Need affordable housing? Bergen County to open Section 8 waitlist May 16-20
Bergen County is opening its online Section 8 waitlist next week for low-income families seeking housing assistance in most Bergen County towns.
Eligible families can file to be considered for a Housing Choice Voucher starting at 9 a.m. on Monday at www.habcnjs8waitlist.org through 11:59 p.m. on Friday. The program covers all municipalities in the county except Englewood, Fort Lee, Cliffside Park, Edgewater and Lodi.
Those needing assistance to fill out the forms or families without internet access can visit the housing authority on the second floor of One Bergen County Plaza in Hackensack between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Monday through Thursday.
A voucher subsidizes a family's rent depending on the household income and size, so voucher holders pay no more than 30% to 40% of their income on rent and utilities, with the remainder funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Families can use a voucher on any apartment that meets the program guidelines and passes required inspections — unlike a public housing complex where reduced rents are limited to a specific building.
To qualify for a voucher, a household in Bergen County must earn less than the following amount of money in a year, depending on the size of the family:
Family of one: $42,850
Family of two: $49,000
Family of three: $55,100
Family of four: $61,200
Family of five: $66,100
Family of six: $71,000
Family of seven: $75,900
Family of eight: $80,800
The Housing Authority of Bergen County will randomly select 350 families through a lottery, and reveal results after May 24 at www.waitlistcheck.com. Those chosen will be placed on the waiting list in order of preference:
Veterans and surviving spouses
Leasing in place in Bergen County
Senior, working, training or disabled in Bergen County
Bergen County resident
Senior, working, training or disabled outside of Bergen County
All other applicants
Bergen County aims to give people on the waiting list a voucher within three years, a goal based on recent federal funding levels, said Lynn Bartlett, executive director of the agency.
Actually obtaining a voucher is not a guarantee a family will automatically find a home where they can use it. New Jersey renters can still experience roadblocks, such as finding landlords who agree to participate or a wealth of apartments with rents above what a housing authority is willing to subsidize and a renter can afford.
NJ evictions: My NJ landlord filed for eviction. Now what?
For subscribers: How much can NJ landlords increase rent? The answer varies
While it is illegal to reject a housing application because a renter would pay with a voucher, landlords can use other means to deny approval, such as credit scores and past evictions on background checks.
Families can only submit one application per household, and the housing authority will not accept written or faxed applications. Applicants must be 18 years or older, or an emancipated minor.
Documents proving an applicant's income or identification are not required for the pre-application step, but the housing authority refused to provide information about what is on the form.
"In order for the offering and selection to be fair and equitable we cannot share the pre-app with anyone before the date on the advertisement," Bartlett said.
Online applications are available in English, Spanish and Korean.
Families chosen will be required to complete forms that prove their income and whether they are in a preferred category, such as a veteran or disabled, and complete a background check.
Once they receive a voucher, families have 60 days to find an apartment, but can apply for extensions. The voucher does not come with a set value, but the housing authority gives a family the maximum subsidy it will pay.
To calculate what you might be expected to pay in rent with a voucher, visit https://www.habcnj.org/rent_calculator/index.php.
It is illegal for a landlord to deny a family's rental application because they are paying with a housing subsidy under the state Law Against Discrimination. To file a complaint against a landlord, visit NJCivilRights.gov or call 973-648-2700.
Ashley Balcerzak is a reporter covering affordable housing and its intersection of how we live in New Jersey. For unlimited access to her work, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
Email: balcerzaka@northjersey.com
Twitter: @abalcerzak
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Affordable housing in NJ: Bergen to open Section 8 waitlist May 16
