How to Apply for Benefits at PHAs

Public housing authorities (PHAs) are local agencies that manage many of the programs in this article, including Section 8 and public housing. They are the first place you should go when you are thinking about applying for help with your rent. This page explains the basics of how to apply for housing benefits at public housing authorities. Later pages explain who can get these benefits and how they work.

How to Find Local Public Housing Authorities

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) oversees PHAs and has a list of Colorado public housing authorities. Most PHAs have waiting lists to get Section 8 benefits or to enter public housing, so it’s important to apply at more than one PHA.

The Application

Each housing authority has its own forms that you must fill out. Generally, these forms ask for the same information, like who lives in your household, how they are related, how much income you have, and if you have a disability.

If your disability makes any part of the application process hard for you, the PHA must give you reasonable accommodations during the application process. Reasonable accommodations could include things like:

• Help filling out application forms
• Braille application forms
• Extra time to fill out applications
• Help to find an apartment

Note: You should never have to pay to apply for Section 8. It is illegal for somebody to sell you a Section 8 application or voucher.

Waiting Lists

When you go to apply for Section 8 benefits, public housing, or any other program managed by a PHA, you probably won’t get help immediately. Instead, you might be put on a waiting list. A waiting list means you have to wait until it’s your turn to get a benefit.

The PHA tells you if they have an “open” waiting list or a “closed” waiting list:

• If the waiting list is open, you can apply and your name is added to the list. It may take years for you to get a benefit. How long it takes depends on the PHA. If you apply to more than one PHA, you are more likely to get benefits sooner.
• If the waiting list is closed, you can’t apply.

If you are on a waiting list, you must keep your information up-to-date. Tell the PHA if your contact info changes and reply whenever the PHA tries to contact you. Otherwise, they might take you off the waiting list and you won’t get benefits.

Benefit Approval

When your name reaches the top of the waiting list, the housing authority looks at your application and personal information to make sure you qualify for benefits.

If you qualify, the PHA then explains all program rules. The rules for some programs are explained in the rest of this article.