Section 8 Leased Housing Assistance

Due to COVID-19 Homsite has been advised by New York State HCR to give preference to applicants on their general tenant based waiting list for the Section 8  Housing Choice Voucher Program to households defined as homeless.  To qualify as a homeless household one must fall under one of the two categories:

Category 1 – lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence
Or
Category 2 – is fleeing, or is attempting to flee, domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or other dangerous life-threatening conditions that relate to violence against the individual or a family member, including a child, that has either taken place within the individuals or family’s primary nighttime residence or has made the individual or family afraid to return to their primary nighttime residence; and has no other residence; and lacks the resources or support networks, e.g. family, friends, and faith based or other social networks, to obtain other permanent housing. 

In addition to identifying as one of the categories listed above, NYS HCR REQUIRES the applicant provide or obtain written verification from a coordinating shelter, housing provider, service agency or institution (for those being discharged) confirming the same.  A signed statement from an individual not affiliated with a shelter, housing provider, or service agency or institution will not suffice. 

If you are currently on the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher waiting list, you will be receiving documentation via mail.  Please update the documentation and return to the office as quickly as possible.  If you have any questions please contact the office at 315-253-8451.

SPECIAL ANNOUCEMENT

About

The Section 8 Program provides assistance for low-income individuals and families in the private rental market through the Housing Choice Voucher Program. 

Applicants and the persons listed on their applications - "families" - are issued Tenant-Based Vouchers (TBV). Voucher holders then select a unit from the private rental market, and rental assistance makes market rate housing affordable. Voucher holders are free to search for an apartment or rental home anywhere within Cayuga County (including the City of Auburn), but - if they do not live in Cayuga County at the time they receive the voucher - they must reside in Cayuga County for at least one year before porting to other counties with the voucher.

Program participants normally pay between 30% and 40% of their monthly adjusted income towards rent and utilities. The Housing Assistance Payment covers the balance of the rent through a direct payment to the property owner.

The Auburn Housing Authority also manages a Section 8 program, although it is specifically for the City of Auburn - not the whole of Cayuga County.

How to Apply

Eligibility

Eligibility for our Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program is determined by income. Eligible families cannot exceed 50% of the area median income for Cayuga County for their family size.

Income limits for the Section 8 Program are as follows:

  • 1 person - $30,800

  • 2 persons - $35,200

  • 3 persons - $39,600

  • 4 persons - $43,950

  • 5 persons - $47,500

  • 6 persons - $51,000

  • 7 persons - $54,500

  • 8 persons - $58,050

These limits are adjusted annually based on median income in Cayuga County and were last updated in May, 2023.

Application

If you meet the income standards, we encourage you to apply! Applications can be downloaded by clicking the link below. We can also mail applications. Please call or email us to request an application by mail. Completed applications should be mailed back or dropped off to our office as soon as possible.

Applications MUST include:

  • The Social Security Number (SSN) of every member of the application

  • Proof of residency - i.e. a driver's license with your current address, or a utility bill with your name and address

  • Knowledge of amount of income for each member of the application, preferably in monthly standards, but weekly or yearly standards are also welcome.

  • Knowledge of method of income for each member for each member of the application - i.e. wages, DSS, unemployment compensation, alimony, child support, etc.

  • Application must have original signatures

What’s Next?

The Waitlist

If you are approved, you will be added to the waitlist. When your name reaches the top of the waiting list we will meet with you and provide you with a rental voucher.

The average applicant to Homsite's Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program experiences a wait of 3.5 years. 

If you are placed on the waitlist, you will be expected to report all changes to your application to Homsite at the time of the change. These changes include - but are not limited to - changes to income, method of income, the composition of the members on your application, your address, and your phone number. We may also contact you periodically via your mailing address or phone number to provide us with updated information to your application. You must complete these requested updates in order to remain on the waitlist.

Receiving the Voucher

After your family has been issued a Housing Choice Voucher, you can search for an apartment that is decent, safe, and sanitary according to Housing Quality Standards (HQS) established by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). When you have found a suitable unit and the owner has agreed to lease the unit to you under the Housing Choice Voucher Program, we will inspect the unit to make sure that it meets the HQS guidelines. After the unit passes HQS inspection and the rent has been approved, the landlord and the tenant will enter into a lease.

Please contact us if you have any questions, or would like to apply for the program.