Availability & Waitlist
Waitlists for communities managed by the Housing Authority of Queen Anne’s County open and close without notice as space becomes available. The buttons below will allow you to check the current status of all waitlists, apply for housing and check your position on the waitlist.
CHECK AVAILABILITY APPLY FOR HOUSING CHECK YOUR WAISTLIST POSITION
The Application Process
Any family that wishes to reside in public housing must apply for admission to the program. The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) permits PHAs to determine the format and content of its applications, as well how such applications will be made available to interested families and how applications will be accepted by the PHA. While each program has its own waitlist, the application process is the same.
Our Policy
Depending upon the length of time that applicants may need to wait to be housed, the PHA may use a one- or two-step application process. The applicant will be instructed at the time of their application on which process to follow.
A one-step process will be used when it is expected that a family will be selected from the waiting list within 60 days of the date of application. At application, the family must provide all information necessary to establish family eligibility and the amount of rent the family will pay.
A two-step process will be used when it is expected that a family will not be selected from the waiting list for at least 60 days from the date of application. Under the two-step application process, the PHA initially will require families to provide only the information needed to make an initial assessment of the family’s eligibility, and to determine the family’s placement on the waiting list. The family will be required to provide all information necessary to establish family eligibility and the amount of rent the family will pay when selected from the waiting list
Accessibility of Applications
The PHA must provide reasonable accommodation to the needs of individuals and take a variety of steps to ensure that the application process is accessible to those people who might have difficulty complying with the normal, standard PHA application process. For more information on or to request assistance under reasonable accommodation, please contact the office by either using the Contact Us form on the website, sending an email to [email protected] with the subject line “Waitlist Application Accommodation”, or calling 410-758-8634.
Updating the Waitlist
HUD requires the PHA to establish policies to update and maintain the waitlist for all programs they offer. This includes, but is not limited to, changing the order of applicants, removing applicants, and updating personal information which may render applicants ineligible for certain programs or types of housing accommodations.
If the applicant did not respond to the PHA’s request for information or updates because of the family member’s disability, the PHA must, upon the family’s request, reinstate the applicant family to their former position on the waiting list as a reasonable accommodation.
Our Policy
The waitlist will be updated annually to ensure that all applicants and applicant information is current and timely.
To update the waiting list, the PHA will send an update request via first class mail to each family on the waitlist to determine whether the family continues to be interested in, and to qualify for, the program. This update request will be sent to the last address that the PHA has on record for the family. The update request will provide a deadline by which the family must respond and will state that failure to respond will result in the applicant’s name being removed from the list.
The family’s response must be in writing and may be delivered in person or mailed to 104 Powell Street, Centreville, Maryland, 21617; or by fax at 410-758-8635. Responses should be postmarked or received by the PHA not later than 15 business days from the date of the PHA letter.
If the notice is returned by the post office with a forwarding address, the notice will be re-sent to the address indicated. The family will have 15 business days to respond from the date the letter was re-sent. If the notice is returned by the post office with no forwarding address, the applicant will be removed from the waiting list without further notice.
The Executive Director may reinstate a family to the waitlist if they determine the lack of response was due to PHA error, or to circumstances beyond the family’s control.
Tenant Selection from the Waitlist
PHAs are permitted to establish local preferences, and to give priority to serving families that meet those criteria. HUD specifically authorizes and places restrictions on certain types of local preferences. HUD also permits the PHA to establish other local preferences, at its discretion.
Our Policy
Families will be selected from the waitlist based on preference. Among applicants with the same preference, families will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis according to the date and time their complete application is received by the PHA.
The PHA uses the following local preferences, listed by level of priority:
- Queen Anne’s County residency
- Displaced by Government action
- Victim of Natural disaster
- All other applicants
When selecting applicants from the waiting list the PHA will match the characteristics of the available unit (unit size, accessibility features, unit type) to the applicants on the waiting lists. The PHA will offer the unit to the highest-ranking applicant who qualifies for that unit size or type, or that requires the accessibility features provided by that unit.
By matching unit and family characteristics, it is possible that families who are lower on the waiting list may receive an offer of housing ahead of families with an earlier date and time of application or higher preference status.
If an applicant or resident family requests a copy of the PHA’s tenant selection policies, the PHA will provide copies to them free of charge.