Georgia Accepting New Housing Subsidy Voucher Applications in 149 Counties
Georgians residing in 149 counties have a unique opportunity to apply for housing subsidies, marking the first time such applications have been accepted since 2021. The Georgia Department of Community Affairs recently announced the opening of online applications for its Housing Choice Voucher program. The application window is set to run from 12:01 a.m. on October 17th to 11:59 p.m. on October 20th.
The Housing Choice Voucher program, previously known as Section 8, is designed to offer financial assistance to low-income families seeking to rent apartments or houses. To qualify, a family’s income must not exceed 50% of the median income in their chosen area of residence. Voucher amounts are determined based on local rent rates, family size, and income.
Eligible applicants will be randomly prioritized through a lottery system once the state approves them. The goal is to enroll 5,000 applicants, a move intended to address the existing waiting list, which currently includes 728 individuals. The Department of Community Affairs expects to accommodate these individuals in the coming months. In the previous budget year (2021-2022), the agency successfully placed 633 applicants. The waiting list had been closed since 2021 due to the high volume of applicants already in line.
For those who lack internet access, assistance is available by contacting the agency at 1-855-924-8446 or visiting a local public library. It’s important to note that some Georgia counties, including Bibb, Chatham, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, Glynn, Muscogee, Richmond, and Sumter, have their own locally run voucher programs and are not covered by the state-run initiative.
