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Eligibility

  1. How old do you have to be to apply for housing?
    You cannot sign a legal contract in the state of North Carolina unless you are AT LEAST 18 years of age.
     
  2. Who is eligible?
    Public housing is limited to low-income families and individuals. The Housing Authority determines your eligibility based on:
    • Annual gross income
    • Whether you qualify as elderly, a person with a disability, or a family.
    • U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status
    • Criminal history
    • Rental history based on our screening process, Lenoir Housing Authority (LHA) will deny admission to any applicant whose habits and practices may be expected to have a detrimental effect on other residents or on the public housing environment.
You must provide the Housing Authority with the following information to enable the Authority to determine your eligibility and the appropriate size unit for you and your family.
All Lenoir Housing Authority Public Housing Waiting Lists are currently OPEN.

The following items must be provided to the office with the completed application:
Requested documents must be turned in within 10 (ten) business days from the applied date.
UPLOAD THE DOCUMENTS TO YOUR APPLICATION (applicant portal), EMAIL -  OR IN PERSON AT THE OFFICE.

  1. Birth Certificate for ALL family members.
  2. Social Security cards for ALL family members.
  3. A valid State or Federal issued photo identification such as a state-issued driver's license, identification card, passport, etc. for ALL ADULT family members over the age of 18.
  4. Proof of income and verification of family assets of ALL family members, i.e. wages, Social Security, SSI, Child Support, Unemployment, etc.
  5. If your name is different than the name on your birth certificate you must provide legal documents for proof of the name change, i.e. marriage license, court-ordered adoption papers, etc.

Once all documents have been received with the completed application, LHA will review your information and contact you with any follow-up questions.

If you select a preference, you must provide verification to support your request.

In order to qualify for Public Housing an applicant must:

  • Be a family defined by HUD. See Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy for the definition.
  • Meet the HUD requirements on citizenship or immigration status. See ACOP for requirements.
  • Meet the HUD income guidelines at the time of admission. Income must not exceed the limits established by HUD for Caldwell County.

Click here to find the latest HUD Income Limits

  • Pay any money owed to LHA or any other housing authority or Section 8.
  • Sign authorization forms so that LHA can verify the various eligibility requirements.
    Citizenship Declaration
    Supplement to Application
    Criminal Background Check
    Notification & Release of Information
    Landlord Verification  
  • Not have ANY household members who engage in ANY criminal activity that threatens the life, health, safety, or right to peaceful enjoyment of the premises by other residents, and not have ANY household members who are engaging in any drug-related or violent criminal activity.
  • If you or ANY member of your household has a conviction for manufacturing or producing methamphetamine (speed).
    Or
  • An eviction from federally assisted housing because of drug-related criminal activity. These individuals and their families are ineligible for admission to Public Housing for a five (5) year period beginning on the date of such eviction.
  • If you or ANY member of your household are subject to lifetime registration under a state sex offender registration act will be denied.
  • Qualify under the LHA screening criteria.

The US Department of Housing and Urban development determines the size of units needed for qualified applicants.

Click here for the HUD Bedroom Sizes Document (Tenant Selection - Chapter 5)