Prospective Participants

SJCHA will open the waiting list and take online applications at 9:00 AM on May 6, 2025 through 9:00 AM on May 8, 2025.

 

How to Apply

You may apply for assistance online between 9:00 AM on May 6, 2025 and 9:00 AM May 8, 2025.

Apply at Waitlistcheck | St. Joseph County Housing Authority

  • If you need assistance in another language, Google Translate is available to assist you during the application process.

  • If a disabled person requires a reasonable accommodation to complete the application, call 574-656-3545 or email waitinglist.sjcha@gmail.com prior to noon on Monday, May 5, 2025.
  • There are no fees associated with applying for the waiting list, and any websites requesting a fee to apply are not legitimate and are not related to the housing authority.
  • Interested persons without access to the internet may go to locations with computers for public use, such as public libraries.
  • Only one application per family will be accepted. Duplicates will be eliminated.
  • Completion of the application does not guarantee placement on the 2025 Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) Waitlist.
  • Selection is based on the SJCHA’s system for preference and lottery. Local preferences are ranked in accordance with the SJCHA’s hierarchy of preferences, and each preference is weighted individually. A family may qualify for more than one preference category. 500 applications will be chosen through a lottery system. 
    • Jurisdictional Preference: This preference is available to families who live in or include a family member that works in the jurisdiction of SJCHA or is a person who has been hired to work in the jurisdiction of the SJCHA. The jurisdiction of SJCHA is the rural area of St. Joseph County, IN. (towns of Walkerton, North Liberty, Roseland, Lakeville, New Carlisle, Osceola, Granger, and any five (5) digit street address in the rural area of St. Joseph County); OUTSIDE the city limits of South Bend or Mishawaka.
    • Residency Preference: This preference is available to families who live in St. Joseph County, IN.
    • Disability Preference: This preference is extended to disabled persons or families with a disabled member
    • Elderly Preference: This preference is extended to a family whose head, spouse or sole member is age 62 or older
    • Veteran’s Preference: This preference is available to current members of the U.S. Armed Forces, veterans, or surviving spouses of veterans.

 

 

Initial Eligibility

Applicants must meet several criteria to be eligible for assistance.

  • Income Limits Requirement: The Applicant household or individual must meet income requirements which are published and updated annually by HUD.
  • At least one household member must be a United States citizen or an eligible immigrant.
  • Each household member must have a Social Security Number or be able to verify that one has been applied for.
  • Meet SJCHA’s criminal background screening criteria.
  • May not owe money to a housing authority or left a HUD program in bad standing within the last 3 years.

 

What Kind of Documents Will I Need?

  • Copies of the front and back of Picture IDs for each person 18 or older in the household;
  • Copies of birth certificates and Social Security cards for each member of the household;
  • Copy of marriage license if currently married; divorce papers if recently divorced;
    Verification of ALL income, including self-employment
  • Wages – 60-Days of current consecutive ​pay stubs
  • Self-Employment – Tax documents or Profit/Loss Statement
  • Monetary Contributions – Written statement from person providing funds including how much provided and how often funds are provided
  • Social Security – Award Letter
  • SNAP and/or TANF eligibility printout showing monthly benefit amount
  • Child Support printout – Needed for ALL households with children under 18. Need a payment history report OR a No Case letter
  • Unemployment – Weekly benefit statement OR statement of No Case if not working
  • 6 months of Bank Statement(s) for each household member regardless of age
  • 6 months of Cash Account Statement(s) (CASH App, Venmo, PayPal, Payroll cards, etc.) for each household member regardless of age
  • If not currently living in St Joseph County Indiana, original certified background check (current month);
  • If not currently living and/or receiving mail in South Bend, IN, residency verification for the date of your prescreening application.