Meridian Housing Authority

Brief Information About Housing Authorities in Meridian

The Meridian Housing Authority is situated at 200 1st St, Meridian, TX 76665. The phone number is 254-435-2601.

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 Meridian Housing Authority for issues regarding the qualification process, the location of the proprieties that are under the office’s management, or any information regarding Meridian 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 Meridian and other cities by clicking on the link:

How Do I Apply in Meridian Housing Authority?

To apply for the Public Housing Program or the Section 8 voucher, you would need to reach out to the Meridian 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 Meridian Housing Authority office. They will contact you with any questions.

More information can be found on the official HUD website:

FAQ

How long is the waiting list for the housing authority?

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 to bypass the Section 8 waiting list?

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 disqualifies you from getting HUD?

The housing authority does detailed research to make sure that the people that are helped with rental assistance will get better and will make use of the help. This means that background checks are an important part of the work. The housing authority will disregard any applicant that has a criminal background. The housing authority will deny any applicant that is a sex offender or has records of drug use. The other detail is that if you have had a previous housing authority assistant and you got evicted, that is a big no, and your application will be rejected.

Regarding the use of the drug, there is a way around that and is the fact that you show that you have completed a drug treatment program. Even if you have a criminal background, each case is special, and you are given a chance to say your plea and to explain the circumstances. Also, felonies older than 5 years are not considered part of the application.

How to qualify for public housing?

To qualify for the housing authority, you need to reach out to the housing authority office. You then fill out a form that they give you and on that form, you list the below information:

• Names of the persons that will live with you.
• Their sex, birthdate, and relationship to you.
• Your contact and current address.
• Special circumstances that apply to you ( veteran, disability, elderly, etc.).
• Details of the previous landlord. The idea is that these landlords will be reached out to and asked if you are a reliable tenant.
• Income information, which means tax documents and W2 documents.
• Bank information, as that will be used to check the accuracy of your monetary situation.
• There is also a chance that you might get a home visit and asked questions.

What is Section 8 housing mean?

The idea of Section 8 is that it allows the landlord to rent their proprieties to eligible tenants that get federal help. The tenant pays its rent partially with the voucher and partially with its money. Section 8 covers rent for up to one year. For more than 1 year, you apply again for the program.

Reference

Texas HUB News