This month, the Indianapolis Housing Agency will reopen the waiting list for its Housing Choice Voucher program (commonly referred to as Section 8).
According to IHA, in October of 2014 — the last time the waiting list was open — 47,000 applications were received, and 6,000 applicants were chosen to go on the waiting list.
“It is opening again now because we have processed almost the entire waiting list,” said IHA Executive Director Rufus “Bud” Myers. “We’re opening it up now to replenish the waiting list so that people who have need to seek safe, sanitary, affordable housing can do so.”
Beginning at noon on Sept. 12 and ending at 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 15, Indianapolis residents will have an opportunity to complete an online application for the voucher program at section8lotteryindy.com. There will be no physical applications available, and families who submit more than one application will be disqualified, as well as those who submit information that can be considered fraudulent.
Myers warns residents to be vigilant in the process. “We will never ask anyone for their credit card information or any other form of payment to apply, so if they get on a list or a website that asks for these things, they should know they are on a fraudulent site.”
Out of the applications received, a third party entity will choose 10,000 families at random to be entered into a lottery. Those accepted will receive their notification via mail that they’ve secured a spot on the waiting list. The mailed notification is expected to be sent out by Oct. 10.
Of those on the waiting list, 400–600 applicants will come into IHA offices approximately every three to four months and complete an in-person interview process, after which they will learn whether or not they are eligible to receive the housing voucher. Once approved for a voucher, clients will have 60 days to find a home or 120 days if they apply for an extension.
Keyshawn Coe, IHA’s director of rental assistance and voucher programs, said the agency is working to provide assistance to those who may encounter barriers through the process.
“We’ve partnered with the public library and other social services agencies, and they’ve agreed to help people who come into their facilities to use computers,” she said. “Also, our IHA community computer labs will be open for them to come in and get assistance, as well. For those that are disabled, we have a waiting list help center that they’ll be able to call, and the person that answers those calls will be able to do the full application for them.”
The IHA community centers will be open from 12–5 p.m. on Sep. 12 and from 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Sept. 13–15.
Myers noted that programs like this in our city are of great importance.
“The significance of this is very high; the city of Indianapolis must maintain a diverse community in order to be successful,” said Myers. “I’ve seen some other communities that may not make affordable housing as available, and then they end up busing people in to handle some of the jobs.
“We do very much consider this process to be very important, as far as the city maintaining a stable environment.”
Since the last time the waiting list was open, IHA has worked to secure more options for renters via new properties acquired through a governmental tax credit program and from landlords working to invest in developing homes specifically for this use. Myers said the nonprofit arm of the agency, Insight Development, is looking to rehab homes in the Riverside area for families on the voucher system.
Coe said the agency has also worked to reach out to landlords directly to educate them on the features and benefits of the voucher system in hopes that more housing would be made available.
Historically, there has been a considerable amount of social stigma surrounding the safety and quality of homes available through the program. Myers said that is something they are hoping to overcome.
“Those stigmas are there because of some of the things that happened in the past. The very reason we have housing quality standards now is to ensure that the housing that our clients receive is good housing,” he said. “The fact is, we’re anything but the housing of last resort. What we are is affordable housing and housing with standards.”
Reena Mason, an Indianapolis resident who has been using the voucher system for more than seven years, said it has greatly impacted her life.
“It made me more independent and put me back into the whole public thing. I was homeless and didn’t have anything, and it came right on time. It helped me out a lot,” she said.
Mason said she is currently going through an IHA program that will transition her from renting to homeownership.
“If you want to be your own person and take care of yourself, if you’re struggling … you need to go ahead and sign up for it. It’ll help you.”
