Housing Authorities help pay for homes

For some Greeley and Weld County residents, it is a struggle to pay the rent every month. Fortunately, there is help to be found. The Greeley and Weld County Housing Authorities are federally-funded agencies that provide subsidized housing for low-income families and individuals through two programs.

Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers is a program open to families making less than 50 percent of the median income for the area. The family pays 30 percent of their income toward rent and utilities, and the rest is covered by the Housing Authorities.
Executive director Tom Teixeira said the average yearly income of those in the Section 8 program is $10,500, usually from wages or Social Security payments.

“There are almost 1,000 vouchers issued by the Housing Authority each month,” Teixeira said. “It allows families to rent privately-owned properties, but there are limits on the allowable cost of the unit. Almost half of the people receiving Section 8 Vouchers are either elderly or  disabled.”

Teixeira also discussed Public Housing, a program that provides homes owned and operated by the Housing Authority. There are 80 apartments and six houses available to families who make less than 80 percent of the median income for the area, although they usually make much less.

According to a Weld County Housing Authorities statistics sheet, the average yearly income for those in the Public Housing program is $8,457. The families are also required to pay 30 percent of their monthly income for rent. 

Teixeira said, generally, traditional students are not eligible for aid, but there are exceptions. For example, students who are veterans, emancipated from their parents or married may receive some assistance.