Duncan Announces Opening of Section 8 Waiting List-First Time in Eight Years

Header--Montgomery County, Maryland. Press Releases

Db:section8.pr 00-227

Contact: Donna Bigler, 240-777-6537
Or Zachary Smith, 301-929-6724 (HOC)

For Immediate Release: June 6, 2000

Duncan Announces Opening of
Section 8 Waiting List -
First Time in Eight Years

Montgomery County Executive Douglas Duncan announced today that, for the first time in eight years, the waiting list for Section 8 housing will open to new applicants. The housing program provides rental housing at subsidized rates to low- and extremely low-income families.

"This is good news for families who may be seeking affordable housing in Montgomery County," said Duncan. "Along with efforts to maintain our stock of affordable housing, provide low-interest loans to eligible homebuyers and reduce closing costs, the Section 8 program is a critical tool in making sure our residents can afford to live, work and raise a family here."

The Section 8 Program is managed by the County's Housing Opportunities Commission (HOC), which administers more than 4,200 rental assistance subsidies funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The program, which receives $55.5 million in funding from HUD, provides subsidies in the form of assistance to private landlords.

Families receiving Section 8 Rental Assistance usually pay 30-40 percent of their gross income for rent. Incomes for families eligible for the assistance range between $16,950 and $28,200 for a single person to $31,900 and $53,200 for a family of eight or more. As part of the selection process, HOC conducts verification of income, special needs, family composition and criminal background checks.

The waiting list will open on Monday, June 12. All applications submitted between June 12 and 16 will be entered into a computerized lottery to determine the order in which applicants will be placed on the list. Applications must be mailed to HOC and postmarked by June 16. The address for the Section 8 Waiting List is P.O. Box 629, Kensington, MD 20895-0629.

Section 8 Program application forms are available at any Montgomery County public library. This year, for the first time, they will also be available by Internet (www.hocweb.org).

"With the County's rental vacancy rate at just 2 percent and the average apartment renting for $843 per month, we suspect that there will be several thousand people seeking rental assistance," said HOC Chairman Ralph D. Bennett.

In order to register for the waiting list, applicants must be at least 18 years of age and be head of a household. For registration information, call HOC's 24-hour telephone hotline at 301-962-5401.

# # #

News Releases | News