For First Time Since 2015, Rental Subsidy Program To Take New Applicants

From June 4 ^th to June 8 ^th, the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority will take applications for the Housing Choice Voucher program, better known as Section 8.

They’ll enter those names into a lottery and 10,000 people will be put onto a wait list. When vouchers become available, people from that list are called.

The last time CMHA accepted applications to get on the waitlist, 55,000 to 60,000 came in.

CMHA CEO Jeffery K. Patterson said that number wasn’t a result of the great recession or other temporary economic conditions.

“I would expect somewhere close to that number again. I think there are a lot of people who are looking for affordable housing opportunities and some sort of housing subsidy,” said Patterson.

Patterson said since 2015 there haven’t been any major changes to the program, which is funded by the federal government. Tenants are required to pay a percentage of their income toward rent. CMHA makes up the difference with a payment directly to the landlord.

Landlords aren't required to accept the vouchers, leading to a concentration of voucher holders in poorer neighborhoods.

CMHA actively recruits landlords to enter the program.

The application for rental subsidies will be available online, through CMHA’s website.