Section 8 Housing in Maryland

Low Income Housing Information

Low income housing can be a godsend, but if you don't know how to apply, or who to get your information to, how can you ever expect to be approved?

Since laws and procedure vary from state to state, you'll need to learn a few specifics before applying. We can help!

How Can I Qualify for Section 8 Housing in Maryland

Maryland offers two types of rental assistance, the standard Section 8 housing program which is run by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and administered by the local public housing agencies (PHAs) as well as the state run Rental Allowance Program (RAP) administered by either the state Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD, www.mdhousing.org) or the local housing authorities in Baltimore or Annapolis. Generally speaking, the federal Section 8 program is for more long-term assistance, while the RAP is more for temporary problems.

The qualifications for Section 8 housing are generally standardized and the same throughout the country. After meeting particular personal requirements - such as being a citizen, resident, national, or having special authorization from the federal immigration authorities - the primary qualifying condition relates to the family's income level. The general rule of thumb is that the family has to make a regular annual income of at least 50% below the median income of the locality in question. The median incomes are determined by HUD and regularly updated, so they differ widely from place to place. There may or may not be special additional requirements depending on the personal circumstances of either the applicant or the locality being considered.

The RAP is funded by the state, as opposed to the federal government, but administrated by the local housing authorities in most areas, though in areas without a local housing authority, the local government can apply directly to the DHCD. This is a rent subsidy program akin to section 8 housing, but deals with actual cash payments as opposed to vouchers. The local housing authority makes arrangements with local affordable housing providers for payment through the program. The RAP is primarily designed for very low income people that are either homeless, at risk of becoming homeless, or in need of emergency housing. Generally, the beneficiaries have to have an annual income of 30% or less of the HUD determined median income of the locality in question. Further the RAP can only last for up to twelve months, though it comes with a series of additional assistance programs that are meant to help qualifying people achieve self-sufficiency within those twelve months. Although the specifics are not the same as those for Section 8 housing, the conditions necessary to qualify are just as strict, so it is probably worth taking the time to explore the program requirements in detail before applying.

Additional assistance may be available through charities and other nonprofit organizations that emphasize housing concerns. The organizations that offer additional assistance usually operate within a set geographical area, so people looking for additional assistance should look in the area they intend to live in. One good online resource for finding additional help beyond that offered directly by the government is the website of the Maryland Affordable Housing Coalition (MAHC, www.mdahc.org). Although this organization does not offer much directly to people in need, its list of members - provided on the website - provides the contact information for many of the state's most important nonprofits and charitable organizations that may be of interest.