PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — For the first time in more than a decade, the Philadelphia Housing Authority is opening its waiting list for housing choice vouchers, the program that used to be known as "Section 8." The city will use a lottery system for establishing the waitlist.
It took 12 years for PHA to work its way through the 55,000 families who were on the waiting list for vouchers when it closed in 2010, so PHA President and CEO Kelvin Jeremiah said he was thrilled to announce its re-opening.
"It is, in our view, a very great day in Philadelphia," said Jeremiah, who worked through much of the previous batch of 55,000 applications.
Jeremiah said PHA will limit the waiting list to 10,000 families this time, so it can address housing needs in a reasonable time frame. Some people were on the old list for as long as 15 years. He hopes to go through the new list in three to five years.
"We know that life circumstances change and how quickly that happens," Jeremiah said.
He acknowledged that far more than 10,000 people in Philadelphia need housing help. He expects about 55,000 families to apply, so the PHA will hold a computerized lottery to get on the waitlist.
The lottery opens for applications online or over the phone from 6 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 23 until just before 6 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 5. Jeremiah says current residents will get a preference in the lottery.
"We believe that these vouchers should be in Philadelphia given the desperate need for housing that exists here, and we know that there is huge demand," he said.
People can access lottery applications here, or can call 215-999-3102 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the wait list application period.
Jeremiah also announced the extension of landlord incentives, including a signing bonus and covered repairs, to assure that recipients can find a place that will accept vouchers.
