Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) Open Enrollment

Nov. 1 – 15

Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) Open Enrollment

We are excited to announce the Housing Choice Voucher Program (formerly known as Section 8) will open for preliminary applications from Nov. 1 through 15.

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OPEN ENROLLMENT INFORMATION

  • The voucher open enrollment will reopen for 15 days only.
  • 15,000 applicants will be selected by lottery following the closure of the open enrollment period. This is not first-come-first-serve enrollment, so there is no need to rush and apply on the first day of the open enrollment period.
  • Applicants who are selected can expect to wait 1 to 2 years to be drawn from the waitlist for the housing assistance eligibility process.
  • If you’re already on the Section 8 waitlist, you do not need to reapply.
  • There is no cost to apply.
  • An email address will be required to apply.

 


CHECKLIST: WHAT YOU NEED TO APPLY

  • Each applicant will need an email address to apply
  • Social Security numbers for each household member, if available.
  • A mailing address
  • An active phone number

Opportunity Home’s Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program offers the opportunity for eligible low-income families to rent from a landlord in the private rental market.

A family issued a housing voucher is responsible for finding a unit suitable for their family and entering into a lease agreement with the landlord. The renter will pay rent directly to the landlord and Opportunity Home will pay a subsidy to cover the rest of the rent.

A family’s eligibility for a housing voucher is determined by your total annual gross income and family size. Eligibility is limited to U.S. citizens and specified categories of non-citizens who have eligible immigration status.

 

FAQs

WHEN CAN I SUBMIT AN APPLICATION?

Opportunity Home will accept preliminary applications from Wednesday, Nov. 1, through Wednesday, Nov. 15, at homesa.org.

WHERE CAN I APPLY?

All applications must be completed online at homesa.org.

IF I’M ON THE VOUCHER PROGRAM WAITLIST, DO I HAVE TO APPLY AGAIN?

No, you do not. If you are already on the Housing Choice Voucher waitlist, we will call you off the waitlist before we begin helping families who are applying during this open enrollment period.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I’M ON THE CURRENT WAITLIST?

You can check your status by logging into your applicant portal account on homesa.myhousing.com/account/login. If you do not remember your login information, send an email to [email protected] to speak with staff who can help or you may call 210.477.6406.

HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO WAIT BEFORE I KNOW IF I RECEIVED A VOUCHER?

Once the open enrollment period ends, you will receive an email within 30 days stating whether you were added to the waitlist or not. If you are selected by the lottery, it can take up from 1 to 2 years before you will move to the eligibility process.

HOW WILL I FIND OUT IF I HAVE BEEN SELECTED BY THE LOTTERY?

You will receive an email with next steps and helpful information within 30 days.

IF I DON’T RECEIVE A VOUCHER NOW, WHEN WILL I HAVE A CHANCE TO APPLY AGAIN?

We will use email and social media when we announce the next open enrollment period for our Housing Choice Voucher program.

IF I APPLY EARLY, DO I HAVE A BETTER CHANCE TO GET A VOUCHER?

Your chances to be selected by the lottery system will be the same regardless of when you apply.

WHEN WAS THE LIST PREVIOUSLY OPEN?

Opportunity Home’s Housing Choice Voucher Program waitlist was last open from June 29, 2022 to July 13, 2022. During that open enrollment period, we accepted 12,000 applications.

WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS IF I DON’T RECEIVE A VOUCHER THIS TIME?

You have the option to apply for our Public Housing Program by visiting homesa.org/housing. We also have affordable housing options at our Beacon Communities and Partnership properties where you can check if you are eligible for housing assistance through these avenues.

Is there a difference between Public Housing and Section 8?

Yes, Public Housing and Section 8, now known as the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program, are separate programs. Public Housing is comprised of approximately 74 properties that are owned and operated by Opportunity Home, while an HCV voucher is provided to eligible applicants to rent from any private sector landlord who accepts vouchers.

What happens after I apply for housing?

After applicants apply for housing, they must create an online portal account within 30 days at homesa.org. A portal account allows applicants to:

  • Update any information such as mailing address, phone number, and adding or removing existing family members. This is crucial for Opportunity Home to have updated to communicate with the applicant.
  • Monitor current waitlist status.
  • Apply to additional waitlists.
How do I create a portal account?
  • Go to homesa.org and click on Apply for Housing.
  • Scroll down and click Apply Here.
  • Scroll down to the bottom of the next page and click on Already Applied? (this will appear in blue letters).
  • You will be directed to the Login page and click on Register (in blue letters).
  • You will be taken to the Registration page, where you will enter the first initial of your first name, your complete last name, and your date of birth.
  • Enter your confirmation number on the following page and press enter.
  • The next page will give you your username and access to create a password.
  • ALWAYS keep your username and password accessible.
  • A step-by-step guide can be found here.
If I already have a portal account, how do I update my information?
  • Go to homesa.myhousing.com/account/login.
  • Enter your Username and Password and click login.
  • On the right side of your homepage underneath Actions, you can click on Update Your Application.
  • On the next page, there will be instruction on how to navigate through your portal account.
What if I forgot my username or password or both?

Please note: the email address must be the same email address you used when you initially created your portal account. If you no longer have access to this email address, you can contact Opportunity Home staff at 210.477.6406 for assistance.

How long is the Waitlist?

Public Housing (PH)

The current estimated wait time for most properties is seven and nine years. Elderly/disabled developments average between four and six years wait time.

Voucher Programs

The estimated wait time is one to two years.

When an applicant is called off the waitlist, a pre-application will be sent to the address they provided in their online application. The pre- application is time sensitive and is due back to Opportunity Home within 10 business days from the date it was mailed. Applicants can also log into their portal accounts and see if a letter has been mailed.

How can I get housing now?

Opportunity Home does not offer emergency housing assistance. For information on emergency housing providers in your area, please call 2-1-1 or visit 211.org. You can directly contact one of our 27 Beacon Communities that provide subsidized or mixed-income housing.

For a listing of Beacon Communities, visit homesa.org/beacon.

How can I get housing assistance through Opportunity Home San Antonio?

Applications for Opportunity Home housing assistance may be submitted online at homesa.org.

Public Housing

There are three Public Housing waitlists: Family Public Housing, Elderly/Disabled Public Housing, and Accessible Public Housing. At the end of the online application, applicants will be informed of which waitlists they are eligible for.

Voucher Programs

Applications for the Housing Choice Voucher (“Section 8”) Program may only be submitted when the waitlist is open. Announcements for reopening are made on social media, print and digital media outlets and on Opportunity Home’s website.

Why can’t I make changes to my account?

If an applicant has already made changes on their account, they must wait for any previous changes to be approved and processed before creating any new changes. Changes typically take 24-48 hours to process.

Why does it say “error” when I try to log in?

An error message might appear if an applicant is not active on any Waitlist (they are welcome to reapply) or there may be a “Duplicate Head of Household” error. Applicants can email [email protected] for assistance.

I applied today, why won’t it let me register for a username?

Applicants must wait 24 hours before registering for a username if selected. Selected applicants must create a portal within 30 days.

Why is it giving me an “error” message when I’m trying to apply?

Most errors are due to an application already being submitted on the same day. They must wait for the application to upload to our systems in order to register for a username.

If I am a public housing resident, can I apply for a Housing Choice (Section 8) Voucher?

Yes, only when the waitlist is open. Residents of Opportunity Home’s public housing properties can still apply for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8).

RESOURCES

CREATE AN EMAIL

APPLYING FOR THE WAITLIST


FIND INTERNET AND COMPUTER ACCESS

If you need access to a computer or free Internet to apply, visit a computer lab at one of the locations below.

UTSA Westside Community Center
1310 Guadalupe Street

Monday through Friday // 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

BiblioTech
1. 3505 Pleasanton Rd
2. 1203 N Walters
3. 2003 S Zarzamora

Monday // 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tuesday through Friday // 12 to 8 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday // 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Workforce Solutions Alamo Onestop Computer Labs
1. 6723 S. Flores St.
2. 4535 E. Houston St.
3. 4615 Walzem Road
4. 7008 Marbach
5. 3652 Bluemel Road

Monday through Friday // 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

San Antonio Public Library
Various locations and hours.

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