Polk County Housing and Neighborhood Development Office

Brief Information About Housing Authorities in Bartow

The Polk County Housing and Neighborhood Development Office is situated at 1290 Golfview Ave., Bartow, FL. The phone number is 863-534-5244.

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 Polk County Housing and Neighborhood Development Office for issues regarding the qualification process, the location of the proprieties that are under the office’s management, or any information regarding Bartow Section 8 landlord’s details.

Check if you qualify for HUD Public Housing Program:	Check if you qualify for Section 8 Housing Programs:
Public Housing Program	Section 8 Program

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 Bartow and other cities by clicking on the link:

Find out 2024 Income Limits

How Do I Apply in Polk County Housing and Neighborhood Development Office?

To apply for the Public Housing Program or the Section 8 voucher, you would need to reach out to the Polk County Housing and Neighborhood Development Office 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 Polk County Housing and Neighborhood Development Office office. They will contact you with any questions.

More information can be found on the official HUD website:

www.hud.gov

FAQ

How many housing authorities are in the US?

A housing authority (HA) is made up of various agencies that offer housing assistance funded by HUD. Housing authorities are targeted for old age, low-income people, people who suffer from disabilities, or people that are escaping domestic abuse. Each HA covers different jurisdictions, as there are housing authorities for each local area. There are more than 3300 housing authorities in the USA. The housing authority has information regarding possible programs that you can apply, and about what types of help can you qualify to get. The most common type of help that people get from the public housing authorities includes vouchers, which cover specific percentages of their rent costs and their utilities.

How to apply for public housing assistance?

Applying for housing authority assistance needs a lot of paperwork, but is very straightforward. You start by reaching out to your local HA. You can open our free site to find the closest to your location. You complete the housing options assessment, which is an online form. You also bring the supporting documents: id, proof of income, and details regarding your special situation. After, you get all these documents and crop them at your local housing authority.

After your application is received, you will get a written notification of your application. If you get accepted, you will sign a lease with your HA.

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.

How long can someone stay in public housing?

When getting a place to live with the housing authority, it is good news as your emergency is now solved. Well, there are always the questions of what happens next and how long can you stay in that place? The short answer is if you keep qualifying for the same requirements that you got the place in the first time. That means that if your income stays below 80% of the local median income, you are good. There is always the requirement of good behavior.

You also must take care of your part of the rent. The housing authority provides help, but the idea is that you still cover a small part of the rent and expenses. You also need to make your payments on time.

How much does Section 8 housing cost?

The Housing Choice Voucher Program is aimed at helping low-income families who meet the requirement of income lower than 50% of the local area median income. The idea is that the cost of the rent is split between the tenant and the federal assistance program. The part that you pay depends on your income. You could get up to 30 % assistance on your rent or more, all depends on the specifics of the situation.

The main unit of measurement is the Fair Market Rent cost. If the unit that you live in has a cost that is in the range of the Fair Market Rent, you will get the 30% or more rent assistance as designated from the program and you pay the rest of the rent. If you choose to live in an apartment that is above the fair market rent, the Housing Choice Voucher Program will cover their percentage as a total of the housing market rent. Anything above the housing market rent will be charged out of your pocket.