We understand that the affordable housing application process can feel overwhelming, this article will walk you through the steps of the application process:
For Communities that are already Open:
1. Leads & Inquiries: We collect leads and inquiries from numerous sources including but not limited to: Facebook, Instagram (and other social media), Telephone, Email, Our Website, Zillow®, Trulia®, Rent.com™ and other sources and add them to the existing community Waitlists. Our Waitlists will open in alignment with the Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing Plan and will close when the Waitlist reaches 3 times the number of units on the property. Waitlist management includes:
a. Submission: All Waitlist applicants must complete and submit an application.
b. Recording: All applications are recorded with the date/time they were received by leasing office.
c. Confirmation: A letter is sent to applicants confirming their household is placed on the Waitlist.
d. Updates: You must notify the leasing office of any changes to your: income, address or household composition. If you need to change the size of the unit originally requested; you must reapply and the application will be treated as new.
e. Refresh: Waitlists are updated every (6) months, with correspondence. If you do not respond to our letter you will be removed from the Waitlist.
Note: Once a household is placed on the Waitlist it is not possible to predict a timeline as to when a unit that meets that particular household’s housing needs will become available.
2. Waitlist: Once the Waitlist is established, applicant’s are then contacted based on their position on the Waitlist for an apartment that fits their household and income situation becomes available. (Please Note: Our leasing offices can confirm whether or not your name is currently on a property’s Waitlist; however, we are unable to provide your specific position on the Waitlist or predict when a unit that meets your household’s needs will become available. This is because unit availability depends on a variety of factors, including current resident move-outs, unit turnover time, and matching available units to applicants’ eligibility requirements. While we understand the desire for more precise information, this process ensures that units are offered fairly and in accordance with program guidelines.)
For Communities that are not yet Open:
1. Inquiry List: We begin by collecting the name, email address and phone number for people who are interested in our up-and-coming community, this establishes the “Inquiry List”. The Inquiry List is typically established a year before a community is slated to open. (Please Note: The Inquiry List is not a Waitlist, for more information see our Inquiry Lists vs. Waitlists article.)
2. Lottery: The people on the Inquiry List are then notified when the preliminary application becomes available and they are able to submit their application; this begins the “Lottery” period. A Housing Lottery is a fair and impartial way to determine the order in which qualified applicants are offered affordable housing opportunities when there are more applications than available apartments. Instead of first-come, first-served, a lottery gives every eligible applicant an equal chance at being selected. (The lottery period can be anywhere from 30 – 90 days long.) When the Lottery period closes, all of the qualifying applications that were received during the Lottery period are randomized (with a witness to ensure impartialness). Once the randomization is complete, our Waitlist is established and all households on the Waitlist will receive a letter indicating they are on the Waitlist.
3. Waitlist: Once the Waitlist is established, applicant’s are then contacted based on their position on the Waitlist for an apartment that fits their household and income situation becomes available. (Please Note: Our leasing offices can confirm whether or not your name is currently on a property’s Waitlist; however, we are unable to provide your specific position on the Waitlist or predict when a unit that meets your household’s needs will become available. This is because unit availability depends on a variety of factors, including current resident move-outs, unit turnover time, and matching available units to applicants’ eligibility requirements. While we understand the desire for more precise information, this process ensures that units are offered fairly and in accordance with program guidelines.)