Is this how Section 8 Works? (Chicago: low income, apartment complex, renters) - City-Data Forum

kamjah · 06-15-2009, 07:15 AM

alright so, my roomate and I were looking at a 2br in a high-rise, and we found out through online reviews that the building houses several section 8 voucher holders (along with a bunch of bad reviews). when we brought this up to the management, they told us that "it's not the section 8 that you are thinking" and told us that it's only floors 1-6 (out of 17 floors), and a requirement to live in the designated section 8 part of the building is that you need to be 60+ years old.

i then talked to my roommate who is a part-time realtor, and he basically told me that there is no such thing as different types of section 8 contracts, and that a building cannot discriminate who they take a section 8 voucher from.

so who's right here? my roommate has no motive to lie to me here (although he may be misinformed), but the people trying to get us to rent in their building do have a possible motive.

thanks

lenniel · 06-15-2009, 08:31 AM

What are the requirements for Section 8?

kamjah · 06-15-2009, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lenniel

What are the requirements for Section 8?

i'm not entirely sure, that's why i'm asking. based on the general information given on the HUD website though, it basically just says section 8 allows people with low incomes to receive assistance in paying for housing. i didn't see anything specifically relating to "elderly only" section 8.

and also, is an apartment high-rise allowed to have "section 8 only" sections of a building? reading through one of the larger section 8 discussion threads, i kinda got the notion that section 8 voucher holders have a right to privacy (aka, other people don't have to know that they have a voucher)

eevee · 06-15-2009, 10:24 AM

from what I remember, there's two basic types of Sec. 8: the voucher program that gives people a voucher for housing that can be used anywhere, even in other states, and project-based, where select units in a building are Section 8 and it's nontransferable. there are no vouchers involved w/ project based Sec 8 (I don't know if they can turn away voucher holders or not though. probably can since they have far more choices and can look elsewhere). I've known people who've won project based Sec 8 through lotteries held by HUD or BHA (the Boston Housing Authority). project based Sec 8 units are more typical in large apartment buildings or complexes. I don't know how it works in Chicago, but I recall hearing that in MA, complexes must set aside a certain number of units for low income housing. so it's very likely that almost any hi-rise you see in Boston may have a few low income/Sec 8 units set aside (of course he waiting list for the nice hi rises w/ the pools, fitness centers, and movie screens are likely closed for another century so you better hope you get in via a lottery!)

from my personal experience, I've heard of project based Section 8 only excepting certain groups of people. one apartment building, for example, had set aside a select number of units to rent out to people who were currently living in homeless shelters, group homes, or independent living groups (which are basically apartments run by a certain agency where clients live alone or w/ roommates but are checked up on daily). these units were not advertised and the only way one found out about it was through a case worker who deemed you "worthy" of living there (I know someone who got a unit there and she told me that the application process was MUCH faster than regular Sec 8 and it took her less than a year to get in). I've also heard of some building setting aside select units for the elderly, so your friend is wrong at that point

I do have issue w/ a building setting aside entire floors for Sec. vs select units. it's just corralling the "bad element" on certain floors, not much different from the projects, which I assume CHA was trying to avoid. it would be better if the Sec 8 units were not only spread across the property, but were not made obvious by other tenants (you shouldn't be able to tell which units are Sec 8 or who rents a Sec 8 apartment b/c it can lead to discrimination, IMHO), but I guess I can see it as a selling point to "ease the minds" of people who seem to think all Sec 8 people are rotten scum and living next to them exposes them to crime and disease

UICJohn · 06-15-2009, 10:30 AM

I can't say I know too much about Section 8 housing but I have read a lot of negative things about them. Also, my ex-girlfriend used to live near a building that had Section 8 housing in a really nice area of the city. However, all reviews on that building were bad and there were always some shady characters around that building. Personally, and this is just me, I would never live in a building that had any Section 8 housing.

eevee · 06-15-2009, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UICJohn

I can't say I know too much about Section 8 housing but I have read a lot of negative things about them. Also, my ex-girlfriend used to live near a building that had Section 8 housing in a really nice area of the city. However, all reviews on that building were bad and there were always some shady characters around that building. Personally, and this is just me, I would never live in a building that had any Section 8 housing.

well, people tend to only leave reviews if they had a bad experience so I would never go just by online apartment reviews (at least go down there yourself and ask the people who live there)

like I said before, chances are, at least in MA, that MOST complexes that contain a certain number of units will likely have Sec 8 that you may not know about, so if you want to live in a complex or hi-rise, there's no escaping them. not all Sec 8 people are scum and if these are only 60+ Sec 8 units, they're bound to be better than many other types of tenants, even non Sec 8 families. I wouldn't not take an apartment in a complex simply b/c there were a few Sec 8 units mixed in

UICJohn · 06-15-2009, 10:43 AM

The part about leaving comments is definitely true so I will agree on that.

Again, I'm not too sure about this, but I thought that is a hi-rise or an apartment complex of any kind allowed Section 8 housing, they HAD to tell any potential renters or buyers?

kamjah · 06-15-2009, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eevee

well, people tend to only leave reviews if they had a bad experience so I would never go just by online apartment reviews (at least go down there yourself and ask the people who live there)

like I said before, chances are, at least in MA, that MOST complexes that contain a certain number of units will likely have Sec 8 that you may not know about, so if you want to live in a complex or hi-rise, there's no escaping them. not all Sec 8 people are scum and if these are only 60+ Sec 8 units, they're bound to be better than many other types of tenants, even non Sec 8 families. I wouldn't not take an apartment in a complex simply b/c there were a few Sec 8 units mixed in

i agree here too, and always take online reviews with a grain of salt. people are much more likely to complain than they are to go online and rave about how good a place is. and also, the most recent review i came across was in 2007. so it's not exactly recent.

i'm just trying to get a solid overall idea of what we are committing to.

thank you guys for all the input thus far.

loudes13 · 06-15-2009, 02:24 PM

I'm trying to get Section 8 for my mother. She's in her 60's, has very little savings, and very small income. According to HUD they don't do vouchers for new applicants any more. She is supposed to apply at S8 supported apt complexes and wait until there is an opening. The voucher would be a lot easier.

Organized Mess · 06-15-2009, 06:14 PM

Your roomate is right. Every building in Chicago has to take section 8 and cannot discriminate. The management company is just trying to put a spin on it.