Mansfield Metro Housing receives 1,300 new Section 8 applications

MANSFIELD — Interest in federally funded housing assistance remains high in Richland County.

The Mansfield Metropolitan Housing Authority opened its Section 8 voucher waitlist for four days last week and received 1,351 applications, according to agency director Steve Andrews.

Andrews said that figure is in line with what the agency had hoped to achieve.

“We were very pleased with the number,” Andrews said via email. “We wanted at least 800 and didn’t want more than 1,600 because that would have resulted in a nine-month wait and we didn’t want to go that far.”

The total number of applications on the waiting list as of Monday was 1,583.

Andrews said the agency plans to continue pulling about 200 applications from the list each month, with the goal of getting through the list over the next eight months.

“We may consider reopening the waitlist in April or May 2025 if these numbers continue at this rate, or in a few months if we start charging less each month after the first year, depending on the level of success we experience “Andrews said.

Section 8 voucher holders have 120 days to find housing.

Numerous factors can influence the “success” of government.

Older applications may contain outdated contact or eligibility information.

To be approved, a person must meet certain income requirements and have no evictions in the last three years. No one in their family may have a history of sexual or violent crime.

Applicants through MMHA must also be willing to live in Richland County.

According to Andrews and MMHA legal counsel Matt Dooley, out-of-state residents sometimes apply for Section 8 housing but have no intention of moving to the area, which further clogs the waiting list.

Andrews said just over half (814 of 1,583) of the current waitlist applicants are from Richland County or “just outside the county.”

Assuming the MMHA is able to contact the applicant and confirm their eligibility, voucher holders will still have to find a place to stay.

Section 8 voucher holders sometimes face stigma from landlords, making it even more difficult to find housing in today’s market.

“Right now we have 130 people with vouchers in hand looking for a place to move, but they’re really struggling to find one,” Andrews told the MMHA board of directors during its meeting. September meeting.

Once an applicant is issued a housing voucher, they have up to 120 days to find housing. If a voucher holder does not find housing within four months, they will have to wait until the waiting list opens and reapply.

Like most of the nation, There is not enough affordable housing in Richland County.

Richland County Housing needs and assessment plan projects implemented last year. Richland County will need about 2,700 more affordable rental units to meet community needs in 2032.

The report defines “affordable” housing as housing for those earning less than 80 percent of the median income—$41,550 for an individual or $59,300 for a family of four in 2022.

“Having high quality, affordable housing brings stability to families and stability to communities,” Andrews said.

“Communities and counties that make housing a priority will be poised for significant growth over the next decade. Those counties that do not meet current housing needs will continue to lag behind other thriving counties in our state.”

Voucher Program Update

In response to this problem, the MMHA has introduced a financial incentive for landlords who sign an annual lease with a Section 8 voucher holder.

New landlords will receive $500 for the first apartment that signs up for the program. Landlords who already rent to Section 8 voucher holders will receive $300 for each additional unit that signs up for the program.

To be eligible, units must not have been rented to a Section 8 voucher holder within the last 18 months.

The promotion will be valid until November 30th.

Andrews said the incentives will pay for themselves because for every voucher administered by MMHA, the agency receives $840 a year from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The MMHA has offered similar incentives in the past using COVID-19 relief funds.

The board approved up to $20,000 in incentives. This time, benefits will be paid from the MMHA general fund.