There’s a lottery being held in Seattle. But, this one isn’t about winning big bucks. It’s about a chance at affordable housing.
The lottery is being run by the Seattle Housing Authority for slots on a wait list for the Section 8 voucher program. The federal housing assistance program provides vouchers to low income people that they take to private sector landlords to help pay for their rent. But, so many people are in need of rental assistance, for more than is available, that housing authorities like Seattle’s use a lottery system to put people on the list.
In January, when the King County Housing Authority held a lottery for Section 8 vouchers, 22,000 people applied for 2500 spots.
Kerry Coughlin, Seattle Housing Authority spokeswoman, says it’s been two years since Seattle’s wait list was opened up.
“Housing in Seattle, as we’re all being made aware, is in an affordability crisis and, hopefully, if we can get some more vouchers out in the community it will help people,” Coughlin said.
Sign up for the wait list begins Monday, March 23, and runs through April 10. Registration must be done on line at seattlehousing.org/waitlist. The Seattle Housing Authority is warning applicants to avoid fraudulent sites that try and charge users.