REDMOND, OR -- Housing Works opens its waiting list for rental assistance vouchers, later this month. Housing Choice Voucher Director Lesly Gonzalez says low income residents in Deschutes, Jefferson and Crook counties must get their applications in between January 14 and 18, for the program formerly known as HUD's Section 8, "The applications are for the rental assistance program, which is a tenant-based assistance. So, the voucher holder – anybody that’s selected – would get a rental assistance voucher to help them pay for a portion of their rent."

According to Gonzalez, Housing Works uses the waiting list to fill the 300 to 600 openings that come available throughout the year. But people can only apply during the five-day period, "It’s important because it’s the time when we open up the general wait list. It only opens up once a year. We normally receive anywhere from 2,500 to about almost 4,000 applications. We did receive about 3,000 last year." Those on last year's waiting list must reapply. Because vouchers are distributed by lottery, it doesn't matter when during the application period information is submitted. 

This year, Housing and Urban Development made 40 “mainstream vouchers” available in Central Oregon, "Those are specifically for disabled households who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless," Gonzalez tells KBND News, "So, for the 2019 waitlist, we did add a preference specific to these 40 mainstream vouchers. So, if somebody fits within these criteria, they want to make sure to check that on the application."

You’ll find more information, including the online application on the Housing Works website.