Georgetown Housing Authority - Affordable Housing in Georgetown, Texas

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

What programs do you have?
How do I apply?
Why is the Section 8 Waiting List closed?
Where will I go on the waiting list?
How long is the waiting list?
How do I stay on the waiting list?
How will I know when I am going to get an apartment?
What is the process?
Do you have emergency housing?
Where am I on the waiting list?
I have a voucher and I want to move to Georgetown.
What do I do?
Do you have a Home Ownership Program?
I want to be a landlord on the Section 8 program. How can I list my unit?
What are the HQS standards for HCV (S8) inspections?
What are the current utility allowances for the HCV (S8) Program??
How much will my rent be?
What is the difference between Section 8, Public Housing, and Section 8 New
Construction?

What programs do you have?
The Georgetown Housing Authority (GHA) currently has three housing programs: Public Housing, Section 8 New Construction, and the Housing Choice Voucher Program (known as Section 8).

How do I apply?
You can apply one of two ways. You can apply by going to either apartment office from the 11th until the end of every month from 9:00 am -12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm and fill out an application in person. You will need to have a driver’s license or Texas ID card and a social security card when you apply. You can also click on the Application Link to print out an application. Fill it out and mail it to the Georgetown Housing Authority at P. O. Box 60, Georgetown TX 78627. Please make sure to include a copy of your driver’s license or Texas ID card and your social security card.

Currently, we are accepting applications for Stonehaven Apartments and Shady Oaks Apartments only. THE SECTION 8 WAITING LIST IS CLOSED AND WE DO NOT ANTICIPATE REOPENING OUR WAITING LIST UNTIL 2010.

Why is the Section 8 Waiting list closed?
The Housing Authority last opened for applications in 2006 and received approximately 250 applications during a two day period. Families were placed on a waiting list since the number of applications received far exceeded the available funding. Currently, we can only assist 87 families on the program at one time and do not allow more people on the waiting list than we think we can assist in two – three years.

Where will I go on the waiting list?
Once an application is filled out, you are placed on a waiting list according to the date and time of their application and the size of the unit for which you qualify. For mail-in applications, applications received between the 1st and the 10th of each month will be placed on the waiting list dated the first business day after the 10th with an application time of 9:00 am. Mail-in applications received after the 10th will be placed on the waiting list dated the first business day after they are received with an application time of 9:00 am.

How long is the waiting list?
The waiting list for all bedroom sizes averages nine to twelve months long.

How do I stay on the waiting list?
To remain on the waiting list, you MUST renew your application every THREE months in writing. Please click on the Renewal Form to print out a renewal form. You can also come into the office and renew your application in writing.

How will I know when I am going to get an apartment?
We will contact you to set up an appointment.

What is the process?
You must first attend an eligibility appointment to determine if you qualify. At this appointment, you will be required to provide information on your family composition, your credit history, your criminal history, your previous rental history, and all income you and all your family members are receiving. You will also be required to provide birth certificates and social security cards for everyone who will be living with you.

If you qualify, we will show you an apartment. You do not have a choice of which apartment you would like to rent. We will offer you one apartment and you will have seven days to accept or reject that apartment. If you decide NOT to rent that apartment, you will be taken off the waiting list.

If you decide to rent the apartment, we will work with you to set up a date for move in. You will sign a lease, pay any prorated rent and security deposit you need to, and receive your keys.

Do you have emergency housing?
The Georgetown Housing Authority does not provide ANY type of emergency assistance or preferential assistance.

Where am I on the waiting list?
You will need to contact the management office to determine where you are on the waiting list. You can either call the office or write us at P. O. Box 60, Georgetown TX 78627 for your place on the waiting list. SECTION 8 APPLICANTS: YOU MUST REQUEST YOUR WAITING LIST POSITION IN WRITING. PHONE CALLS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

I have a voucher and I want to move to Georgetown. What do I do?
First, you must contact your current Section 8 caseworker. They will contact our Section 8 office and notify us of your plan to move. They will also fax paperwork to our office. Once they do, the Section 8 specialist will contact you to set up an appointment.

Georgetown Housing Authority accepts all Section 8 tenants who want to move to Georgetown. For more information, please call Shannon Kelly at 512.869.6918. To fax information, send it to 512.869.7348.

Do you have a Home Ownership Program?
GHA does NOT have a Home Ownership Program at this time.

I want to be a landlord on the Section 8 program. How can I list my unit?
The first step in renting your property to a Housing Choice Voucher participant is to review a property owner checklist and complete a rental listing form. The rental listing form allows the GHA to get information about your vacancy and advertise it to our clients who are moving. Once GHA posts your listing, clients will then contact you about renting your property. You will show them the property and conduct your normal screening process in selecting a tenant. If you decide to lease to an assisted client, they will give you their moving packet to complete, which includes some forms that will get you set up as a vendor in our program and an inspection form that allows GHA to come out and approve the property. To see more information about the process, please review the Owner Information Packet. If you have further questions, contact Shannon Kelly at 512.869.6918.

What are the HQS standards for HCV (S8) inspections?
Download the HQS checklist here.

What are the current utility allowances for the HCV (S8) Program?
View the current utility allowances here.

How much will my rent be?
Your rent will be approximately 30% of your gross monthly income. Depending on several things, your rent could be higher or lower, but not by much.

Click here for more detailed information on how your rent is calculated in the Public Housing and Section 8 programs.

Click here for more detailed information on how your rent is calculated in the Section 8 New Construction program.

What is the difference between Section 8, Public Housing, and Section 8 New Construction?
The Section 8 program allows a tenant to live in a private unit with a private landlord. Tenants in the Section 8 program pay approximately 30% of their income towards rent, and the Housing Authority pays the rest. Tenants in the Section 8 program also are responsible for paying their own utilities, although they do receive assistance from the Housing Authority in the form of a “Utility Allowance”. This is the most popular housing program we have, since tenants can choose to live anywhere in Georgetown.

Public Housing are apartments that the Housing Authority owns and manages. Residents pay the same percentage of their income for rent, but you do not have the option of where you want to live. The apartments typically do not have central air conditioning or carpeting like regular apartments, but are very nice units with full kitchens, baths and bedrooms. The Georgetown Housing Authority has one public housing property called Stonehaven Apartments.

Section 8 New Construction is a program that is very similar to Public Housing where tenants must live on property to receive rent assistance. GHA manages one New Construction property, Shady Oaks Apartments.