The federal government provides a range of services for families in need. Depending on your income and household size, you may qualify for free housing and food. The food stamp program helps low-income families purchase food while the housing choice voucher, or section 8, program helps families pay for housing.
Housing Choice Eligibility
The Housing Choice Voucher program is administered separately from food stamps. You can apply for housing vouchers through your local public housing authority. Income requirements vary based on the median income of the metropolitan area where you live. In order to qualify for housing vouchers in your area, your income must be less than 50 percent of the median income of your area. In cities with a large number of families in need, qualified applicants are added to a waiting list upon approval.
Getting Section 8
Not every qualified family is added to the Section 8 waiting list. By law, the public housing authority in your area must give you immediate consideration if your income is less than 25 percent of the median income for your area. More than 75 percent of federal aid for Section 8 is reserved for these families. You may also receive immediate consideration if you are homeless or living in a shelter, paying more than 50 percent of your income on rent or are involuntarily displaced.
Food Stamp Eligibility
Food stamps are available to families who meet the federal income requirements. To qualify for food stamps, your net income must be within 100 percent of the poverty level and your gross income must be within 130 percent of the poverty level. In many cases, meeting the minimum requirements for food stamps qualifies you for Section 8 since the national poverty level is determined by income averages nationwide. In addition, the amount of countable resources, such as cash or alimony, for your household must be fewer than $2,000. If you have an elderly or disabled household member, your countable resource limit is $3,000.
Households
Households differ for Section 8 and food stamp qualification. A "household" is considered to be anyone permanently living in your home when applying for Section 8. With food stamps, your household includes anyone in the home who purchases and shares meals together. If other family members live with you but purchase meals separately, they do not affect your food stamp allotment. The income of each of your household members over the age of 18 is considered for both food stamps and section 8.
Length of Aid
The length of time you receive food stamps is called your certification period. Certification periods vary based on your level of need but generally range from a few months up to a year. For Section 8, you are required to sign a minimum one-year lease with each housing voucher. After your lease term is up, you can extend it by leasing month-to-month or signing a new year lease if you still meet the program requirements.
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