Lake County, Ohio Section 8 Voucher Waiting List

The Lake Metropolitan Housing Authority (LMHA) last accepted Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher waiting list applications from November 14, 2023, until November 20, 2023. This waiting list was last open in June, 2021. There is no notice of when this waiting list will reopen.

To apply while the waiting list was open, applicants were required to complete the online application.

This waiting list had the following preferences:

• Family Unification Program Youth whose FUP voucher is expiring and will have a lack of adequate housing as a result of voucher expiration. (16 points)
• Families who are currently living in non-subsidized housing. (4 points)
• Residency preference: families who live, work, or have been hired to work in Lake County, Ohio. (3 points)
• Families or persons who are 62 years of age or over or are considered disabled under federal law. (3 points)
• Families who are employed, outside of Lake County, Ohio. (2 points)
• Veteran preference: except as provided in any contract for financial assistance with the federal government in the selection of tenants for housing projects, Lake MHA shall give preference, as among applicants equal in need and eligible for occupancy of the dwelling and at the rent involved, to families of honorably discharged veterans and active servicemen, including families of deceased veterans who were honorably discharged or killed as a serviceman. (2 points)
• Victims of domestic violence: The Lake MHA will offer a preference to families that have been subjected to or victimized by a member of the family or household within the past 24 months. Lake MHA will require evidence that the family has been displaced as a result of fleeing violence in the home. Families are also eligible for this preference if there is proof that the family is currently living in a situation where they are being subjected to or victimized by violence in the home. The following criteria are used to establish a family’s eligibility for this preference: (1 point)
  • Actual or threatened physical violence directed against the applicant or the applicant’s family by a spouse, or other household member who lives in the unit with the family.
  • The actual or threatened violence must have occurred within the past 24 months, with supporting documentation (police reports, documentation from a domestic violence shelter or other documentation as deemed usable by the PHA) or be of a continuing nature.
  • The applicant who lives in a violent neighborhood or is fearful of other violence outside the household is not considered displaced because of domestic violence
  • To qualify for this preference, the abuser must still reside in the unit from which the victim was displaced. The applicant must certify that the abuser will not reside with the applicant unless Lake MHA gives prior written approval.
  • The Lake MHA will approve the return of the abuser to the household after Lake MHA verifies that the abuser has received therapy or counseling that appears to minimize the likelihood of recurrence of violent behavior, and a counselor or therapist recommends, in writing, that the individual will be allowed to reside with the family
• Displaced families from federally declared disaster areas, in accordance with HUD guidelines (16 points)
• Mainstream Voucher: Non-elderly persons with disabilities who have previously experienced homelessness and currently a client in a permanent supportive housing or rapid rehousing project (16 points)

2,500 applicants were placed on the waiting list by random lottery, weighed by order of preferences.

For more information, visit the LMHA website.

Sources: This information was verified by the LMHA public notice on October 26, 2023.