Applicants
Who is Eligible?
The family must provide any information needed by the Public Housing Authority to confirm eligibility and determine the level of the family’s assistance. To be eligible for the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program, the applicant family must:
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Qualify as a family as defined by HUD and the PHA.
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Have income at or below HUD-specified income limits.
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Qualify on the basis of citizenship or the eligible immigrant status of family members.
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Provide social security number information for household members as required.
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Consent to the PHA’s collection and use of family information as provided for in PHA-provided consent forms.
What is the process to receive a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8)?
Interested applicants fill out an application that gives us basic information on family members, household income and other information necessary to assist you. When we receive the completed application, it will be added to our Waiting List. Once your application moves to the top of the Waiting List, usually in about 12-18 months, you are invited to a Briefing to learn more about the program. We communicate with our applicants by mail, so please make sure we have your current address. At the briefing we will schedule another meeting with your family to update your application information, review your identification and verification documents, and issue the Voucher.
How do I apply for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8)?
When the waiting list is open, applications are available at our office at 950 14th St. (Aspen Arms) in the front lobby, or you can download our application by clicking here.
Waiting List Preference Points
Giving preference to specific groups of families enables a Housing Authority to direct their limited housing resources to the families with the greatest housing needs. Since the demand for housing assistance often exceeds the limited resources available to the local Housing Authority, long waiting periods are common.
Preference points allow applicants to move up the waiting list faster. We provide additional preference points for the residents of Carlton County, Veterans, victims of domestic violence under the Violence Against Women Act, floods/fire significance. To receive the points, applicants must verify their address, provide a DD214 form if they are a Veteran, and work with Family Pathways if they are a victim (male or female) of domestic violence.
The Cloquet/Carlton Housing Authority provides the following preference points:
| Preference | Points |
|---|---|
| Carlton County Resident | 75 |
| Veteran | 25 |
| VAWA | 25 |
| Flood/Fire Significance | 10 |
Where am I on the Waiting List?
You can contact our office and ask where you are on the list. Keep in mind though that it is probably only necessary to contact us every six months or so if you are waiting to receive a Voucher. We advise applicants that the wait is typically 12- 18 months from the date of application to receive a Voucher. Remember to make sure we have a current address when you call. We send a form by mail each year to Waiting List applicants. If the letter is returned as undeliverable, you will be removed from the Waiting List.
What happens when I reach the top of the waiting list?
You will be notified by mail to come in for a Briefing meeting. If you do not come for the first meeting, you will be invited to the second scheduled meeting. If you do not attend the second meeting, or contact us with a valid excuse for missing the meetings, you will be removed from the Wait List. You will not be admitted if you are late for the meeting.
What happens after the Briefing Meeting?
At the Briefing Meeting, a private meeting will be scheduled for your family. You will bring your updated application and documents, sign forms, and provide us with Birth Certificates or Drivers License and Social Security Cards for each of your family members. A basic criminal background check will also be completed prior to the meeting. If your family is eligible for the program you will be issued a Voucher at this time.
Once you receive a Voucher
The Voucher is good for 60 days, and can be extended for another 60 days if necessary. If you don’t use your Voucher in the allotted time, it will expire and you will need to reapply. While you have your Voucher, you will be expected to look for an appropriate apartment for your family to rent. Click on the Carlton County Housing Listing for housing opportunities in Carlton County. Once you have found it, you will give the landlord a Request for Tenancy Approval (RFTA) Form to complete. This form allows us to determine the monthly rent and utility allowance, and calculate the amount of assistance you will receive. You will bring the completed form back to our office, and we will schedule an HQS Inspection with the Landlord. Once the property passes inspection, we will conduct a comprehensive criminal background check on all adult household members prior to lease-up. Upon acceptable results from the criminal background check, we will schedule a Lease-Up Meeting and rental assistance will begin starting the first of the next month.