Waiting List last open three years ago in February 2011; 1,000 households to be added through lottery drawing.
Kingston, NY, November 1, 2014 -- RUPCO, the Hudson Valley’s regional housing innovator, announced this week that its Rental Assistance Department is accepting applications for the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) Program Waiting List. Open enrollment for eligible households starts Monday, November 17 through Friday, December 12.
The program, underwritten by the Federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Department, and delivered through the New York State Homes and Community Development (NYS HCR), provides rental assistance for very low-income families. This funding enables people with limited income to choose and lease safe, affordable, privately owned, rental housing. The last time the Housing Choice Voucher Waiting List was open was February 2011. Applications for random lottery selection will be accepted only between November 17, 2014 and December 12, 2014.
“The Housing Choice Voucher Program is the cornerstone of our Rental Assistance activities,” said RUPCO CEO, Kevin O’Connor. “We currently assist over 1,400 Ulster County families every month. With 125 families on our existing Wait List, we’re able to add new applicants so we will be ready to go when funding becomes available. Unfortunately, the number of vouchers available is limited and exceeds the number of those needing assistance. There will still be a significant time lag for most families needing housing assistance, but it is worth the wait. If you need help paying your rent, and meet the income criteria, this might be the program for you.” O’Connor said RUPCO is expecting 2,000 individuals and families to apply during the 30-day period. A random-drawing lottery system will determine which 1,000 applicants are added to the Waiting List.
Vanessa Secore, RUPCO’s Rental Assistance Director said Ulster County individuals and families earning 50% or less of the area median income are eligible to apply. “For a family of four to be eligible, they must have a household income of $35,650 (or less). To apply, you can currently live in any county. People interested in the Housing Choice Voucher Waiting List can get an application in one of three ways. You can pick up an applications in-person at RUPCO’s main office at 289 Fair Street, Kingston between 9 a.m. and 4p.m. starting Monday, November 17, 2014, through Friday, December 12, 2014. You can also download an application packet from the RUPCO website, www.rupco.org. Lastly, and new this year, we’re holding three Open House Application Support Days at The Kirkland, 2 Main Street, Kingston on Monday, November 17, Friday, November 21 and Thursday, December 11 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. We expect a large turnout and hope people will come with questions. As part of the application, eligibility verification is required, and applicants will need to submit proof of residency as part of their paperwork.”
Completed applications can be mailed to the RUPCO office or returned in person between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. “The application period closes at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, December 12, 2014; any application received in the RUPCO office after 4:30 pm on December 12 will be ineligible,” adds Secore. “People mailing applications should leave extra time for their applications to arrive. No faxed or emailed applications will be accepted.”
Applications are then entered into a random lottery drawing to be conducted after December 12. The first 1,000 applications selected from the lottery will be added to the Waiting List. “Applicants will be notified by mail either way whether they were selected for the Waiting List or not,” says Secore. “Additionally, getting on the Waiting List doesn’t guarantee you will receive a Housing Choice Voucher right away. It’s a process and we will contact those on the Waiting List as funding is available and households leave the Program. Also, the 125 applicants currently on the Waiting List don’t need to re-apply.”
RUPCO is the region’s leading provider and advocate of quality, affordable housing and community development programs aimed to provide opportunity and revitalize communities. For more than 30 years, RUPCO has worked to create homes, support people and improve communities through supportive housing and related programs. For more information on RUPCO, visit www.rupco.org.