Urgent Deadline for Maine Housing Waitlist Applicants Approaching

PORTLAND, Maine (February 7, 2022) – The Portland Housing Authority is urging current Section 8/Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) waitlist applicants to update their applications by February 17, 2022 to keep their application active.

Maine is in the process of upgrading the state’s centralized housing waitlist system shared by local housing authorities, including Portland. As part of this upgrade process, current waitlist applicants must ensure their information is up to date to receive notification of available Section 8/HCV housing opportunities once the new system is in place.

Notification of the deadline to update applications began in November 2021; as of January 31, the official deadline had passed. The deadline has been extended for an extremely limited time until February 17, 2022. Applicants must update applications themselves; participating housing authorities are currently unable to update applications in the new system.

“If you or someone you know is on a waitlist for Section 8/Housing Choice Vouchers anywhere in Maine, it is absolutely imperative that applicants update their information to stay on the list,” said Leah Bruns, Director of Voucher Programs for the Portland Housing Authority. “All applicants should update immediately. This will enable their application to stay active so they can be promptly contacted with any available Section 8/HCV housing opportunity.”

To update an application:

If unsure whether you are a current waitlist applicant, call Affordable Housing Network (AHN) at 1-866-466-7328. AHN will ask identifying questions prior to providing any information regarding application status. Be prepared to provide the following information: full Head of Household name, Co-Head of Household name, last four digits of your Social Security Number, and date of birth. Please note, AHN cannot take full SSN numbers over the phone.

If you are a current waitlist applicant, you can update your application one of two ways:

1. The fastest way is to visit www.AffordableHousing.com/Upda... and click on “Update Application” then follow the prompts to create an account. During the sign-up process the applicant’s old information will be connected to their account. After the new account is created, the applicant will need to review and update their application. TIP: All applicants must create a new login for Affordable Housing. The login from the previous system will not work.

2. Visit a participating Public Housing Authority to pick up a paper application, which must be returned to: Affordable Housing Network, PO Box 272530, Boca Raton, FL 33427. If you need assistance at any time, please call Affordable Housing Network Customer Service at 1-866-466-7328.

About Portland Housing Authority
Established in 1943, the Portland Housing Authority and its affiliated corporations provide long-term, affordable fair rental housing and related assistance to more than 3,000 low-income families, seniors, and disabled individuals. It does this primarily through federally funded and regulated programs, including the Foster Youth to Independence Program (FYI) and the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program. In collaboration with community partners and fellow housing authorities like South Portland and Westbrook, PHA strives to improve quality of life, build community, enhance safety, and promote personal success for the people it serves and the neighborhoods in which they reside. For more information, visit www.porthouse.org.