FAQs - Housing Authority of Hopkinsville

How do I report changes to my application?

Each family is responsible for reporting changes to his or her application. Any information on the application that changes, such as household members, income, or address are to be reported in writing within ten (10) days of the change taking place. If you choose, you can email your changes to rhilliard@housingah.org

What happens to my application once I am placed on the waiting list?

Once we reach your name on the waiting list, a letter will be mailed to the address you provided on your application (unless you have submitted a written change in address). That letter will tell you when and who to contact to schedule an appointment, and what information you will need to provide us in order to process your application. If you do not respond to this letter within the given time frame, your application will be withdrawn and you will have to reapply. We are not responsible for mail that you don’t receive because you didn't provide us with your current address, and we cannot be responsible for what the post office does with the mail once it leaves our office.

I am about to be evicted from my current residence. Can you provide assistance immediately?

We do not have “emergency housing.” We do give preference to applicants based on need. A list of those preferences are included on the application for assistance.

How much will my rent be?

Rents for Public Housing and Section 8 are based on the income of the entire family. It is generally 30% of the family’s income after any adjustments or deductions they may qualify for. There are other factors that may affect your rent depending on the unit.

Do I have to have a job to qualify for assistance?

There is no minimum income limit for any of our housing programs. However, we do have to be able to document that you will be able to pay the expenses associated with maintaining your unit such as utilities, rent, etc.

How much money can I make and still be eligible for assistance?

The table below shows the income limit for each housing program in our area based on the number of family members. This does not necessarily mean just income from employment. It includes many different sources of income and assets. Once you have submitted your application for assistance, a staff member will be able to determine whether you are eligible or not based on your income.

PROGRAM	FAMILY SIZE
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Section 8 Limit	10800	12300	13850	15400	16650	17850	19100	20350
Public Housing Limit	17950	20500	23100	25650	27700	29750	31800	33850

Do I have to have children to qualify?

No, it is not necessary to have children in order to qualify for assistance. Single person families are equally as eligible as families with children. However, we do house elderly or disabled single person families as well as families with more than one person before a single person family who is not elderly or disabled.

What is Public Housing?

Public Housing consists of 9 apartment complexes that the Housing Authority of Hopkinsville (HAH) owns and maintains here in the city of Hopkinsville. We have apartments ranging in size from a 0 bedroom which is a small efficiency style apartment only for elderly and disabled persons all the way up to 5 bedrooms.

How much are my utilities in public housing?

HAH pays all of the water bill, and monthly usage allowances for gas and electricity are included in with the rental rate you pay. If you use over the amount included with your rent, you would be required to pay the difference. Utilities are already turned on in the HAH’s name, so you will not be responsible for paying utility deposits to have those turned on.

How much will my security deposit be for a public housing unit?

There is a security deposit that will have to be paid if you lease a public housing unit. The amount of that deposit varies depending on the size apartment you qualify for.

1 and 2 bedroom designated elderly	$75.00
1 and 2 bedroom family	$125.00
3 bedroom family	$150.00
4 and 5 bedroom family	$175.00

How do I apply for just one specific apartment complex?

We do not have separate waiting lists for each complex. Once we reach a family’s name on the waiting list, placement is based on the availability of the size apartment the family qualifies for, and what units in that size are vacant at the time the application is processed. We can make reasonable accommodations for someone with a disability if requested.

What is Section 8?

Section 8 is a rental assistance program. Under this program, you would rent a house, an apartment, or mobile home from a private landlord. You would pay a portion of your rent directly to the landlord. How much you pay is based on the entire family’s income, but it is roughly equal to 30% of the family’s monthly income after any adjustments or deductions they may qualify for have been subtracted. The Section 8 program would then send a check for their part of your rent to your landlord also.

Are my utilities paid for on Section 8?

Whether or not your utilities would be included in your rent is up to the landlord. You would be responsible for paying your utilities, as well as any deposits needed to have them turned on in your name.

How much will my security deposit be?

You would be responsible for paying whatever security deposit your landlord asks for.

What size unit do I qualify for with Section 8?

The size unit you would be allowed to rent is based on the number of people in your household. If you only qualify for a two bedroom for instance, you would not be allowed to rent a three bedroom and pay the difference.

I found a house listed in the newspaper that says it is Section 8 approved. Can I rent it now and shorten the time I will have to be on the waiting list?

Renting a unit that someone tells you is “Section 8 approved” does not change where you are placed on the waiting list. Also, be careful because just because you are told that property is Section 8 approved does not necessarily mean that we will approve it. In order for a property to be approved, (1) the landlord has to be willing to work with our program; (2) the rent has to be within the range that we are allowed to pay under HUD regulations; and (3) it has to pass a Housing Quality Standards inspection conducted by one of our inspectors in order to insure that the property is in good and livable condition. None of these things take place until we have actually reached your name on the waiting list. It is possible that you could sign a lease for something, and then it not be approved. Then you would be obligated by that lease and responsible for paying the rent on that unit, but we would be unable to assist you.

Frequently Asked Questions