In Raleigh, low income families are on a waiting list for the Housing Choice Voucher (also called Section 8), which assists these families in paying their rent. In Raleigh, the number of families on this list is in the thousands—in fact, the lists have been paused in Durham, Wake and Orange counties due to the overwhelming number of lottery participants.

To qualify for the program’s funding, the family must come in at under 50% of the median income in the area. Each federal funding group has local distribution centers which then possess a specific number of available financial aid packages. The Raleigh movers have learned there simply isn’t enough to go around.

The average time period for getting on the waitlist to receiving funding? About five years. The specific need now is for more roofs to put over these people’s heads. With housing authorities losing funding, there simply isn’t enough space to put those in need. Not helping the situation is the fact that rents in areas like Orange County and Chapel Hill are on the rise.

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