Section 8 Question:

[Smarmie Doofus]

If you reside in a place where the Section 8 waiting list is "closed", and your only source of income is $623 SSI monthly, can you *move* to a jurisdiction where the Section 8 list is NOT closed?

Writing on behalf of my disabled vet brother... and on my own behalf, truth be told, since I have to make up the difference$$$$.

"Shining city on a hill", eh?

[Whoa_Nelly]

1. Maybe call one of these listings in your area...?

http://tinyurl.com/2c3egz

[Smarmie Doofus]

2. Whoa!!! That's a good start. Thanks much.

Any idea about how to keep them from telling us to get lost?

Seriously, a lot of these local section 8 programs are most inhospitable... especially if there's no local connection. And even if there IS a local connection... but the connection is not CURRENT.

[Whoa_Nelly]

3. Catch more flies with honey than vinegar

and just be sweetly persistent ;)
(and, if you run into the problem of getting nowhere, call your local council people, district reps, and on up the political ladder...and quickly!)

[Viva_La_Revolution]

4. Yes.

However, most waiting lists are years long, and you have to reside in that county to stay on the waiting list. :(

[sandnsea]

5. Yes, as far as I know

I've heard of some states trying to pass residency laws for medicaid and other social programs, but I'm not sure that ever happened. Even with an open waiting list, it can still take years to get in. Homelessness usually moves people, especially families, to the front of the line. If I were you, I'd look into creating a new Housing First initiative in your town. Any time somebody has a new idea, there's foundations willing to put grant money into it. I think this is a good idea anyway, but from your own perspective, it's probably a faster way to get help to your brother than waiting for someone to increase housing for the disabled.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&q=homelessness+housing+first&btnG=Search

[pinto]

6. The links noted above seem a good, reputable place to start.

Some suggested questions to make -

Is there a preference consideration for disability status?

Is there a preference consideration for veteran status?

Is there a length of residency requirement?

Is there a preference consideration for 'homeless'?

(Some jurisdictions consider temp housing, i.e. hotel/motel as homeless/at risk of becoming homeless.)

Good luck. It can be a daunting system to maneuver, and HUD funding grows tighter, but the effort is well worth it.

:thumbsup:

[cutlassmama]

7. yes, I've know people who have done it. Don't forget to mention

"disability". It gets their ears perked.