Two years ago, the Bristol Housing Authority opened its doors to allow people the chance to receive Section 8 federal housing assistance. In two hours, they handed out 1,100 applications, filled …
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Two years ago, the Bristol Housing Authority opened its doors to allow people the chance to receive Section 8 federal housing assistance. In two hours, they handed out 1,100 applications, filled their waiting list, and closed things down again.
That’s been a recurring event for Executive Director Candace Pansa and the housing authority for many years. The names on their waiting list would dwindle, they’d open it up every couple of years, the list would fill within hours, and then they would close it down again for years. For those waiting and hoping for housing assistance, the mad rush toward an open waiting list would happen repeatedly throughout the year — each housing authority maintained its own separate list, so applicants would move from office to office around the state, anytime there was an open list, hoping to find assistance anywhere they could.
That all changes as of midnight on Dec. 17.
For the first time, Rhode Island will operate a centralized waiting list for federal housing assistance, with 18 different agencies collaborating on one master list. And the list won’t open at any offices; it will open online — at 12:01 a.m.
With a valid email address, applicants will be able to create an account, indicate which housing authority they’re applying to (it could be just one or all 18), and then get notified of any opportunities for housing assistance throughout Rhode Island.
Ms. Pansa is thrilled to finally see this change after years of thinking and talking about it. Massachusets has operated a similar program for about 15 years, but it took much longer to make it happen in Rhode Island.
“We’re so excited about it, and I can’t wait for it to happen. I’ve been waiting so long for this,” Ms. Pansa said.
The program, which includes state investment into a new software platform, is administered by Rhode Island Housing. Not all housing authorities in the state have signed on, but most have.
Housing assistance comes primarily from the federal government, channeled into housing authorities like those in Bristol, Warren and elsewhere. The local agencies provide stipends to landlords who accept Section 8 tenants (the money is deposited directly into the landlord’s account), and the tenants pay the difference between the housing voucher and the full rent.
Applicants are accepted based on household income, with the goal that every resident pays no more than 30 percent of their household income on housing and utilities (see chart).
The 12,000 people on Rhode Island waiting lists have already been migrated to the new system. New applicants can register beginning Dec. 17. New applications can only be submitted through the online application portal, www.waitlistcentralri.com.
The State of Rhode Island has funded this program for the first two years. After that, individual housing authorities will pay into the new system from their own funds.
Housing Choice (Section 8) Income Guidelines
To qualify for housing assistance, applicants must have a household income at or below these levels.
Number of Persons in Household: Income Limit
1: $28,850
2: $32,450
3: $36,050
4: $38,950
5: $41,850
6: $44,750
7: $47,600