Multnomah County Reopens Low-Income Rental Assistance List: Thousands Apply in First Hours

The Multnomah County housing authority has reopened its list for low-income rental help after two years of being closed. This chance to sign up is only available for one week.

A program funded by the federal government, called the Housing Choice Voucher program (often known as Section 8), offers financial assistance to qualifying low-income families to help them afford rent in standard housing options.

Check out: Everything You Need to Know Before Applying for a Property Through Section 8

Home Forward, the local housing authority, is in charge of the waitlist for these vouchers. Applications are also being accepted for 13 affordable housing properties managed by Home Forward.

It's rare for these lists to open up due to the high demand for affordable housing and the limited amount of money available from the government. The last time people were allowed to sign up was in 2023, and before that, the list had been closed for seven years.

Since the list opened up again this Tuesday, nearly 7,000 applications have been received in just five hours, showing a significant increase from the number of applications received in the initial hours of the last opening in 2023.

The process to get on the list is a random lottery and Home Forward will stop taking applications at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, April 21. They plan to add 3,000 new applicants to the waitlist. To be eligible, a household's income must be less than 50% of the area's median income. For a family of four, that means they should earn no more than $5,170 per month.

Those who receive a voucher will spend less than 29% of their income on rent every month, and Home Forward will pay the rest. This assistance aims to help families afford other important living costs like food, healthcare, childcare, and transportation to work.

However, getting on the waitlist doesn’t guarantee housing immediately. Applicants must undergo income verification and pass checks on their criminal background and credit history.

Even with a voucher, the high cost of living in Portland means not all apartments are affordable. The average rent for a three-bedroom apartment is about $2,600, which is still beyond reach for many low-income families, even with assistance.

Those who do receive a voucher face challenges in finding suitable housing within the 120-day timeframe but they can ask for more time and help from Home Forward.

It might take up to three years for some on the waitlist to find housing. Approximately 500 people from the 3,000 added to the list in 2023 are yet to use their vouchers.

Despite threats of budget cuts and layoffs in federal departments, including the Department of Housing and Urban Development under the Trump administration, the voucher program received an increase in funding. This indicates continued bipartisan support for these housing assistance programs.

People can apply for a voucher or a spot in one of the low-income apartments online, by phone, or in person at various library events over the week. They will be notified by the fall if they have been successfully added to the waitlist.

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