A Mississippi Section 8 housing list can be a useful tool when you are looking for an apartment to rent with a housing voucher. There are a variety of resources available from public housing agencies (PHAs) to help you find housing. Moreover, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has certain tools that you can use to aid your search.

When looking for Section 8 listings in MS, it is important to remember that a housing choice voucher allows you to rent any acceptable home on the open market. With that in mind, you can broaden your search beyond the resources you receive from HUD or your PHA. Read the sections below to learn more about finding low income apartments for rent and discover what types of housing are approved under this program.

What is an approved Section 8 housing list in Mississippi?

When you receive a housing choice voucher from a local PHA, the agency may give you tips and resources for finding a place to rent. In fact, housing authorities will typically cover what you need to know about using your voucher during an informational briefing. During this meeting, you may receive any of the following information to help you find homes for rent that accept Section 8:

• An informational packet with current rental listings.
• A list of landlords who commonly rent to Section 8 recipients.
• Links to apartment for rent apps or websites that the PHA has partnered with.
• Access to a PHA webpage with available homes and apartments.

Even if your local PHA provides you with Section 8 rental listings, keep in mind that locating a unit to rent is still your responsibility. Overall, many housing agencies do not have the time or the resources to help every client search for a home that will accept vouchers.

Because many PHAs are small organizations, they may not provide you with any resources for finding a rental. In this case, you may use HUD homes for rent listings as an alternative. When browsing through these listings, you may find the following:

• Single-family homes
• Townhomes
• Duplexes
• Units in high-rise apartment buildings
• Regular apartment units

It is important to note that HUD listings may include units in public housing projects. Because projects are already federally-assisted, you cannot use Section 8 assistance to rent one of these apartments.

Furthermore, a PHA may provide you with information regarding any public or private housing that it manages. In any case, you are allowed to use your rental assistance funds in a privately-owned housing unit. You are free to choose any Section 8 rental listings in the market, not just properties that are associated with your PHA.

Other Ways to Find Section 8 Listings in Mississippi

Finding Section 8 approved housing for rent is similar to looking for a regular apartment. When going through a list of low income apartments for rent in Mississippi, you simply need to check for landlords who are willing to accept Section 8. Some, but not all, property owners will participate in this program.

It is possible to find homes for rent that accept Section 8 through a variety of different methods. Generally, browsing online is the easiest and most convenient option for most voucher holders.

There are a variety of websites created just for low-income properties, including homes that accept these types of HUD vouchers. For instance, GoSection8 active listings tend to include a variety of units that work within this program.

In addition to using different apps and websites, you can find even more opportunities by looking in other places. Many landlords will advertise their listings:

• In local newspapers.
• On community bulletin boards.
• By posting for-rent signs outside properties.
• In online classifieds.

Quality Standards for Section 8 Approved Housing in Mississippi

Once you have found Section 8 rental listings in Mississippi that you are interested in, you can start the next step in the process. First, it is important to ensure that the unit is in fact rented by a landlord who is willing to work within the Section 8 program.

Under this program, you are not usually allowed to rent from a property owner who is a close family member to you. In addition, your apartment will need to be rented at a fair rate compared to similar units in the area. The PHA is usually in charge of determining what rental rate is considered fair.

Furthermore, the unit needs to pass an inspection. During this phase, the PHA will look for damage and other issues that present a health or safety issue. The housing authority may refer to HUD standards as well as local zoning requirements.

Unfortunately, not all apartments for rent that accept Section 8 will be able to pass an inspection. In such cases, you may need to continue your search elsewhere, unless a landlord is able to comply with the PHA requirements before you sign a lease. Learn more about the health and safety standards for Section 8 listings by reading our guide here.

Tips to Help You Find Low Income Apartments for Rent in Mississippi

When looking through a Section 8 housing list in Mississippi, there are a few important program rules to keep in mind. Most importantly, you must use your voucher before it expires.

You will have at least 60 days to look for an apartment, but many PHAs give you additional time to search. Some housing authorities will also let you apply for an extension if you are having trouble finding a place before the deadline. You must use your voucher before its expiration date or you will lose your rental assistance.

It is also important to understand where you are allowed to use your voucher. While you are generally free to rent any acceptable apartment or home, your PHA may require that you live in a certain area when you first start using your assistance.

This is usually only the case if you did not already live in the PHA’s service area when you were granted a voucher. Because this rule can affect where you look for Section 8 listings, it is important to ask your PHA about these requirements.