Section 8 Housing in Oklahoma

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 Find Section 8 Housing in Oklahoma?

Oklahoma is one of the poorest states in the United States and as such has always struggled with affordable housing issues. Quite simply, most property developers are not overly interested in creating units that are dedicated for low income housing, opting instead for higher end development with the hope of achieving a stable profit. Further, Oklahoma has a very high concentration of Native Americans, which receive their own benefits from the state, so many of the affordable housing options are limited to beneficiaries of the Native American programs. In general, Oklahoma does not have the money to invest heavily in its own subsidized housing program (despite the clear need for one) and relies almost exclusively on the Section 8 program run by the federal government.

The Section 8 subsidized housing program is the nation's largest affordable housing program and can be found in all fifty states. Basically the beneficiary applies through a local public housing agency (PHA). If the PHA approves the application, the beneficiary is expected to spend roughly thirty percent of their monthly income on rent and the Section 8 program picks up the balance due. There are two types of Section 8 housing: project-based and tenant-based. Project-based Section 8 housing was the older model, has been around a lot longer, and represents the majority of Section 8 housing in the United States, including in Oklahoma. Tenant-based Section 8 housing, also known as Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV), goes with the beneficiary instead of the housing unit and can theoretically be used anywhere within the issuing PHA's jurisdiction. However, HCV has to be accepted by the property landlord and many are not inclined to do so in Oklahoma.

Therefore, for all intents and purposes, the only viable option for people that cannot claim Native American benefits in Oklahoma is project-based Section 8 housing. Further, since much of Oklahoma's project-based Section 8 housing is older, one can pretty much expect to move into a home meeting the bare minimum standards required by the federal government and the unit will probably be based in a primarily low income area with all that this entails. Oklahoma's affordable housing entity - the Oklahoma Housing Finance Authority (OHFA, www.ofha.org) - is primarily concerned with helping low income people buy homes and/or working with landlords and property developers. There is very little meant for low income people seeking affordable housing options.

Oklahoma City and Tulsa both have a number of housing aid organizations that are willing to work with people in desperate need of housing assistance, but again the priority is for people that already live in the state. Due to the overall affordable housing situation in Oklahoma, outsiders moving in and requiring housing assistance are likely to have a very difficult time finding anything open or available for at least a couple of years. However, there are some charities and other resources available that might work for at least temporary accommodation as needed. Realistically, someone that needs housing assistance should consider moving to other states than Oklahoma, as the Oklahoma demand is far too high already and preference will be given to native Oklahomans over outsiders moving in.