Public Housing

The Augusta Housing Authority (AHA) is NOT accepting applications
for the Conventional Public Housing Waiting List.

Local Preferences [24 CFR 960.206]

Public housing agencies are permitted to establish local preferences and to give priority to serving families that meet those criteria. HUD specifically authorizes and places restrictions on certain types of local preferences. HUD also permits the Augusta Housing Authority to establish other local preferences, at its discretion. Any local preferences established must be consistent with the Augusta Housing Authority plan and the consolidated plan, and must be based on local housing needs and priorities that can be documented by generally accepted data sources [24 CFR 960.206(a)].

Augusta Housing Authority Policy

The Augusta Housing Authority will use the following local preference:
In order to bring higher income families into public housing, the Augusta Housing Authority will establish a preference for “working” families, where the head, spouse, cohead, or sole member is employed at least 20 hours per week. As required by HUD, families where the head and spouse, or sole member is a person age 62 or older, or is near elderly –age 55, or is a person with disabilities, will also be given the benefit of the working preference [24 CFR 960.206(b)(2)]. Preference will also be given to families who are homeless and/or have been involuntarily displaced [24 CFR 960.206(b)5].
When your name comes to the top of the waiting list, you will need at a minimum: Birth Certificates, Social Security Cards and Proof of Income for each family member.

Generally, it takes an average between 6 months and five-years before an applicant’s name reaches the top of the waiting list and housing assistance is received. Check the Frequently Asked Questions page to find out other things that could cause a delay or denial of assistance.

Additional Public Housing Information:
Community Map
Community Service Requirement

Section 8 Rental Assistance Information:

At this time, the Augusta Housing Authority’s Waiting List
for Section 8 Tenant-Based Assistance Program is NOT accepting new applications.

At this time, the Augusta Housing Authority’s Waiting List
for Section 8 Project-Based Assistance Program is NOT accepting new applications.

The Section 8 Rental Assistance Program offers two types of assistance. Section 8 Tenant-Based Assistance involves vouchers that are used to subsidize rent in privately owned rental units. In Section 8 Project-Based Assistance, the client may select from qualified units in specific housing in order to receive assistance. Clients who participate in the Section 8 Tenant-Based Assistance are also encouraged to participate in the AHA’s Family Self-Sufficiency Program.

The Augusta Housing Authority administers a total of 5,519 units in a combination of Rental Choice Housing Vouchers and site based assistance programs. The 5,519 units consist of:
3,328 Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8 Tenant-Based Assistance), that include 42 Project Based Vouchers at The Highlands West and 44 Project Based Vouchers at Maxwell House Apartments, 2,064 Georgia HAP Administrators Program, 92 Project Based-Moderate Rehabilitation Program Vouchers and 35 Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH).

At this time, the Augusta Housing Authority’s Waiting List for Section 8 Tenant-Based Assistance is accepting new applications. When the list is opened, notices are placed in local newspapers and the information is given to community service agencies. To accommodate the large number of applications received when the waiting list is opened, AHA may use a special telephone number or other method to allow the most people possible to apply. Generally, when the list is opened it takes only a short-time, often just a couple of days, to get as many new applications as we can process and serve. To place an application, you do not need to bring any documents. However, when your name comes to the top of the waiting list, you will need at a minimum: Birth Certificates, Social Security Cards and Proof of Income for each family member.

Check the Frequently Asked Questions page to find out other things that could cause a delay or denial of assistance.