The state of Michigan is large, with several large cities spread across the state, with Detroit in the southeast, Flint, Lansing and Saginaw in the central portion of Michigan, and Grand Rapids, Traverse City and Kalamazoo on the western side. Cities are where the highest concentration of Section 8 rental units are located, although the small towns and rural areas do have some rental units available. In Michigan, Section 8 vouchers are distributed by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority.
To apply for a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher, you must contact the housing agent assigned to the county where you want to live. The housing agent will require proof of your income, family size and personal identifiers such as dates of birth and social security numbers of the family members who will occupy the housing unit. You may also need to provide marriage certificates, divorce decrees, adoption paperwork and other paperwork. Other factors in determining eligibility for Michigan's Section 8 vouchers include credit history, prior criminal record, prior rental history and other factors. Michigan has a long waiting list for Section 8 subsidized housing, as there are only 24,000 vouchers available in the state.
Once your criminal background check is completed and your paperwork has been verified by the housing agent, the state of Michigan will place you on the waiting list for a Section 8 housing voucher. The waiting list is at least six months to one year, and may be even longer depending on the area in which you want to live.
When searching for a Section 8 rental unit in Michigan, there are several important considerations to keep in mind. First, make sure that you have secured your Section 8 voucher from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This will be the proof and documentation that you will need to provide to the landlord. The voucher must have your name on it and you will need proof of your identity, such as a Michigan driver's license or state identification card. You may need to pay a security deposit, and per the terms of the Section 8 program, you will need to pay at least 30 percent of your monthly gross income to the landlord for your rent payment. In Michigan's program, you will pay at least $50 per month in rent to your landlord once your name has been selected from the waiting list.
