Income, Payment Standard and Utility Information

Forms and Applications

Eligibility

Program Information

Pre-Applications

Preference Point System

Utility Allowances

Landlord Information

Apartment Suggestion List

Available Rentals

Important Phone Number List

Subsidized Housing List

Portability Information

Family Self Sufficiency Program

Section 8 Homeownership Downpayment Assistance Program

City of Tempe
Housing Services Division

IMPORTANT CHANGES TO THE SECTION 8 PROGRAM!
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

THE SECTION 8 WAIT LIST IS CURRENTLY CLOSED

Section 8 Rental Assistance

City of Tempe Housing Services Commitment

The Section 8 Housing Assistance Program was enacted by the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. The program is funded through and monitored by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). 

The City of Tempe established  Tempe Housing Services as a division of the Community Development Department in June of 1975. The City of Tempe Housing Services was authorized to administer the Section 8 Existing Housing Assistance Payments Program within the city limits of Tempe.

Tempe Housing Services began operation in 1975 with funds to assist 50 families under the Section 8 Existing Program. Today, the City of Tempe Housing Services is a division of the Development Services Department and is funded to assist 1082 families.

As a public service agency, it is our goal to provide excellent service to the families in our community. We will make every effort to inform you of the program rules, and to advise you of how these rules affect you. Federal regulations are not always easy to understand, so it is very important that you ask questions if you are not sure of something.

Requests for Accommodation

Persons with disabilities may request a reasonable accommodation in order to fully utilize this housing program and any related services. We will make all reasonable efforts to be flexible in assisting persons with disabilities to participate in the program successfully. Requests for accommodation will be verified to ensure that the accommodation is reasonable. Examples of reasonable accommodations are: home visits if your disability prevents you from coming to our office, TDD device, accessible formats for correspondence, the use of an advocate or interpreter for those with Limited English Proficiency, a current listing of rental units known for accessibility to disabled persons that may be available. 

Program Information

The Tempe Housing Services provides rent subsidy to eligible very low-income families through the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program.

On the Housing Choice Voucher Program, the family can pay more or less than 30% of their adjusted gross income, depending on the actual rent of the unit they find. The maximum amount that the Housing Authority will pay is an amount equal to the Payment Standard minus the family’s total tenant payment.

The Payment Standard

• is established by the City of Tempe Housing Services

• is based on the cost of housing and utilities for Tempe; and

• depends on the family composition and the bedroom size of the unit. For example, the payment standard is higher for families requiring 3-bedroom units than families requiring 1-bedroom units.

The Tempe Housing Services makes a housing assistance payment for the remaining part of the rent directly to the Landlord or Owner. For the Owner, the obligations are very similar also, however there are differences that an Owner needs to be aware of. 

Eligibility

Individuals or families whose income does not exceed the maximum annual gross income limits set by HUD are eligible to apply for the Program.

A "family" can be:

• a single person who is 62 years of age, disabled according to Social Security definition or handicapped;

• any other single person;

• a married couple whose head of household, or spouse, is 62 years of age, disabled according to Social Security definition or handicapped;

• any two or more persons sharing residency whose income and resources are available to meet the family's needs and who are related by blood, marriage or operation of law (or who have evidence of a stable family relationship, which has existed over a period of at least 2 years.)

Preliminary Applications

Families who initially meet both the income and family composition requirements must complete a preliminary application with the Tempe Housing Services. The preliminary application process determines whether the family is initially eligible for the Program according to their family income and composition.

NOTE:  Currently, the waiting list for Preliminary Applications is closed.  No Preliminary Applications are being accepted at this time.

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Regulation requires that 75% of new Section 8 admissions be extremely low-income families. If necessary to meet the statutory requirement that 75% of newly admitted families in any fiscal year be families who are extremely low-income, Tempe Housing Services retains the right to skip higher income families on the waiting list to reach extremely low-income families. Tempe Housing Services will monitor incomes of newly admitted families and income of the families on the waiting list.

Preference Point System

To better serve those persons truly in need of housing in the City of Tempe, HUD and Tempe Housing Services has established a Preference Point System. 

The definitions are as follows:

1. LIVING IN THE CITY OF TEMPE (100 points)

Applicant must have a current lease, be listed on a current lease as legally living in the unit and/or must be legally responsible for rent payments to the owner/landlord of the property.

This will be verified with the legal owner/landlord of the property.

Tempe Homeless: This must be verified with the City of Tempe HOPE Program Outreach Caseworkers or other social service agency.

OR

    WORKING, OR HIRED TO WORK IN THE CITY OF TEMPE (100 points)

Applicant, must be physically employed in, or has accepted employment in, the City limits of Tempe.

Graduates or participants in a training internship program designed to prepare individuals for the job market qualifies.

This will be verified with the employer.

2. INVOLUNTARY DISPLACED (50 points)

           Applicant is involuntarily displaced by Federal or Local Government Action

3. NONE OF THE ABOVE

None of the above categories apply to the applicant’s circumstances at this time.

The waiting list is ordered by Preference Points, as follows:

Maximum Points Possible: 150

Applicants with the highest point total will be offered a Housing Choice Voucher first.

Applicants may claim or change Preference Points at any time from the date of preliminary application until Program participation. To claim Preference Points, you must complete a Preference Certification. When Preference Points are claimed or changed, the family’s name will be moved to the appropriate Preference Point List according to the time and date of preliminary application.