The Alaska Section 8 housing program was created to help low income families find affordable housing. The Section 8 program is funded by the federal government and handled by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD. States are responsible for administering Section 8 at the local level. Low income housing in Alaska is overseen by the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, which is the housing authority in all counties. Section 8 is not set up for automatic enrollment, even if an applicant is on another form of government aid. Section 8 in AK must be applied for separately from other housing or government assistance programs.

Alaska Section 8 vouchers are granted to low income individuals or families who are in danger of losing their home, being evicted or are having trouble paying rent. Benefits are also extended to applicants with disabilities. Alaska low income house rentals must meet a certain standard safety to be part of the program. Each county within the state has their own rules and regulations regarding Section 8 voucher distribution. Learn more about Alaska Section 8 housing programs from the following topics:

• Section 8 eligibility in Alaska
• Information about Section 8 waiting lists in Alaska
• How to apply for Section 8 housing in Alaska
• Section 8 denials in Alaska

Learn About Section 8 Requirements in Alaska

In Alaska, Section 8 eligibility is primarily determined by household income level. An applicant whose income falls below 80 percent of the area’s median income level will be considered eligible for Section 8 housing. Other qualification factors include the ages of the household members, current assets, pending debts, and the household size. In addition to these qualifications, special preference is given to households with young children, and applicants who are pregnant, disabled, elderly or homeless.

What are the requirements for Section 8 eligibility in Alaska? To apply for Section 8 aid, an applicant must be current with child support payments, if applicable, and verify their income by providing tax return statements or bank statements. Section 8 applicants are also required to provide proof of citizenship and pass a criminal background check. Any applicant who is registered as a lifetime sex offender will be considered ineligible for Section 8 housing.

Section 8 applicants often ask, “What do I need to apply for Section 8 housing?” Section 8 applications must be submitted with a wide range of documents. Required documents for all members of the household include driver’s licenses, passports, alien resident cards, current tax returns, military or federal aid documents, bank statements, and social security cards.

What are the qualifications for low income housing? While the applicant for Section 8 housing may qualify for the program based on income, he or she may not meet requirements in other areas of eligibility. Income alone will not guarantee entrance into the Section 8 housing program. An applicant or household member with a criminal history or poor report from a former landlord may be disqualified from receiving Section 8 aid. Another important thing to note is that any other government aid funds granted to the household will be considered as part of an applicant’s income. Applicants who do not account for these funds can expect to be denied housing subsidy. Any potential Section 8 applicant asking themselves, “Do I qualify for Section 8 housing?” must evaluate their personal situation by taking into consideration all of the requirements set forth by the HUD.

Learn How to Apply for Section 8 Housing in Alaska

Knowing how to sign up for Section 8 is important because applications that are completed incorrectly may be denied. The nearest HUD office can assist applicants fill out a HUD Section 8 application. Applicants with computer access also have the option of using the Alaska online application for low income housing. Upon completion and submission of the Section 8 application, an applicant will have to wait up to two weeks to receive an approval or denial letter through in the mail.

Applicants can check status for Section 8 application by going online or visiting the Alaska Housing Finance Office where the application was submitted. When the applicant begins the process to register for Section 8 housing program benefits, there is no way to submit a new application in its place.

Learn About Section 8 Waiting Lists in Alaska

The Alaska low income housing waiting list is created and maintained by each individual county HUD office. The Section 8 housing program application waiting list varies by county and some waiting lists may be shorter than others. If an applicant needs to check waiting list status for Section 8 in Alaska, he or she should simply complete a status request form and send it to the appropriate office for information. Applicants are placed upon the wait list according to need level and application submission time.

Applicants who do not keep their information up-to-date can be removed from the waiting list. If an applicant fails to see his or her name on the Section 8 housing waiting list the applicant may have been removed from the list. Be sure to update all application information with regards to living conditions, household demographics and income. When will the Section 8 waiting lists open? A different opening date exists for each individual county. To find a wait list date for a specific location, contact the HUD office.

Learn About Section 8 Denials in Alaska

A Section 8 denial letter is sent when an applicant has been denied Section 8 benefits. What are the reasons for Section 8 denial? The specific reason for an applicant’s denial will be noted in the denial letter. Information about an applicant’s rights to appeal the denial will also be included in the letter. If an applicant wishes to make an appeal, then he or she has 10 days from the receipt of the denial letter to do so. A Section 8 denial appeal can be filed when the applicant feels that their denial was made in error.

Section 8 housing disqualifications are usually due to insufficient or incorrect information on the application. When filling out a Section 8 application, be sure to double-check all of the information for accuracy before sending it off for submission. The Section 8 denial letter will explain what to do if Section 8 application was denied and review the appeal process. Applicants can contact the local HUD office for further information on how to appeal Section 8 denial. If a Section 8 denial appeal is rejected, then the applicant will not be able to file a second appeal or apply for housing benefits for one full year.

Website: Local Offices.

State: Alaska