The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) uses the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program to subsidize market rate rents for low-income families on units they obtain from private landlords. While you follow the same general process to apply for Section 8 assistance across Cook County, Illinois, who you have to deal with varies depending upon exactly where you live.
Instructions
1. Check HUD's income limits for the Chicago metropolitan area, which the U.S. Census Bureau confirms Cook County is part of. According to HUD's Housing Choice Voucher fact sheet, a family's combined household earnings cannot exceed 50 percent of their area's median income if they would like Section 8 assistance. As of 2010, 50 percent of the Chicago area's median is $37,550 for a family of four.
2. Contact the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) at 312-742-8500 if you live in the City of Chicago. CHA has four regional offices. When you call you will be directed to the office that handles your zip code. Alternatively, you can find the appropriate regional office by visiting CHA's website (see "Resources"). If you live outside of the City of Chicago, but within Cook County, you must contact the Housing Authority of Cook County at 312-542-4728 to inquire about the Section 8 program.
3. Attempt to get on the waiting list. As of 2010, both CHA and HACC notes that their Section 8 waiting lists are closed. Both entities do not give a time when they anticipate reopening their respective waiting lists; as of October 2010, however, both point out that they will provide public notice ahead of accepting Section 8 applications.
4. Fill out an application when CHA or HACC's Section 8 waiting list reopens. The application gets you a spot on the wait list. When your name reaches the top of the list, a CHA or HACC representative will call you and schedule a meeting where you must confirm the information you submitted on your application. Most important, this includes verifying household composition using birth certificates and Social Security numbers, documenting income with tax returns and pay check stubs and providing the name and addresses of present and past landlords. If you pass the application process, CHA or HACC will issue you a Section 8 subsidy voucher.
Tags: Cook County, area median, Choice Voucher, City Chicago, Cook County Illinois, County Illinois