For the first time in over a decade, Baltimore City is opening the waiting list for “Section 8” Housing Choice vouchers. Unfortunately it will be open for just 9 days, after which it will close again for the next 6 years. We expect that upwards of 100,000 will attempt to apply during this very brief application window. Want to help? Read below!
Health Care for the Homeless is seeking volunteers to assist clients with applying to be on the waiting list, during the application window from October 22-30.
Interested? Please fill out the form via this link or let contact HCH Volunteer Coordinator Patrick Diamond at pdiamond@hchmd.org.
The waiting list application is available online and at a few physical locations. Applying will be burdensome not only for people experiencing homelessness, but also for those with limited access to the internet.
Baltimore City will operate a limited number of physical sites where individuals can apply to be on the waiting list. To be clear, submitting this preliminary application does not guarantee that an applicant will receive a voucher.
Nevertheless, it is important that we work together to ensure that as many vulnerable people as possible apply. This is a concrete way that people in our community regain stable housing.
The Application Assister:
- Educates consumers of the necessity to apply to access a place on the waiting list.
- Guides consumers through the online application on the Housing Authority’s website.
- Explains that this application does not entitle the consumer to housing. Instead this application makes an individual eligible for a “lottery” for the newly reopened “Section 8” Housing Choice Voucher waiting list.
- Gathers the consumer’s most reliable mailing address. The Housing Authority will only notify beneficiaries via mail.
- Asks the HCH patients for permission to store their confirmation number in our electronic patient records.
- Provides receipt of application and conformation number to the consumer.
- Defaults to a paper application if technological issues occur.
Volunteers fluent in Spanish are particularly encouraged to participate. HCH will provide training sessions and instructions for all assisters.
