“What are the qualifications for low income housing in Kansas?”, new Section 8 applicants ask. Qualifying for Section 8 eligibility in Kansas is comprised of meeting guidelines in the areas of family composition, finances, background and citizenship. The most significant of these qualifying areas is in the area of income, as Section 8 eligibility requires that applicants make less than the average salary of those living in their county in Kansas.

What Are the Kansas Section 8 Requirements?

Section 8 eligibility in Kansas is based heavily on a family’s combined income. The combined income also includes any assets that a family may have, which is valued at more than two thousand dollars. Because Section 8 eligibility is based on the average of what others in the county are making, the income guidelines can vary from one county in Kansas to the next. While a family may meet Section 8 eligibility in Kansas in one county, in another county the family may earn more than the allowable income limit. Salary averages for all counties in Kansas are readily available online.

Section 8 eligibility in Kansas has other requirements, including citizenship. While most Section 8 eligibility stipulations include the entire household, citizenship does not. Only the applicant must be a legal U.S. citizen in order to apply for Section 8 eligibility in Kansas. The applicant will need to provide proof of citizenship, such as producing a birth certificate or passport.

What are the requirements for Section 8 in Kansas, besides citizenship? Section 8 eligibility will also require a background check on all household members who will be living with the applicant. Financial records, rental history and criminal records will all be examined. In particular, the local housing authorities will want to know if the applicant, and their family, is a good renter. KS Section 8 eligibility applicants must show no cases of eviction, failure to pay, damage to the property, or late payments. Any rental infractions could result in a Section 8 eligibility denial letter, which means that the application has been rejected.

Section 8 eligibility does not prevent former convicted felons from applying for Section 8, but the criminal record will impact the application to some extent. Each Section 8 eligibility application is reviewed on a case by case basis, especially where cranial convictions are concerned. The housing authority will want to know, for purposes of Section 8 eligibility guidelines, what the nature of the crime was, how long ago it was committed, and if the person has continued to have trouble with the law.

Section 8 eligibility applicants who are on the national registry for sexual offenders, who were convicted of a serious or violent crime, or who were involved in the manufacture, distribution, and abuse of illegal or controlled substances are ineligible to apply for Section 8.

What are the qualifications for low income housing in Kansas?

Many who would like to move forward with the application process may wonder, What do I need to apply for Section 8 housing in Kansas?” Those applying will be required to provide documentation which proves the claims made on the application form. What follows is a typical list of documents requested by various housing authorities in Kansas, but a definitive list may be obtained directly from the local housing authority. When applying for Section 8 eligibility, applicants will need to provide documents for the following:

• Personal identification
• Other government paperwork (TANF, SNAP, etc…)
• Social Security cards for everyone living in the home
• Current transcripts if the primary applicant is a full time student
• Proof of residency in the county (utility bill, or letter from a shelter)
• Pay stubs and tax returns, banking statements
• Official birth certificates for all household members
• current debts and assets list

Section 8 eligibility in Kansas is highly competitive and demand exceeds the supply of adequate and qualifying housing each year. Those who believe that they will qualify in all of the qualifying areas should plan to apply for Section 8 eligibility as soon as the enrollment period starts. In many counties in Kansas, the Section 8 eligibility waiting lists are currently open in 63 counties. New Section 8 eligibility applicants are allowed to submit applications to multiple housing authorities to maximize their chances of qualifying. However, once qualified, the applicant must reside in that county for at least a few months.