The Journey to Community Housing with Supports

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FINDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING

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How to Locate Rental Assistance Vouchers

People with disabilities may also receive a preference or priority consideration in obtaining a housing voucher based upon their disability. When contacting the NJ Department of Community Affairs, the county, or the local public housing authority about rental assistance, also ask about “set-aside” opportunities. These are vouchers reserved for people with disabilities. It is advantageous for a person to apply and have their name placed on multiple waiting lists for low-income housing and rental subsidies.

Periodically contact the NJ Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Customer Services at 609.292.4080 to see if any waiting lists are open.

To locate the agency in each county, usually called the Board of Social Services , go to WWWNJGOVHUMANSERVICESDFDPROGRAMSNJSNAPCWA . Public Housing Authorities, also referred to as Public Housing Agencies, are designated entities that manage public housing units in a certain geographic area. s 'OTO Public Housing Agency to locate low-income

housing options in each county or municipality. For a list of New Jersey’s public housing entities go to WWWHUDGOVOFlCESPIHPHACONTACTSSTATESNJCFM .

HUD publishes a Fact Sheet on Housing Choice Vouchers at WWWPORTAL HUDGOVHUDPORTAL(5$SRCPROGRAM?OFlCESPUBLIC?INDIAN?HOUSING PROGRAMSHCVABOUTFACT?SHEET .

To locate HUD Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) housing inventory go to WWWPORTALHUDGOVHUDPORTAL(5$SRCSTATESNEW?JERSEY

For more information on The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency’s (HMFA) Supportive Housing Programs, contact: 609.278.7521 or visit WWW.*HOUSINGGOV

VOUCHER

LIST

If a voucher is not readily available, the person/family is placed on a waiting list. When the waiting list becomes too long, the PHA can decide to close the waiting list until additional vouchers become available. The PHA can also determine local preferences favoring certain groups of people to receive vouchers. For instance, the PHA could decide to give preference to people who are homeless, displaced or currently paying more that 50% of their income toward rent. These eligible people could be determined to receive priority to receive available vouchers ahead of others on the waiting list. It is not unusual to be on a waiting list for several years. Housing Choice Voucher Fact Sheet WWWPORTALHUDGOVHUDPORTAL (5$SRCPROGRAM?OFlCESPUBLIC?INDIAN?HOUSINGPROGRAMSHCV ABOUTFACT?SHEET

Once a name is added to a waiting list, it is important to notify the PHA of any changes in address and household composition. When the person’s name gets to the top of the waiting list, it is imperative to complete all of the paperwork in a timely manner.

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