To register for Section 8 housing programs in Pennsylvania, the applicant will first need to complete the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Section 8 application. The PA HUD Section 8 application process provides qualified Section 8 candidates with vouchers in the counties where they live until there are no more vouchers to distribute. Currently, several counties in Pennsylvania have open enrollment for Section 8 programs. When completing a HUD Section 8 application in Pennsylvania, the applicant must read everything thoroughly so that the information provided is accurate. Failure to submit a complete and accurate PA HUD Section 8 application can often lead to denial of Section 8 assistance. Those who need to know how to apply for Section 8 housing in Pennsylvania can find a number of resources designed to assist with the process. The local public housing authority office is a good place to start, and there are numerous resources offered for applicants using the online application for low income housing.

Learn How to Apply for Section 8 Housing in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania residents who require assistance or need help learning how to apply for Section 8 housing can look to the nearest public housing authority for help. There is a housing authority located in each county in PA. All that is required in order to register for Section 8 housing programs in Pennsylvania is to accurately fill out the forms and then submit them. The HUD Section 8 application in Pennsylvania can be printed out from the internet. Alternatively, applicants can use the Pennsylvania online application for low income housing to complete and submit the application electronically. The HUD Section 8 application can also be hand delivered, mailed in or faxed to the public housing authority. Once the HUD Section 8 application has been submitted, it can take up to two weeks before a response is issued regarding eligibility. Once the applicant is considered eligible, he or she will be placed on a low income housing waiting list.

Learn How to Sign Up for Section 8 in Pennsylvania

The PA HUD Section 8 application is the main document that will be submitted, but additional qualifying documentation is a necessary requirement for the application process. The HUD Section 8 application requires that all of the information listed within the application be verified with corroborating documents. Some of the documentation required for the HUD Section 8 application will include:

• Personal identification for household members.
• Birth certificates for everyone.
• Social security cards for everyone.
• Paystubs or tax returns.
• Old leases and current leases.
• A list of debts and assets.

For some PA housing authorities, HUD Section 8 applications may require a detailed entry of any government subsidies that are being received, as some will consider this a type of asset or income.

As the HUD Section 8 application requirements can vary from one county to the next in PA, it is important for the applicant to reach out to the nearest housing authority to confirm what types of documentation will be required.

Learn How to Check the Status of Section 8 Applications in Pennsylvania

Once the HUD Section 8 application is submitted in Pennsylvania, it will take about two weeks to process. The applicant should wait to check Section 8 application status until that amount of time has passed. To check status for Section 8 applications in PA, candidates can go online and use the client control number that was originally issued after submission of the application. Alternatively, petitioners can visit the housing authority office in person. Those who have submitted their HUD Section 8 application in Pennsylvania and have not received confirmation after two weeks may contact the local housing authority to see if there has been a delay in processing the application due to errors.

Once the HUD Section 8 application has been approved, the candidate will be placed on a waiting list. The HUD Section 8 application wait list is updated in most counties each week, so the applicant is advised to check it often. In some instances, the HUD Section 8 application has qualified someone to be placed on the waiting list, but because the candidate did not respond to correspondence from the local housing authority, his or her name was dropped from the list. When this happens, the applicant will have to register for a Section 8 housing program all over again and risk losing his or her place on the official wait list.