Rental Assistance and Affordable Housing Efforts
The Section 8 Rental Assistance Program | Fair Housing | Affordable Housing

SECTION 8 HOUSING

Under the program, we help pay part of the rent for an eligible family. Unlike public housing programs, private landlords own the housing. The family must find an apartment that they want to live in, that meets the housing quality standards, and where the landlord agrees to accept a portion of the rent from the government and a portion from the family. 

Who Is Eligible?

You may be eligible for help under this program if you meet the requirements. First, you must fit at least one of the following: you are 62 years of age or older, AND/OR you are handicapped or disabled, AND/OR you are pregnant AND/OR are a low income individual or two or more persons intending to share a residence.

If you fit one of the above definitions, your income per year needs to be at or below the following figures:

Many more people are eligible than we can help at one time. For this reason, we have a waiting list. 

Funds are limited and we cannot serve the next person until someone goes off the program, so we maintain a waiting list. If it appears from your pre-application that you may qualify for the program, your name will be placed on the waiting list. This is not a guarantee that you qualify for the Housing Assistance Program. We will not know that until we review and verify proof of your income, family composition, and other information.

Our waiting list is maintained on a first come, first served basis. Those who qualify in the following categories will be given priority. We first help those who are:

(1) Working and living within Westminster city limits.

(2) Working within Westminster city limits, but living outside Westminster city limits.

(3) Elderly or Disabled and living within Westminster city limits.

(4) Elderly or Disabled working within Westminster city limits, but living outside Westminster city limits.

(5) Participant or graduate of a job training program and living within Westminster city limits.

When your name comes to the top of our waiting list, we will notify you by mail. It is, therefore, very important you promptly notify us of any new address.

How Do I Apply?

Call the City of Westminster Office of Housing and Community Development at (410) 848-2261 or 876-6322 Monday through Friday between 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM to request that a preliminary application be mailed to you. You may come to our office at 56 West Main Street, Winchester West Building, Westminster, Maryland 21157 between those hours and fill out a preliminary application in the office, or you may reach us via email and request an application be mailed to you. When we receive the completed application, you will be put on the bottom of the waiting list. We will send you a letter telling you that we have your application, and about how long the wait will be until you can be helped by us.

How Long Will I Have To Wait To Be Helped?

We only have enough money to help a certain number of people at one time. The program is "full" now. That means no one can receive help until a family on the program gives up their assistance. No one can receive a voucher until their name comes to the top of the waiting list. 

You may call the City of Westminster Office of Housing and Community Development, give us your name and we will tell you how many people are ahead of you on that waiting list. We will give you an APPROXIMATE waiting time but we cannot give exact times of when you will be helped, since we do not know when a family may go off the program. When your name comes to the top of a waiting list, we will send a letter to you at the most recent address given on your preliminary application.

How much will I have to pay each month if I participate in the program?

Basically, you will pay 30% of your "adjusted" annual income for rent and utilities each year. This is what the government thinks you can afford. It is rare that we pay all of someone's rent.

What do I do if I need immediate assistance?

Call Human Services Programs of Carroll County, Inc. at 857-2999. They may be able to help with utility bills, rent, food, emergency shelter, energy assistance, medical assistance, or other emergencies.