Humboldt residents who are eligible for section program benefits can rejoice as the waiting list for the program has been re-opened. The eligible applicants can submit their applications to the Housing Authority of the county of Homboldt(HACH) . The applicants who are accepted will become eligible for the section 8 Housing choice voucher program which can help them in finding places to live through the private market. The program will favor working families, Senior citizens (Age 62 and above) persons with disability, veterans and residents of the Humboldt county in that order.
The Section 8 housing programs will benefit several families and is sort of like grants for moms and it has been designed to assist the very poor, elderly and persons with disability to find housing. The demand for affordable housing is climbing and the current housing crisis is making matters worse. People have become unemployed due to the economic climate and families are being pushed into poverty. Programs such as the section 8 and welfare programs help families stay afloat while they try to get back on their feet. The eligibility criteria for this program are clearly defined and applications are accepted at certain times only. A notice needs to be issued before the program stops accepting new applications. People who qualify are placed on waiting lists and they start receiving vouchers once a spot opens on the list.
The section 8 program is witnessing cutbacks and this has caused shortages for several counties. The programs running costs are sometimes not met with. New guidelines are to be issued which will help in dealing with budget cuts. Families will continue to receive their vouchers but there may be a tightening of the eligibility criteria. The housing program works by paying the difference between the agreed rent and the assisted households rental contribution, which usually 30-40% of the households income.