHA). In Whitman County, the Community Action Center administers the program.
Advantages for Owners and Property Mangers: Owners and property managers who choose to participate in this program are able to fill vacancies quickly. The Housing Choice Voucher Program makes housing assistance payments directly to the property manager. Property managers retain full responsibility for screening and choosing renters, enforcing leases, and maintaining rental properties.
Eligible Rent Levels: Generally, rent and utilities for a unit must be within the Fair Market Rent limits for Whitman County. The Fair Market Rent is the rent plus utilities, except for telephone and cable television.
A participating family will pay at least 30% but not over 40% of their adjusted annual income for their rent and utilities, upon move in. This percentage can fluctuate any time after initial move in. The Housing Choice Voucher Program pays the balance of their rent to the owner or manager of the unit.
Spokane Housing Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan
THE WHITMAN COUNTY SECTION 8 WAITING LIST WILL BE CLOSING ON FEBRUARY 28, 2023!
Preference and Priority is given to:
◊ Whitman County Residency – Applicant currently resides in Whitman County
◊ Risk of Homelessness/Institutionalization
◊ Disabled Head of Household/Co-Head/Spouse
◊ Elderly Head of Household/Co-Head/Spouse
Current Wait List Time:
Approximately 6 months – 1 year
Wait time is dependent on how many vouchers are available for use. The length of time an applicant is on the waiting list can vary or change without notice to the applicant.
2023 Voucher Payment Standards
1 bedroom – $845
2 bedroom – $975
3 bedroom – $1380
4 bedroom – $1630
- Spokane Housing Authority Occupancy Standards are 2 people per bedroom subsidized.
Friendly Reminders for Current Participants:
- Please remember to report all changes in household income, for ANY member of the household, to our office within 10 business days of the change taking place.
- Please remember to report all additions or deletions of household members to our office with 10 business days of the change taking place.
- Additions to the household MUST be approved by both the landlord and the Section 8 department before the addition can move into the unit.
- Deletions from the household MUST be verified with the landlord before we can delete them from the household.
Click here to download a Change of Circumstance Form
- Please be sure to check your mail on a daily basis – you don’t want to miss an important deadline!
- Please make sure that you are keeping your phone number updated with the Section 8 department.
Contact your eligibility specialist at Community Action Center to determine if you are eligible to move.
Download the Moves within Whitman County Checklist
So you want to transfer your voucher to another county within Spokane Housing Authority?
Vouchers can be transferred to any county within the Spokane Housing Authority jurisdiction:
- Spokane County
- Ferry County
- Lincoln County
- Pend Orielle County
- Stevens County
Vouchers can be transferred when an applicant is called to the top of the Whitman County Waiting List or after the participants first year on the program.
So you want to port out of Spokane Housing Authority?
Vouchers holders can port to any state in the United States of American as well as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
- Spokane Housing Authority does not pay relocating costs
When porting your voucher, you do not need to apply for another Housing Authority Waiting List.
- Contact your eligibility specialist to determine if you are eligible to port your voucher.
- To be eligible to port your voucher, you need to have resided within Whitman County for at least 1 year prior to being on the program.
- Residency can be verified by providing a lease or utility account information
- You will need to contact the Housing Authority that you wish to port to to find out Voucher Payment Standards and Occupancy standards.
Download the Port Out Checklist
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development gives a list of contact information for all Housing Authorities.
Nationwide Housing Authority Contact Information
So you want to port into Spokane Housing Authority – Whitman County?
- You need to contact your initial Housing Authority to have your paperwork sent to Whitman County.
- The HA Code for Whitman County is WA055 Spokane Housing Authority.
- Spokane Housing Authority – Whitman County is currently absorbing port in vouchers. Please note that not all counties under Spokane Housing Authority are absorbing vouchers.
- Your case worker can fax your paperwork to 509.334.9105 ATTN: Section 8.
- Your case worker can mail your paperwork to:
- 350 SE Fairmont Rd Pullman, WA 99163 ATTN: Section 8
- You will need to contact our office to set up an appointment to complete additional paperwork before we can issue you a new voucher.
- Please DO NOT sign a lease without talking to your Whitman County case worker first as Spokane Housing Authority may have different Occupancy Standards than your initial Housing Authority.
2023 Voucher Payment Standards
1 bedroom – $845
2 bedroom – $975
3 bedroom – $1380
4 bedroom – $1630
- Spokane Housing Authority Occupancy Standards are 2 people per bedroom subsidized.
Spokane Housing Authority: Homeownership Program
What is the Spokane Housing Homeownership Program?
The SHA Section 8 Homeownership Progam permits current participants on the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program to potentially own their own home!
REQUIREMENTS:
- Must be a “First-time home-owner”
- Must meet income requirements by either being employed for at least a year or receiving a steady subsidy such as Social Security.
- Must not owe SHA or any Housing Authority any back payments.
- Family members must not have any prior mortgage defaults.
- Have to have been on the Section 8 HCV program for a minimum of one year.
For more information, please contact your Section 8 Case Worker immediately!
For more information on the Section 8 Program, please contact our office at 350 SE Fairmont Rd, Pullman WA 99163 | 509-334-9147| Fax: 509-334-9105
