How do you find section 8 housing in NYC? (Amsterdam, Newark: 2009, renters)

[DAS]

I guess I'm a little more liberal, I prefer my tax dollars going to those in need. I resent it going to cooperate welfare and the resulting CEO bonuses, and perks.

[Dorian]

I would like to have a place with section 8 because I have a voucher here and just to make sure I won't be living on the streets in the NYC area. I'm coming to the area for school and want the security that I will have a good chance to get familiar with the area and find a job(hopefully within a month) and be sure I won't be getting evicted. I am expecting a bit of culture shock and to be a little lost at first. I know with the economy like it is that realistically it could take a couple months to find a job. That's why I am looking for section 8, but I am looking at regular rentals also if you know of any areas that aren't that dangerous and are reasonably priced.

[Irish Eyes]

How much time have you spent in NYC? Moving there without a job is a very, very bad idea. There are A LOT of people out of work and more losing their jobs every day. I don't think you're being realistic. As a potential renter a landlord will be seeing you as jobless and on public assitance. Would YOU rent to that person if you had a choice? Find a job first because there is no guarantee you're even going to find one once you get here.

[A_Better_Bronx_2morrow]

Originally Posted by Irish Eyes

How much time have you spent in NYC? Moving there without a job is a very, very bad idea. There are A LOT of people out of work and more losing their jobs every day. I don't think you're being realistic. As a potential renter a landlord will be seeing you as jobless and on public assitance. Would YOU rent to that person if you had a choice? Find a job first because there is no guarantee you're even going to find one once you get here.

Irish eyes is right. If I see that you're on section 8, unemployeed and on welfare, theres no way I'm gonna rent you one of my apartments. I'll be shooting myself in the foot if I did.

Number 1, you wouldn't meet the income requirement neccessary to qualify for one of my apartments, number 2, there are a whole lot of "bad apple" people that are on section 8 and PA that give good people with the same assistance a bad name.

Also keep in mind that renting an apartment means you're in competition with other steady WORKING, steady income people who most likely have more qualifications than you do financially which looks more attractive to a landlord.

[Rusty_Shackleford]

It's illegal for landlords to not rent to you because you have Section 8 or discriminate based on your source of income in NYC now, if the landlord owns more than 5 apartments or something like that. But they do it anyway. A few landlords currently are being sued for it (there is a Times article about it). It's common for a voucher holder to either run out of time to find an apartment, or have to find an apartment outside of the city. If you have a voucher and have bad credit, you probably have next to no chance of finding a place in the city.

The most common areas in the city for vouchers I see in ads are the Bronx and Staten Island.

Originally Posted by A_Better_Bronx_2morrow

Number 1, you wouldn't meet the income requirement neccessary to qualify for one of my apartments,

Why not? The whole point of the voucher is it proves that they meet the income requirement. By definition, they're only paying 30% of their income towards rent. On the other hand, if you get a non voucher tenant, what if they lose their job, or find a lower paying job? Then they can't afford the rent...

[Dorian]

Originally Posted by Rusty_Shackleford

It's illegal for landlords to not rent to you because you have Section 8 or discriminate based on your source of income in NYC now, if the landlord owns more than 5 apartments or something like that. But they do it anyway. A few landlords currently are being sued for it (there is a Times article about it). It's common for a voucher holder to either run out of time to find an apartment, or have to find an apartment outside of the city. If you have a voucher and have bad credit, you probably have next to no chance of finding a place in the city.

The most common areas in the city for vouchers I see in ads are the Bronx and Staten Island.



Why not? The whole point of the voucher is it proves that they meet the income requirement. By definition, they're only paying 30% of their income towards rent. On the other hand, if you get a non voucher tenant, what if they lose their job, or find a lower paying job? Then they can't afford the rent...

Thank you, that's what I always say to people, section 8 is guaranteed rent payed every month and with the economy like it is not to many jobs are totally stable.

[Dorian]

Originally Posted by A_Better_Bronx_2morrow

Irish eyes is right. If I see that you're on section 8, unemployeed and on welfare, theres no way I'm gonna rent you one of my apartments. I'll be shooting myself in the foot if I did.

Number 1, you wouldn't meet the income requirement neccessary to qualify for one of my apartments, number 2, there are a whole lot of "bad apple" people that are on section 8 and PA that give good people with the same assistance a bad name.

Also keep in mind that renting an apartment means you're in competition with other steady WORKING, steady income people who most likely have more qualifications than you do financially which looks more attractive to a landlord.

I got you, I don't really expect it to be easy to get a place, but I would think it would be easier to at least find places to apply for. I know what you mean about the "bad apples" they do make it hard for everybody. But for what you said about steady working, how am I suppose to be steady working when I am moving to a different city? I can't take my job from here with me, do you think a landlord will still hold that against me?

[SobroGuy]

Dorian I am a Bronx Landlord (in the South Bronx specifically) and I can tell you that the Bronx historically was very welcoming to government programs like section 8. Times have changed dramatically since then. In my area alone (mott haven) none of my neighbors accept section 8 Tenants for a few reason: 1- Nobody want to deal with the monumental bureaucracy (i.e. the city) of accepting a Section 8 Tenants, like weeding through the endless homeless people, formerly evicted Tenants, deadbeats, etc. 2-The Bronx is attracting regular working class folks, and homeowners in general would rather have a couple of working people than a family of people who do not work and do nothing. 3-Many Landlords that are focused on making money have now turned to renting rooms instead of the whole apt, so those 3 and 4 bedroom apts for rent are becoming rare, as they are now rented as rooms for $150/week and up. 4-It is a big fat lie that rents are guaranteed, as all it takes is a complaint by Tenants about something or another, an inspector shows up and suspends payments..and good luck dealing with the city trying to get rent reinstated and the back rent too. Forget about the Tenant paying out of the pocket for anything..you are now stuck. And if this is what is happening in the Bronx, South Bronx in particular, I can imagine it is impossible anywhere in the other boroughs..and the situationis getting worse..not better. I would recommend taking your voucher out of the city..you will have a better qualilty of life and still can be reasonably close to NYC.

[Joe Freeman]

Landlords have a tendency to be highly un-educated... If a landlord owns a building with 5 or more units it is illegal for him to discriminate against section 8. The usa is expected to lose 3,000,000 more jobs this year, so if the law doesn't stop discrimination maybe the economy will... Landlords, get educated!!!

[Joe Freeman]

In CT and NJ, it is illegal to discriminate against anyone with LAWFUL INCOME. So, in CT a landlord cannot say that he doesn't accept Section 8 to anyone without facing a possible Lawsuit.