Can You Get A 3 Bedroom With A 2-Bedroom Section 8 Voucher? – You already know that there are section 8 vouchers for the low income people who are searching for housing assistance. Section 8 vouchers are widely used in the United States of America and a lot of people have benefited from it. However, after getting these vouchers things might change a lot. There might be a change in the number of family members and therefore people need a large space to stay.
Once the kids grow up they require separate bedrooms and it is very hard for low income people to get those requirements fulfilled. It is very important for you to know about the Section 8 voucher and also about the bedroom policy comprehensively. It is important to proceed properly when you feel that you need a larger space or a separate bedroom. We will be discussing some cases that will help you in getting a 3 bedroom apartment with a 2-bedroom section 8 voucher.
Highlights of this Post
What is 3 Bedrooms With a 2-Bedroom Section 8 voucher?
You already know that people who are having the 2-bedroom section 8 voucher might need more space. The requirement of more space comes in when there is a medical problem, disability case or age of the children increases and other related issues. However, the low income families have a limited income so they are unable to pay house rent for additional rooms.
You might have been assured by the housing authority to choose a place where the rent is relatively cheap. It is seen that the people with low income are unable to pay rent for an additional room. However, in recent times a requirement of an additional room is very urgent because of various reasons. The housing authority is also working and has some specific guidelines in ensuring extra bedrooms. You should clearly understand that there is an extra bedroom policy on demand from the side of the property.
However, the rent amount differentiates from 2 bedroom and 3 bedrooms as ensured by the housing authority. In such cases the housing authority can also apply the 2-bedroom voucher payment standard. But the voucher can also be used to make the tenant pay the same amount of money for the 3 bedrooms instead of the 2 bedrooms. But in such cases, the location varies as the tenant will be provided housing in such areas where rent is not very high.
Section 8 Housing Guidelines and Other Rules
You should note that there is a specific guideline for bedrooms under the section 8 housing voucher. You should also understand that your family members are one of the factors that ensure how many rooms you might be required to have. However, the guidelines vary according to the location, different states and counties follow different types of guidelines. It is also pivotal for you to follow the rules and regulations of the section 8 housing in your state and county. There are some specific section 8 housing rules where unit size matters a lot. Unit size is a problem that you need to know comprehensively Check out some of the rules that have been listed below.
General Section 8 Housing Rules for Unit Size
You should have detailed information about the general section 8 housing rules for unit size. The unit size generally indicates the number of family members that can reside per unit. The section 8 housing vouchers are designed for bedrooms according to the number of people that are qualifying for it. They also follow a minimum and maximum number of people that are residing in a household. Housing authorities have a chart that provides detailed information. We have listed the chart below so that you can easily understand and therefore no misconceptions will be created. Check the chart below:
| Housing Choice Voucher Size | Minimum Number of People | Maximum Number of People |
| 0 bedrooms | 1 | 1 |
| 1 bedrooms | 1 | 2 |
| 2 bedrooms | 2 | 4 |
| 3 bedrooms | 4 | 6 |
| 4 bedrooms | 6 | 8 |
| 5 bedrooms | 8 | 10 |
| 6 bedrooms | 10 | 12 |
Latest Housing Section Rules for Unit Size
You already know that the demand for section 8 housing choice vouchers is very high. Therefore the housing opportunities are trying to give equal opportunities to every low income person. A two heartbeats per room policy is being followed by the section 8 housing choice vouchers for the qualification process of the low income people. In this rule it simply explains that a bedroom will be entitled to only two people at a time. This rule is set by the US Department of Urban Development. However, you should also understand that this rule will not be effective on different grounds as different people face different situations and problems. Some main factors that determines the unit size are family composition, number of children, disabled people, medical, members that have medical condition and age of the members
Four Basic Requirement To Receive Section 8 Vouchers
It is important for the individuals to meet four basic criteria to qualify for the Section 8 vouchers. The four basic criteria include eviction history, citizenship, income level and family status.
Eviction History Requirement
The Section 8 vouchers will not be provided to the individuals because of:
- The individual has been convicted of producing methamphetamine in an assisted housing project.
- The individual has been evicted from a property in the last three years because of drug addiction or any other criminal related activity.
Citizenship Status Requirement
You should understand that section 8 vouchers are only granted to the citizens that are residing in America and other individuals who have eligible immigrant status. You can consult Exhibit 5- 1 HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher Guidebook for American citizens to check the eligible immigrant status. However, the public housing authority will run process where:
- You need to sign a declaration where you are stating that all of your family members are citizens of America.
- A Public Housing Agency will verify the individual’s citizen status by checking your U.S passport, social security card and other related documentation.
For those individuals with eligible immigrant status, the Public Housing Authority will run another process where:
- You need to sign a declaration stating that you have eligible immigration status.
- You also need to provide your INS documents which will prove your immigration status.
- Your detailed information will be verified with the INS.
- You need also sign a form consenting that they can use the information that is obtained by you.
Income Level Requirement
Another important Section 8 eligibility requirement is the income level of the applicant. The Section 8 vouchers are mainly designed for the low income families with housing solutions. Thus, a family’s yearly income should be below a certain limit so that they can qualify for the housing choice voucher program. Every year the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) sets the income limit of the individuals in three main categories that includes extremely low income, very low income and low income. However, the actual level of income differs from one area to another and it is calculated as the percentage of that particular area’s median income level. However, the income limit criteria also depends on the composition of the family.
Income limits are set according to the number of members from one individual to eight individuals. Extremely low income for a family is set up to $15,000 in a year but for a family of eight members it is set to $30,000 a year and this income group belongs to the extremely low income level. High priority is also given to the section 8 voucher who belongs from the extreme low income level. The second priority is given to those individuals or families that belong from the very low income group and the last priority is given to the low income families. However, the low income families are granted the section 8 voucher if they are continuously assisted by any of the public housing programs or HUD programs that include home ownership programs.
Family Status Requirement
It is important to meet the eligibility requirement to qualify for the Section 8 program. It is also important to meet the HUD’s definition of family. HUD has set their general rules and regulation on what defines a family but the Public Housing Authorities also take flexible decisions depending on the situation. To know more about the Family Status Requirement you need to contact the Public Housing Authority on exact family status qualification. However, family statues means a group of people that meets the following condition that has been listed below:
- One of the individuals in the family must be over the age of 62.
- Children or without children.
- One of the household members has a disability.
- A tenant who is residing in a unit after all other members have left it . But that specific family was receiving the benefits of the Section 8 program.
- Families that have been displaced from their home. The reason for displacement can be damage, destruction, governmental action, federally recognized disaster or natural disasters.
- A single individual who does not match any of the criteria that has been listed above.
When To Apply For A 3 Bedroom Apartment Using 2 Bedroom Section 8 Voucher?
You should understand the right time to apply for a 3 bedroom apartment using a 2 bedroom section 8 voucher. However it should be logical as you need to provide the exact reason to the housing authority on why you want to apply for a 3 bedroom apartment using a 2 bedroom section 8 voucher. We have listed some considerations and guidelines that can help you when you are processing your request for another bedroom.
Disability Cases
As you already know that there might be a disabled person in your family and those cases are quite common. If you are having a disabled member in your family who needs 24/7 service and medical aids, it is important for you to get an additional bedroom. The person’s medical or health condition can be serious and therefore other members cannot access the bedroom frequently. In such cases you can apply for a 3 bedroom apartment using a 2 bedroom section 8 voucher. The disabled person will get full support and therefore he or she can rest without any disturbances.
Age of the children
You should also understand there are certain house rules and guidelines for growing childrens. When the children become adults they require a seperate and personal bedroom. In such cases the age of the children is considered vital. However, if you are having two adults and one infant then you can easily get 1 bedroom but you won’t get another bedroom unless the infant becomes tenager. In such times you can easily get a separate bedroom that might be allowed under the section 8 housing choice voucher program.
Very Small Bedroom
It is important that your apartment should be spacious so that the family members can live comfortably. A too small apartment can be overcrowded and the family members might suffocate in such conditions. This condition is not at all healthy for the family. In some apartments it can be identified that the second bedroom is too small for two adults and two childrens. In such cases it is important for you to get a separated bedroom using the 2 bedroom section 8 voucher. However, it is important for you to go through the application process.
Change in family composition
You should note that whenever you are applying for the section 8 choice voucher program you need to have a specific number of family members. In reality the situation can change when any of the members has any disability. In such cases you need to provide the disabled person with 24.7 medical aid and care. The disabled person needs a separate bedroom where he or she can rest comfortably. You also need an additional bedroom in addition to more family members that will increase the family composition. Every family member has the right to live with their own family and in such cases a separate bedroom is required. You can also apply for the section 8 voucher program so that you can live with your parents and spend quality life.
Bedrooms That Are Entitled Under The Section 8 Vouchers
You should note that there are specific guidelines that are followed under the section 8 vouchers for ensuring bedrooms. The number of bedrooms is totally dependent on the number of members. One bedroom is provided for a maximum of two family members. If the family has any children they might not get qualified for a separate bedroom. The allocation of the bedrooms is totally dependent on the number of family members and it can vary according to the policy guidelines. For instance, a bedroom is fixed for two same sex children but if they are of opposite sex then a separate bedroom might get approved after a certain age under the section 8 voucher program. We have found some useful information that will help you in understanding the allocation system.
- 1 bedroom for 1 adult
- 2 bedroom for 2 adults
- 2 bedrooms for 2 adult and a child
- 2 bedrooms for 2 adults and 2 same sex children
- 3 bedrooms for 2 adults, 2 opposite sex children crossing the age limit.
- 3 bedrooms for 2 adults, 2 opposite sex children under the age limit, 1 child over the age limit.
- 4 bedrooms for 3 adults and 4 same-sex children
Payment Consideration in Section 8 Vouchers
You should also understand and get comprehensive information about the payment consideration in the Section 8 voucher. It is important for you to know about the payment that you need to pay for the rent and how much your voucher will cover. However, you should also understand that there are some specific policies and rules that are set by the housing authorities. These rules and policies are very vital as it will eliminate any kind of confusion and hassle in the future with the landlord.
The payment structure differs from one state to another and one county to another. But it is important for you to pay a minimum part of the overall rent and the rest of the amount will be covered by the housing authority. On the other side it is identified that the landlord will be getting full payment through this process. For example, if your total rent is approximately $1000 then you have to pay only about $100 and the rest of the amount that is $900 will be paid by the housing authority as per the housing choice voucher. So, the landlord will be getting full payment of $1000. However, the fair market rent is another issue you need to consider where the rent payment standard is set at 90 to 110 percent of the fair market rent.
Conclusion
I hope this article has helped you with all the information on How to Get a 3 Bedroom With a 2-Bedroom Section 8 Voucher. It is important to understand that the present condition might not last forever and therefore it is important to take the right decisions at the right time. It is very important for you to get the section 8 vouchers when you want to add a bedroom but it totally depends on the unit size. The unit size of the apartment should be right enough so the family member can live comfortably in the apartment. There are a lot of low income families who are suffocating because of small space apartments and therefore they need an additional bedroom to live comfortably. It is possible to get a 3 bedroom with a 2- bedroom section 8 vouchers. The section 8 voucher has helped a lot of people in addition to a bedroom in their apartment. There might be many reasons to get a 3 bedroom apartment. I hope you have a great day ahead!
Frequently Asked Questions
We have answered some frequently asked questions on How to Get a 3 Bedroom With a 2-Bedroom Section 8 Voucher. The housing choice vouchers are quite complex so it is not easily understandable. Go through the question and answers as it will provide you with additional information that can be very useful to you.
What do you mean by the housing choice program?
The housing choice voucher program is also referred to as section 8. The US Department of Housing and Urban Development runs the program and provides assistance to many states and counties in the United States. There are a lot of low income families that are unable to afford a good house to stay in. The housing choice voucher program provides assistance to the low income families by covering most part of the rent amount. However, the rent calculation is measured by the 30 percent of the families adjusted monthly income which should be paid to the landlord and the rest of the rent amount will be paid using the housing choice voucher from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
How many bedrooms can I get under the Section 8 program?
I hope you already understood that the number of bedrooms is totally dependent on the composition of the family members. If there are two members in your family then you will be provided with a single bedroom. The number of bedroom also depends on the sex and number of the children that are in the family. One bedroom will be provided when the opposite sex of children crosses the age limit. For instance, 1 bedroom is provided for 2 adults and 3 bedrooms is provided for 2 adutls, 2 opposite sex children under the age limit and also 1 child over the age limit.
Is it possible to apply for the Section 8 voucher?
Yes it is possible to apply for the section 8 voucher. You should be aware of the application dates to apply for it. You should also know the rules and guidelines of the section 8 choice voucher program comprehensively. Some of the most important factors that are considered for the application of section 8 choice voucher program are family composition, family size, income of the family, location and many more.
For how many days the Section 8 vouchers are valid?
The Section 8 vouchers are generally valid for 60 days. So, within 60 days you need to find a permanent shelter for your family.
