The Oregon Section 8 program has its origins in President Roosevelt’s program from the 1930s. Today, Section 8 housing programs serve millions of struggling families in the U.S. to find, keep and afford quality housing. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), together with a local housing authority in Oregon, offer two Section 8 programs, which each utilize a housing choice voucher system. These are known as the Tenant-Based Program and the Project-Based Program.

The Oregon Section 8 Project-Based program provides subsidized apartment rentals through buildings that are federally funded and maintained. The Section 8 vouchers are tied to the actual property, and not the renters. The Section 8 Tenant-Based programs are actually tied to individuals and their families. With the Section 8 Tenant program, the family secures low income house rentals and affordable apartments from the private sector. Landlords willing to accept Section 8 vouchers work directly with the local housing authority, which gives the voucher payment directly to the landlord.

Families that qualify for Section 8 in Oregon are still responsible for at least 30 percent of the rental fees, while the Section 8 vouchers will cover the rest. The total amount that a family pays is based upon guidelines determined by HUD.

Participants must meet certain criteria to become eligible for the program. For instance, the income threshold for every county in Oregon is the fifty percent mark. This means that, Section 8 applicants, in order to become eligible for benefits, must make no more than half as much as the average earner in their area. Those who make even less than that are considered to be “very low income” and may receive priority consideration for housing.

Additional considerations that will be examined with Section 8 applications in Oregon include issues that revolve around citizenship, criminal history or reports, rental history and personal finances for all household members. Most new to the OR low income housing program do not initially realize that Section 8 applications will require information not only about the applicant, but about all those family members who will be living in the house. Those with a criminal record are not precluded from applying for Section 8 in Oregon, but the nature of the crime, how recent the criminal record is, and if the person or persons are still in trouble with the law will be considered. Those who are required to be listed on the sexual offender database are, however, ineligible to apply, as are those who have been convicted of making, selling, or distributing illegal substances such as methamphetamines.

For those who would like to learn more about Section 8 housing in Oregon, select from the topics below:

Learn the Requirements for Section 8 in Oregon

Section 8 eligibility in Oregon is established by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) guidelines. These guidelines may have additional requirements depending on state and local eligibility policies. Together, these eligibility guidelines are administered by countywide or regional Public Housing Agencies (PHAs). When asking, “What are the qualifications for low income housing in Oregon?” the applicant needs to remember that the answer depends on which PHA is being contacted. Oregon Section 8 eligibility rules will vary from one location to another, but there are a few basic eligibility guidelines that apply to all Section 8 programs in the state.

Learn How to Apply for Section 8 in Oregon

To register for Section 8 housing programs in Oregon, applicants must submit a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Section 8 application through a local Public Housing Authority (PHA). The Oregon HUD Section 8 application will require a wide variety of information. Oregon HUD Section 8 applications will be reviewed for contact information, financial histories as well as background and personal information for all family members. Residential status and proof of nationality will also be important. Housing petitioners may choose to apply for housing assistance by going online or visiting the regional PHA office. Because Oregon has 15 PHAs that operate 5,666 public housing rental units in 103 apartment buildings or communities, there are usually waiting lists to receive housing benefits. For that reason, applicants should apply to as many PHAs as possible.

Learn About Section 8 Waiting Lists in Oregon

Oregon Section 8 housing program application waiting lists are populated with Section 8-eligible applicants from various areas in the state. Fifteen Oregon public housing authorities operate 5,666 low income housing units in more than a hundred buildings throughout the state, while the Housing Choice Voucher program allows Section 8 participants to find housing units maintained by landlords in the private market. Since available units and funding are both limited, many eligible applicants will need to remain on the waiting list until housing becomes available. In order to be included on the Section 8 housing program application waiting list in Oregon, individuals and their families must have gone through the Section 8 application process, which considers the applicant’s income, citizenship, personal background and other factors in order to determine eligibility. No one is admitted to the Section 8 housing program application waiting list in OR without having first gone through the application process. Furthermore, the low income housing waiting lists in Oregon require those on the list to update their own listings every six months or risk being removed from the list.

Learn About Section 8 Denial in Oregon

A Section 8 denial letter in Oregon may be mailed to a Section 8 applicant in the event that the applicant’s petition for Section 8 benefits has been denied. Those who disagree with the Section 8 housing disqualifications have options, however. Section 8 denial letters, often called administrative decisions, will generally offer explanations as to why the benefits have been denied or rescinded. The Oregon housing authorities urge those who receive Section 8 housing disqualifications to continue to file for housing benefits each week, if they have been receiving benefits, so that in the event that the Section 8 denial appeal judge rules in their favor, the beneficiary will not be behind on receiving those benefits.