The Section 8 LA Voucher Lottery waiting list opens Monday. Here’s how to sign up – GNT NEWS

The City of Los Angeles has reopened the lottery waiting list for its Section 8 housing voucher program for the first time in five years.

Applications are accepted until Sunday, October 30 at 5 p.m

Vouchers allow low-income residents and families to subsidize their rent. The LA Housing Authority it is estimated that up to 30,000 households will be able to take advantage of this rental assistance program.

Here’s what you need to know.

Who is eligible?

Applicants must fall into the federal “very low income” category. For single tenants, their annual income cannot exceed $41,700. The annual income threshold for a family of four is $59,550.

Vouchers are only available to US citizens, legal immigrants, or “mixed status” families with at least one household member who has legal immigration status.

See more here eligibility conditions.

How to apply?

Candidates should create an account via portal for online applications.

The application is free. A valid email address is required to sign up for the program.

Applications are accepted exclusively online using a smartphone, mobile device or computer with internet access. No applications will be accepted in person, by post or email.

For those who need free Internet access and help setting up email accounts, support is available at LA City Public Libraries and other community organizations. See the list here help centers.

Applications are accepted 24 hours a day during the two-week period.

What are my chances?

Registration does not guarantee a voucher.

And the chances of getting a voucher are slim. When the city opened its Section 8 waiting list in 2017, more than 187,000 people applied. Only 20,000 of them received vouchers.

The number of vouchers available has increased this year, but given the strain the COVID-19 pandemic and inflation have placed on people’s finances, the city expects to receive more than 365,000 new applications.

But city officials are encouraging all eligible Angelenos to take advantage of the opportunity to get the help they need.

“This lottery does not guarantee you will get a voucher or rental assistance, but it may give you one. And there’s a good chance you will in the future,” says LA Mayor Eric Garcetti.

Those lucky enough to be selected for the rental assistance program will have 180 days to secure an apartment. After a period of 6 months, the unused voucher will be returned to the lottery so that it can give it to someone else on the waiting list.