Do you know the Section 8 requirements for Kentucky as a low-income resident of the state? If the answer to that question is “no,” you are not the only resident who does not have all of the information that they may need. Designed as a way to help low income Americans through financial aid and specialized housing communities, Section 8 is also referred to as the U.S. government’s Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) initiative. In each state across America, HCVs are used in order to combat homelessness, as well as to allow low income families to live in certain types of homes and apartments than they may not otherwise be able to afford.
Learning about Section 8 qualifications in Kentucky does not have to be difficult, if you know where to look. As in many other states, Kentucky’s Section 8 program is regulated by the state’s Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) and the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD). These branches can be found in each Kentucky county and determine the precise housing rules and income limits for all Section 8 cases within their jurisdictions. This article will help low income residents discover ways to determine whether or not their families are eligible for Section 8 housing in the state.
Before determining your Section 8 income limits in Kentucky, it is critical to understand whether or not your family composition is eligible for coverage. The concept of the family is a very important distinction for the Kentucky HUD, because of how much families can vary across the country. As a person who makes an annual income, you may need to provide for any number of dependents, as well as pay the average expenses of living that all residents need to survive comfortably in the state. However, no matter how many people are in your family, even if it is just yourself, the Kentucky HUD will not exclude you for Section 8 based on that number. There are different requirements for families of all sizes, and different types of people can qualify as a household.
Your Section 8 eligibility in Kentucky is directly linked to the amount of money that is brought into your household every year. Section 8 housing assistance was designed to provide financial aid to low income residents who want a wider array of housing options than they might otherwise be able to afford. Therefore, if you or your family members make over a certain amount of income every year, you will not be eligible to receive this aid.
Each Kentucky county has its own local economy, and therefore its own median income level. Section 8 housing eligibility in the state is reliant on fitting into a number of categories, based on this median income level. These categories include:
Of course, each Kentucky county has its own costs of living, which can vary wildly between each other. For example, Jefferson County will often have a much higher median income level than other neighboring counties, simply because of the fact that it contains Louisville, a city with a high cost of living. You can determine your Section 8 income requirements in Kentucky by contacting your local KY HUD office in order to get the most up-to-date numbers and figures for your income bracket. However, some examples from 2018 include:
For most Kentucky Section 8 income guidelines, you may also need to factor in the amount of assets that you possess. These include non-cash items of a determined value, such as stocks, bonds, inheritances, insurance settlements, retirement savings accounts and more. It is generally a good idea to check with your local Kentucky HUD office to make sure that all of your income and assets are being considered when completing the Section 8 application process.
As is the case in other states, HUD housing requirements in Kentucky also account for citizenship status and Kentucky residency. According to HUD, “legal presence” is a term that refers to the legality of being and living in Kentucky. If you are in the United States illegally, you will not be able to prove your legal presence to the Kentucky HUD and get your Section 8 voucher. On the other hand, you can get a voucher by proving that you are:
Establishing how to qualify for Section 8 housing in Kentucky is also reliant on your current living situation. You will be unable to get Section 8 housing if you live in another unit and/or receive Section 8 assistance in another unit.
If you are still wondering, “Do I qualify for low income housing in Kentucky?” then there are other factors that you will need to consider. While your family status, annual household income and citizenship are all important details, you will also need to prove to the Kentucky HUD that you are a responsible or low-risk tenant for low income housing assistance. If you were evicted from a previous apartment for a drug crime in the past three years, or if you have multiple items on your criminal record that have led to past evictions, you may be unlikely to get Section 8 coverage. Different units and PHs can have slightly different tenant disqualification conditions. Your final Section 8 coverage eligibility in Kentucky will be decided by the HUD, who will look at all of your provided legal and personal documents carefully. As long as you have all of the right information in order, meet all of the eligibility requirements and appear to be responsible, you should be well on your way towards getting Section 8 housing in Kentucky.