Metropolitan Council to Open Section 8 Housing Waiting List
The Metropolitan Council will take applications for its Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) waiting list for the first time in nearly three years beginning on April 9. Applications must be submitted by noon on April 16.
The Met Council’s housing and redevelopment authority, Metro HRA, will host a lottery on May 1 to randomly select eligible applicants for the waiting list.
American Indian households will have preference on waiting list
This year, Metro HRA will offer a preference for 10% of waiting list placements to heads of households who identify as American Indian. The Met Council made this commitment when it adopted Imagine 2050, the regional development guide, in February.
Because the demand for housing vouchers is far greater than the supply, not everyone who enters the lottery will be selected to join the waiting list. Once on the waiting list, the estimated wait time for a voucher is one to five years, depending on funding from the federal government. Being added to the waiting list does not guarantee a housing voucher or subsidy.
Metro HRA partners with private rental market landlords to provide affordable housing opportunities for more than 7,200 households in the region. Families may rent any type of housing in the Metro HRA service area from participating property owners.
Eligible households pay 30% to 40% of their incomes for rent, and Metro HRA pays the remainder, within established rent guidelines. Participating property owners are guaranteed a stable source of rental income.
Find out how to apply and more information about the Housing Choice Voucher program at metrocouncil.org/Housing/Services/Metro-HRA-Rental-Assistance.aspx.
