Nassau County Office of Housing

Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program: Waiting List Application

Waiting List Application - Lottery 2021

The Nassau County Office of Housing will be accepting applications for the Housing Choice Voucher and Project-Based Voucher Program (Section 8) waiting list beginning on JUNE 21, 2021 at 9AM and closing on JULY 2, 2021 at 4:45PM. Disabled non-elderly families may be eligible for Mainstream Vouchers.

Applications are only available online. The only exception to this rule is if a disabled applicant requires a reasonable accommodation to apply. Besides reasonable accommodations, if an applicant cannot complete the application on their own, they may have another person (like a social worker) complete the application on their behalf.

This application does not guarantee receiving a voucher.

Nassau County Office of Housing will conduct a lottery for applicants and will randomly select 2,500 households for placement on the waitlist. Nassau County will then contact the 2,500 households to submit a full application for assistance, including documentation of current income, as vouchers become available.

Priority will be given to households at-risk of or experiencing homelessness, households who identify as elderly and/or disabled, and households with dependent children.

Submitting an application does not guarantee placement on the waitlist or receipt of a voucher.

Nassau County Office of Housing reserves the right to adjust the terms listed here, including the dates for opening and closing the waitlist, as necessary. Additional terms and conditions may apply.

What do I need to Apply (for all household members)?
  • Name
  • Email address (one per household)
  • Telephone number
  • Date of Birth
  • Social Security Number, Taxpayer ID or Alien Registration Number as applicable
  • Current Household Income (gross)
  • Number of Household Members
How the Lottery Works

Applicants must apply while the waitlist is open. 2,500 households for the waitlist will be selected through a lottery. Those selected for the waitlist will be offered a voucher as one becomes available and will be subject to additional eligibility screening. Additional terms and conditions may apply. Applying does not guarantee a voucher.

Who Can Apply?

Only one (1) application per household will be permitted. Families selected for the waiting list will receive notification from The Office of Housing.

TO BE ELIGIBLE:

  1. The Head of Household must be at least 18 years of age or an emancipated minor according to NY State law; AND
  2. The household must be income eligible. Refer to table below; AND
  3. The household must meet immigration requirements.
    • The Head of Household, or at least one member of the applicant’s household, must be a U.S. citizen, a legal permanent resident, or have another eligible immigration status; AND
  4. The household must reside in Nassau County OR they must agree to reside within Nassau County for the first 12 months after receiving a voucher.
Persons in Household Gross Income
1 $ 45,500
2 $ 52,000
3 $ 58,500
4 $ 64,950
5 $ 70,150
6 $ 75,350
7 $ 80,550
8 $85,750

Please note that income limits are updated annually. Families must be income eligible during the year they are called from the waiting list.

Frequently Asked Questions

Program Information

What is the Housing Choice Voucher Program?

The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program, commonly known as Section 8, is a federal program designed to provide rental assistance to low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Through the HCV Program, Nassau County Office of Housing pays a portion of eligible families’ rent each month directly to the Property Owner/Manager/Landlord.

How do I apply for the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8)?

Nassau County Office of Housing will accept lottery applications for the wait list for the HCV Program between 9:00 AM, June 21, 2021 through 4:45 PM on July 2, 2021. Applications are available on Nassau County Office of Housing website: https://app.nassaucountyny.gov/housing/hcv/

If you have a disability, to request a reasonable accommodation to submit or complete an application, please call 516-572-1922, TTY # 516-572-2369, Monday through Friday, 9 AM – 4:45 PM

What is a Tenant-Based Voucher?

Tenant-based Vouchers provide rental assistance for families in the private rental market. The voucher is provided to applicants and then can choose any housing that meets the requirements of the program.

The Office of Housing pays a portion of contracted rent in the form of a housing assistance payment to the landlord on behalf of the participant. The Participant pays the remaining rent, an amount that is roughly equivalent to 30% of their monthly income, and the utility expenses.

What is a Project-Based Voucher?

Project-Based Vouchers provide rental assistance that is tied to a specific apartment unit in a property contracted with the Housing Authority. The Office of Housing has Project-Based Vouchers located throughout Nassau County. If you are selected for a Project Based Voucher, you will be contacted to determine if you are eligible for the specific building where the voucher is located. You must live in that building for at least one year. Applying for or declining a Project-Based Voucher will not affect your placement on the Tenant-based Voucher list. It is your choice whether to opt-in to the Project-Based Voucher list(s).

What is a Mainstream Voucher?

Mainstream vouchers assist non-elderly persons with disabilities who are transitioning out of institutional or other segregated setting, at serious risk of institutionalization, homeless, or at risk of homelessness. If at least one person in the household is disabled and under age 62, the family may be screened for eligibility for a Mainstream voucher. There are only a limited number of Mainstream vouchers.

What are the eligibility requirements to be admitted into Nassau County Office of Housing’s HCV Program?

To be eligible to receive a voucher, you must meet the following requirements at the time you are selected from the Waitlist:

  • You must be 18 years of age or older, or an emancipated minor according to NYS law.
  • Your household income must meet income guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for Nassau County. Maximum income guidelines may not exceed the low-income limit as determined by HUD annually.
  • You must meet all the eligibility guidelines found in the New York State Homes and Community Renewal Statewide Section 8 Voucher Program Administrative Plan
  • When selected from the Waitlist, you will be required to provide additional information to verify the data you supplied when applying. The Office of Housing will verify your data and, in most cases, will require documentation to demonstrate that you are eligible.

False information provided during the screening process may result in you being ineligible for any Office of Housing programs.

I am disabled and need help filling out my application, what do I do?

Applications are only available online. The only exception to this rule is if a disabled applicant requires a reasonable accommodation to apply. Besides reasonable accommodations, if an applicant cannot complete the application on their own, they may have another person (like a social worker) complete the application on their behalf.

To request a reasonable accommodation to submit or complete an application please call 516-572-1922, TTY # 516-572-2369, Monday through Friday, 9 AM – 4:45 PM

Application Questions

Is there a cost to submit an application for the Waiting List?

No. There is no cost to apply for the waitlist. Illegitimate websites charge fees to submit an application and may require debit/credit card information to apply for a voucher. These false websites may claim that this information is needed for a credit check to submit an application for a housing voucher. Additionally, please do not provide personal information to anyone claiming he or she can guarantee a spot on the waiting list, improve your chances of selection for the waiting list, or ensure that you will receive any benefits from the Office of Housing. This is a scam and could lead to possible identity theft.

Can more than one person in my household submit an application?

Yes. A head of household cannot submit more than one application, but a different head of household can submit another application for a different household composition. For example, Grandmother can submit an application for a household with Adult Son and Grandson. Separately, if Adult Son wants to move out, Adult Son can submit an application for him and Grandson. Each head of household must be 18 years of age or older, or an emancipated minor according to NYS law.

What if a child is trying to leave their parents’ home? Can they apply as a single individual? Can single adults in need of rent payment assistance apply?

Yes.

What are the income limits used to determine eligibility?

Eligibility is based upon income limits established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Persons in Household Gross Income
1 $ 45,500
2 $ 52,000
3 $ 58,500
4 $ 64,950
5 $ 70,150
6 $ 75,350
7 $ 80,550
8 $85,750

The income limit is based on your gross income, before taxes are taken out.

Will the extra $300 from unemployment be counted as income?

No. Pandemic unemployment ($300) is not included towards household income for the HCV program. Federal stimulus checks are also not included as income.

Do I need to be homeless to apply?

No. You may apply if you meet all the eligibility criteria listed. If you declare on your application that you are homeless, program rules require the applicant provide or obtain written verification from a coordinating shelter, housing provider, service agency or institution (for those being discharged) confirming the same. This will be collected at the eligibility appointment, for those who are selected and called in for a voucher.

Can I apply for the Waiting List if I was previously terminated from the program?

Yes. You will not be prohibited from submitting an application; however, when you are selected for the Waiting List, your application will be reviewed in accordance with the Office of Housing’s eligibility and screening criteria, which may include a review of your previous participation in a housing assistance program.

Can I be selected for the Waiting List if I am on another program’s waiting list?

Yes. It is possible to be selected from more than one Waiting List.

I am not a US citizen. Am I eligible to apply?

Yes. You do not have to be a United States citizen to apply for public or subsidized housing. Lawful permanent residents and certain categories of other noncitizens may apply. An applicant family without any citizens or members with eligible immigration status is not eligible for assistance. If one member of your household fits into any of the categories below, your whole family can apply to the program.

  • A citizen born in the United States
  • A naturalized citizen
  • A lawful permanent resident (Green card holder)
  • A registry immigrant (admitted for permanent residence by the U.S. Attorney General and eligible for citizenship)
  • A refugee or an asylee
  • A conditional entrant
  • A parolee
  • A withholding grantee
  • A person granted 1986 amnesty status
  • A resident of the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, or Guam
  • A victim of trafficking or relatives of such a victim
Can I apply for Section 8 housing if some members of my family are not U.S. citizens and do not have a lawful immigration status?

Yes. You can apply to the program if at least one member of your household is a citizen, a legal permanent resident (green card holder) or eligible noncitizen (see the list above of eligible noncitizens). Households that include people with both eligible and ineligible immigration status are called mixed households. For example, if you do not have legal immigration status but your child was born in the United States and is a U.S. citizen, you have a mixed household.

If you have a mixed household, you will be eligible, but only for pro-rated assistance based on the number of members in your household who are U.S. citizens or have eligible immigration status. This may reduce your ability to receive assistance if the rent is too high to afford.

Can I apply if I have criminal record?

You may apply, but all adult family members will be subject to a criminal background check upon selection and may be denied in accordance with the Office of Housing’s eligibility and screening criteria. You must disclose all criminal convictions in your application. False information provided during the screening process may result in you being ineligible for any Office of Housing programs.

Can applicants who applied decades ago and did not receive it, apply again?

Yes.

What happens after I apply for the Waiting List Lottery?

Everyone who successfully submitted an application and who provided a working email will receive notification by email to inform them that their application was submitted. Applicants who are selected for the list from the lottery will be notified in writing. Those applicants will be called in for vouchers as they become available. Please note that if you are selected in the lottery, it may be years before you are called in for a voucher. Successfully submitting an application does not guarantee that you will be selected for the list or receive a voucher. The Office of Housing will not be held responsible for notifications that were either rejected due to an inaccurate email address or were not read due to an applicant’s email settings and is under no obligation to re-issue a notification.

If my application is selected for the Waiting List, will I lose my spot on another waiting list?

No. If your application is selected to be included on the Nassau County Waiting List and you get notified for another Waiting List first, you will keep your spot on the other Waiting List. Even if you reject assistance from one program, you can keep your spot on the other Waiting List.

Can I apply if I am already on the Waiting List for another Housing Authority?

Yes. Being on any other Waiting List, does not automatically place you on Nassau County’s Waiting List. There are many Public Housing Authorities on Long Island that are run by Towns and Villages that are not affiliated with Nassau County Office of Housing. You may also apply if you are on the Waiting List in New York City, Suffolk County, etc, but you must reside in Nassau County for at least one year if you are selected.

If I am selected, can I use the voucher for my current apartment?

Yes. if the apartment meets all eligibility criteria, such as the Housing Quality Standards inspection and reasonable rent. The landlord will need to fill out paperwork and be approved as compliant with rules and regulations of the Section 8 program. The landlord must not be a family member of the applicant. However, the voucher will only apply after you receive it and complete the voucher leasing process. The voucher cannot be applied to previous rental arrears.