Learning how to apply for Section 8 housing in Kansas goes beyond simply submitting a Section 8 application. For low-income families, understanding how to sign up for Section 8 should include information such as when is the right time to submit an application, as well as how to check the status of an application. Applicants who seek to register for Section 8 housing program benefits should first establish if they meet the eligibility criteria set forth from the Public Housing Agency (PHA), as well as the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). For instance, applicants who wish to sign up for HUD housing in Kansas must meet income eligibility requirements prior to even submitting a Section 8 application.

Learn When to Submit HUD Section 8 Applications in Kansas

An important part of learning how to apply for housing assistance in Kansas is understanding the enrollment periods for each PHA office. A common misconception regarding how to sign up for Section 8 involves the notion that a Section 8 application can simply be submitted when the applicant chooses. Such is not the case. Applicants who wish to register for Section 8 housing program benefits must first check with the chosen PHA office to see if they are accepting applications. For example, Kansas has various housing authorities in the program, but applicants can only sign up for HUD housing at a handful which remain open. The opportunity to register for Section 8 housing program benefits depends on the chosen office, whether or not they are open for applications and if the eligibility criteria required is met by the applicant. For instance, applicants cannot sign up for HUD housing through PHAs that have been closed to new applications. However, other housing authorities will take an application as long as their programs are open. It is important to understand that simply because an applicant submits a Section 8 application through an open PHA office, it does not guarantee a fast turnaround time, nor does it guarantee approval into the Section 8 program. Find out what factors may make an applicant ineligible for Section 8 benefits by downloading our guide.

Learn How to Sign up for Section 8 Benefits in Kansas

Depending on where an applicant chooses to sign up for HUD housing in Kansas, that will be the foundation for how to apply for housing assistance within the area. Applicants who register for Section 8 housing program assistance should first decide where they wish to live in Kansas and then find out if the PHA office is accepting applications. Once confirmed, an applicant can then sign up for HUD housing based on the guidelines provided. While some PHA offices allow a Section 8 application to be submitted online, others may not have online capabilities. For instance, the Topeka Housing office, when open, has only two options to register for Section 8 housing program benefits: by visiting the office to complete a one-page preliminary application or by calling or visiting to ask for a pre-application to be mailed. After submitting a Section 8 application and being approved, then an interview and lengthier application will be required. After a Section 8 application is approved, the PHA office will request specific documentation as part of the secondary application procedures. Adult members of the household who sign up for HUD housing will need to visit the PHA office for an in-person meeting as part of the application process. Other documents to bring to the Section 8 application interview include:

• Photo ID for all adults.
• Social Security cards for each member of the household.
• Birth certificates for all household members.
• Proof of custody if the applicant is not the sole parent.
• Income verification for every source of income in the household, such as most recent bank statements.

Adult applicants who seek to register for a Section 8 housing program in Kansas may also need to be subject to a background check, credit check and provide references from previous landlords, if available.

Learn How to Check the Status of Your Section 8 Application in Kansas

After applicants learn how to apply for housing assistance in Kansas and a preliminary application is submitted, they often wonder what the next steps are. Checking the status of a Section 8 application is often difficult, especially when the process was not completed online. For applicants who sign up for HUD housing online, they are usually able to sign back into the dashboard to verify any status updates to their application. It is difficult to know exactly when a PHA office will notify applicants of approval or denial, especially when one waitlist can be lengthier than others. However, the status of a Section 8 application may be checked by emailing the local PHA office. It is important for those who sign up for HUD housing to keep abreast of any changes in income, household size, current address and such. Applicants can email their local PHA office to update any information for their Section 8 application in order to keep their file current and as accurate as possible. Applicants who register for Section 8 housing program benefits with the Topeka Housing Authority who do not report any necessary changes to their Section 8 application within 30 days of the change may be considered fraudulent and will have their housing assistance revoked. To learn how to make updates and changes to an application in progress, download our comprehensive guide.