Copyright AL.com
From Nov. 5 to Nov. 7, the Bessemer Housing Authority will open their Housing Choice Voucher Program, Section 8, wait list for the first time since 2016. Established in 1960, the Bessemer Housing Authority provides safe and affordable housing for low and moderate income families, the elderly and people with disabilities. Section 8 is a federal rental assistance program where participants pay about 30% of their income toward rent and utilities while the housing authority covers the rest. “When you have stable housing, you have a stable household…We want to make sure our community has access to that,” Tomeka Robinson, a Bessemer Housing Authority spokesperson, said. The Bessemer Housing Authority is authorized to administer 473 Housing Choice Vouchers. Applications are only accepted when the housing authority opens its wait list. Applications should be submitted online. Paper applications will be available as an accommodation for elderly or people with disabilities. All applicants must meet income limits and other program requirements as established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Bessemer Housing Authority. Eligibility requirements: Meet HUD income limits for the area. Pass background/criminal history check. You cannot owe money to the housing authority. Provide all required documentation such as IDs, birth certificates and proof of income. Have a valid email address. Assistance for applications will be available at the Bessemer Civic Center on Wednesday, Nov. 5, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Thursday, Nov. 6 from 1 to 4 p.m. For additional assistance, call 205-481-4420 or email section8@besha.org. Submission of an application does not guarantee placement on the waiting list or eligibility for housing assistance. Wait times vary from months to years, depending on demand and voucher availability. Bessemer only issues vouchers as funds are available. Applicants are chosen through a lottery method to ensure that every applicant has an equal chance of being selected when the wait list is opened. Applicants selected will need to submit all required paperwork, receive a voucher if approved, find a rental unit that meets program standards, sign a lease and housing assistance contract and pay their share of rent monthly. The Bessemer Housing Authority also provides supportive services to participants. “We don’t just come in just to house you, but we also wrap around additional services that provide support to help sustain and lead to a thriving lifestyle, and also to be able to address barriers and issues that may come up so individuals can accelerate and go towards self-sufficiency,” Robinson said.
