Frequent Questions

Can I get assistance from you outside of the Oklahoma City area?
The Oklahoma City Housing Authority's jurisdiction only covers the Oklahoma City limits. For a list of Housing Authorities with websites nation wide, click here.

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What does the Housing Authority do and how can you help me?
The Oklahoma City Housing Authority owns and manages over 3,100 apartments and houses which it leases to low-income people and administers over 3,800 units of Section 8 Assistance in the Oklahoma City Metropolitan area only. The rent for both programs are based on your income and we provide many services to assist our residents. The Oklahoma City Housing Authority is basically a property management company (Landlord) who leases it's own property and, administers the Section 8 Assistance Program for the metropolitan area. To look at information regarding our Public Housing and services, click here. To see information about Section 8 Assistance, click here. For a list of Housing Authority/Housing Agency websites nationwide, click here.

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What is the difference between Public Housing and Section 8?
Public Housing is when a Housing Authority owns and manages the property it leases. The Oklahoma City Housing Authority owns and manages apartments and houses which it leases to low-income people on an income-based rental rate in the Oklahoma City Metropolitan area only.
Section 8 is owned and managed by private landlords who list their property with a Housing Authority/Housing Agency who, in turn, refer prospective tenants to their property. The Housing Authority/Housing Agency also subsidizes part of the tenant's rent to the landlord. The Oklahoma City Housing Authority administers Section 8 Assistance in the Oklahoma City Metropolitan area only. For a list of Housing Authority/Housing Agency websites nationwide, click here.

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Do you have emergency housing?
Unfortunately, there is not emergency housing in the state of Oklahoma. We suggest you contact an assistance organization, church or other charitable organization. Possible help:

Agencies and phone numbers obtained from the "Helpful Numbers" section of the Southwestern Bell Yellow Pages.

Adult & Child Hotline	1-800-522-3511
Contact Crisis Helpline	405-848-2273
Parents Assistance Center-Child Abuse Hotline	405-232-8226
Oklahoma State Department of Human Services	405-521-2778
Oklahoma State Office of HUD Oklahoma State Office of HUD website	405-553-7401
United Way website

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Can you help me with my mortgage payment on my home?
The Oklahoma City Housing Authority is a property management company (Landlord) and is not a lending agency or an oversight agency. We recommend that you contact your lender.

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Can you help me with my rent on my apartment?
The Housing Authority can not directly help you with your rent to a private, non-Section 8 Landlord or Property Management company. However, if you are paying more than 30% of your monthly adjusted gross income for rent, and if you are eligible or appropriate for assistance, you should consider leasing one of our Public Housing units or applying for Section 8 assisted housing.

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How long does it take to get housing?
    This is a difficult question to answer exactly. Because of the many variables due to the individuality of our applicants and our programs, we can only give approximations of time.
    For Public Housing, application processing can take approximately two to four weeks. Then, on average, another two weeks for an available and suitable bedroom sized unit to be offered.
    For Section 8 Assistance, it is approximately seven months from the time of preliminary application until you are contacted to make formal application. Formal application processing is two to four weeks. Once the formal application processing is complete and if you are eligible, you are issued a voucher and have sixty days to find an appropriate Section 8 rental unit. Once you decide on a unit, it is approximately two more weeks for a Briefing Session and inspection to be scheduled and completed. You may fill out a Preliminary Application online now if you like, just click here.

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My landlord is being unfair to me, can you do something about it?
The Housing Authority can not directly help you with complaints about a private, non-Section 8 Landlord or Property Management company. However we do recommend you contact the Metropolitan Fair Housing Council.

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Can you send me an application for housing so I can fill it out then bring it back?
We apologize that the application must be processed in the office. You will need to supply a photo I.D., Social Security card, Income verification, and a Rental History. For more information click here.

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I am under the age of 18 years old, can I get a place?
To qualify you must be 18 years or older, or be an emancipated by the Court system.

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I used to live in housing, can I come back?
You are welcome to apply again for housing assistance. Any back balance owed must be paid before you can be approved and your prior rental history with us will be checked.

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What if I don't have any children, can I still get housing?
Yes, we have housing available for single adults and seniors.

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I have applied for Section 8, can I apply for Public Housing too?
Yes you may. In fact we suggest that, if you are interested in the Section 8 Program and need a place soon, you apply for both Programs because the processing period is much longer for Section 8. That way you will have a place to stay while waiting for your Section 8 assistance to process which on average is approximately 9 months. Public Housing processing is approximately 2 to 6 weeks.

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Am I eligible?
You may be eligible as an individual or a family if your income level qualifies as low- or very-low based on national standards. There is no minimum income level, and depending on the number of family members, a family making in excess of $30,000 per year can still be eligible for housing.

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How is rent determined?
Your rent will be determined based on the total income of the individual or family requesting residence. Allowable deductions also are taken into consideration when determining a resident's rent. Annual reexaminations ensure that the amount of rent you pay does not exceed 30% of your adjusted monthly income. Should your family's composition or income change during the year, interim reexaminations is made.

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