FAQs • Brookhaven, NY • CivicEngage

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Housing and Human Services - Housing Choice Voucher Program

1. What is the Housing Choice Voucher Program?: The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program, commonly known as Section 8, is a federal program designed to provide rental assistance to low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Through the HCV Program, the Town of Brookhaven Housing and Community Development pays a portion of eligible families’ rent each month directly to the Property Owner/Manager/Landlord.

2. How Can I Apply?: The Town of Brookhaven’s Housing Choice Voucher Program waitlist is currently closed and applications are not available. The last waitlist opening yielded over 7,000 applications and it is not anticipated that the Town of Brookhaven will open a new waitlist for the foreseeable future.

To be eligible to receive a voucher, you must meet the following requirements at the time you are selected from the Waitlist:

You must be 18 years of age or older, or an emancipated minor according to NYS law.
Your household income must meet income guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for Town of Brookhaven. Maximum income guidelines may not exceed the low-income limit as determined by HUD annually.
When selected from the Waitlist, you will be required to provide additional information to verify the data you supplied when applying. The Department of Housing will verify your data and, in most cases, will require documentation to demonstrate that you are eligible.

4. How many applications were submitted?: The Town of Brookhaven Housing Choice Voucher Program waitlist was open to new applicants from March 8, 2021 to March 12, 2021. Over 7,000 applications were received at that time. The Housing Authority will determine the eligibility of each applicant as they are selected off the waitlist. Applicants living or working in the Town of Brookhaven will receive preference.

5. When will you determine if I’m eligible?: Eligibility is verified and determined at the time you are selected off the waitlist.

6. Should I tell you if my contact information changes?: Changes in address, telephone number, and email address should be reported as soon as possible using the online platform at www.Assistancecheck.com. You can login with the username and password created at the time of your preliminary application. If you cannot access www.Assistancecheck.com, contact information changes must be submitted in writing to Town of Brookhaven Housing and Community Development, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, NY 11738 or faxed to 631-451-6597.

7. How do I check the status of my application?: Status information is available by logging in to www.AssistanceCheck.com using the same username and password created to submit your original preliminary application. Changes in address, telephone number, and email address can also be submitted on this platform.

8. How will I hear from the Housing Authority about my application?: Town of Brookhaven Housing Choice Voucher Program staff will be reaching out to candidates selected from the waitlist via mail through the United States Postal Service. It is important to keep your address up to date so that this important letter will reach you.

9. When will I hear from the Housing Authority about my application?: Due to the overwhelming response of applications during our waitlist opening, it is not possible to provide each applicant with an individualized wait time. You will be contacted via mail through the United State Postal Service when you have been selected from the waiting list to determine your eligibility. It is important to keep all of your address up to date with the Town of Brookhaven Housing Choice Voucher Program using the online platform www.AssistanceCheck.com by logging in with the username and password you created to submit your original preliminary application.

10. What happens next?: Town of Brookhaven Housing Choice Voucher Program staff will be reaching out to each candidate selected from the waitlist via mail through the United State Postal Service. It is important to keep your address up to date so that this important letter will reach you.

11. Am I on your current waiting list?: The Town of Brookhaven Housing Choice Voucher Program waitlist was open to new applicants from March 8, 2021 to March 12, 2021. Over 7,000 applications were received at that time. If you were one of these applicants, you can check your status by logging into www.AssistanceCheck.com with the username and password you created to submit your original preliminary application. Here you can also submit changes to your address, telephone number, and email address.

12. What changes do I need to report to the Housing Authority?: Only changes of address, telephone number, and email address should be reported while you are on the waitlist. Should you begin working or be hired to work in the Town of Brookhaven and reside outside of the Town of Brookhaven, please report this change in writing to the Housing Choice Voucher Program. All other information will be verified and updated when you are selected off of the waitlist.

13. What is the wait time for applicants?: Due to the overwhelming response of applications during our waitlist opening, it is not possible to provide each applicant with an individualized wait time. You will be contacted via mail through the United States Postal Service when you have been selected from the waiting list to determine your eligibility. It is important to keep all of your address, telephone number, and email address up to date with the Town of Brookhaven Housing Choice Voucher Program using the online platform www.AssistanceCheck.com by logging in with the username and password you created to submit your original preliminary application.

14. I’m active on the Waitlist. Do I look for housing now?: Your eligibility for the Housing Choice Voucher Program will be determined when your application is selected off the waiting list. Not all applicants on the list are necessarily eligible to receive a voucher. Eligibility is determined by income, immigration status, local preferences, background checks and other factors. When an applicant is determined eligible for the Housing Choice Voucher Program, the Housing Authority will guide the applicant in how to begin looking for housing using their Housing Choice Voucher.

15. What if I need help right away?: The Housing Choice Voucher Program is not an emergency program and cannot be utilized for immediate assistance. It is suggested that you contact your local Department of Social Services if you are in need of emergency housing assistance.

16. Should I report my new job to the Housing Authority?: Only changes in address, telephone number, and email address should be reported while you are on the waitlist. Should you begin working or be hired to work in the Town of Brookhaven and live outside of the Town of Brookhaven, please report this change in writing to the Housing Choice Voucher Program.