Los Fresnos Housing Authority

Brief Information About Housing Authorities in Los Fresnos

The Los Fresnos Housing Authority is situated at 500 N Arroyo Blvd, Los Fresnos, TX 78566. The phone number is 956-233-5012.

The HA is responsible for managing the housing program for citizens in need. This includes the application step, the guidelines for eligibility, and any other resources. The HA’s mission is to provide subsidized rents for low-income families, provide access to various assistance programs for housing problems. You can reach out to the Los Fresnos Housing Authority for issues regarding the qualification process, the location of the proprieties that are under the office’s management, or any information regarding Los Fresnos Section 8 landlord’s details.

2024 Income Limits

According to the latest statistical data as of 2024, the median income is $24,327. You can find up-to-date data on income limits for Los Fresnos and other cities by clicking on the link:

How Do I Apply in Los Fresnos Housing Authority?

To apply for the Public Housing Program or the Section 8 voucher, you would need to reach out to the Los Fresnos Housing Authority first. From them, you will get the application form. You also prepare the necessary for all the family members: ID, employment, bank account info, bank account status. You can e-mail or drop in the application at the Los Fresnos Housing Authority office. They will contact you with any questions.

More information can be found on the official HUD website:

FAQ

How long are affordable housing waiting lists?

The most common HA program is Section 8. There is a long waiting list for this program. With the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of people that have applied for the vouchers of Section 8 has skyrocketed, hence there are a lot of application delays. As of right now, the housing authority waiting list is 1 year and a half. The public housing authority programs favors specific groups of people or families that fit certain profiles. Priority is given to veterans, to the elderly, to the people that are exiting domestic violence.

How can I get housing fast?

The most popular program for public housing assistance is Section 8. There are many steps to apply for this type of assistance, but first and foremost you need to make sure that your landlord accepts payments in the form of vouchers provided by the housing authority. To apply for Section 8, you need proof that you have a low income, which comes in the form of job checks or tax returns, you need a state ID, you need to show your USA citizenship, you need to have a clean record, which means no felonies or drug use. The last part of the application is the special situations, which can either significantly put you at the bottom of the waiting list or can push you to the top. The idea is simple: the more drastic your situation, the earlier you will get the help.

This means that being homeless, having a disability, having an income that is on the 50% or below the local average income, living in a shelter, being a veteran, being part of the elderly, and exiting domestic abuse, will push you on top, as these are categories that need immediate assistance. You can also bypass the waiting list by reaching out directly to the housing authorities. You can also use the help of a social worker, who can assist you in navigating the application faster and can direct you to a new opportunity.

What Is the difference between HUD housing and a Section 8 voucher?

The idea of the HA is to provide housing assistance. There are differences among all the programs that we have mentioned so far in this material. Section 8 allows you to choose a preferred location. The landlord must also agree to accept the Section 8 housing vouchers.

Section 8 has 2 subdivisions: there is a tenant option and a project option. The tenant voucher follows the tenant. This means that the tenant can change housing and transfer the voucher with him if the new landlord accepts these vouchers as payment. The project housing is tied to a specific location and the tenant must reside in that location to get the rental assistance. In the public housing program, the proprieties are owned by the rental assistance agency.

There is also public housing, which is managed by the government. The idea is that there are housing options that are subsidized by the government. This program welcomes low-income families. The rent that the tenants pay depends on their annual income. So the difference between section 8 vs public housing is that section 8 lets you choose your residence and you get a subsidy on your rent and public housing allows you to live in a place that is owned by the government.

How to get approved for housing authority?

Section 8 is a great program to offer rental assistance. The voucher of Section 8 covers 30-40% of the rent cost, which also includes utilities.
To qualify for section 8 vouchers, you need to prove to the housing authorities that minimally your income is 80% of the local median income. You also need to show American citizenship to all the people in your household. With immigrants, there are extra documents to submit, such as naturalization documents or I-94 stamps. You also need to show your past landlord history, hence if you have an eviction record, you will be disqualified.

How to apply for a Section 8 housing choice voucher program?

You can apply for the housing choice voucher program by reaching out to the local housing authority office. You fill out their application form and provide all supporting documents. After you have all the forms and supporting documents, you drop them at the local office, and then you are placed on a waiting list. If approved, you will receive a mail at your current address stating the details. You will then notify your landlord. After you have been accepted onto the housing choice voucher program go to the housing office and sign the contract.

Reference

Texas HUB News