SEATTLE—November 18, 2006—Hundreds of households on the SHA waiting list for subsidized rental housing are moving quickly into the Seattle rental market with subsidy vouchers in hand. Housing specialists at the PorchLight office in Ballard have stepped up their efforts to qualify people on the waiting list as quickly as possible.
On Saturday, Oct. 28, 243 people from the waiting list came to PorchLight in Ballard for a presentation that introduced and explained the program. PorchLight housing specialists and supervisors made sure that all who attended received information about what they need to do next to receive a voucher.
On Saturday, Nov. 4, 122 additional people from the waiting list were introduced to the specifics of the program.
“Our goal is to serve as many people as possible as quickly as we can,” said Barbara Strayer, Housing Choice Voucher Program manager. “We’re hoping to give as many voucher-holders as possible a head start in the increasingly tight Seattle rental market, and we’re hoping that many families will find housing in time to celebrate the holidays in a place of their own.”
Voucher holders are given 60 days from the day their voucher was issued to find a rental unit. One 60-day extension may be granted if the voucher-holder cannot find and rent a suitable affordable unit.
SHA created its current waiting list of 4,000 households by lottery last spring. As of the beginning of December, just over 1,300 heads of household have been called in off the waiting list. Currently, there are about 440 households with vouchers seeking a house or apartment in the Seattle rental market.