The Section 8 office is located in the Administrative offices of the Gastonia Housing Authority.  Our street address is 340 W Long Avenue, Gastonia, NC.When the waiting list is open, applications can be obtained from the self-service rack in our Resource Room.

The Section 8 Program provides rental assistance through the housing choice voucher program that allows families to locate affordable housing (apartments or houses) throughout Gaston County. The Gastonia Housing Authority will pay rental assistance for a unit based on the family's income.

Applicants can search for units anywhere in Gaston County. The rent must be reasonable as determined by the Gastonia Housing Authority and comparable to other similar unassisted units. The unit (including anticipated utility costs) must be affordable for the family, and the owner must be willing to place the property on the Section 8 program. The unit must meet all Housing Quality Standards (HQS) and Acceptable Criteria Variations (ACV) as established by HUD and the Gastonia Housing Authority.

When the waiting list is open, Section 8 applications are available in the Self-Service Resource Center office located to the right in the Central Office lobby. You will need to provide names, dates of birth, and social security numbers for all members of the household. In addition, you will need to provide a complete address where you can receive mail and information about your family’s income.

Once your name reaches the top of the waiting list you will be asked to provide additional information such as, birth certificates and social security cards for each member of the applicant household and written verification of all household income. Additional information may be required.

All applications will be date and time stamped to be accepted by GHA. The application is reviewed and entered into our computer system for placement on the appropriate waiting list(s) in the order that it was received and ranked according to preferences established by the Gastonia Housing Authority.

Assuming that you meet the preliminary requirements, you will be mailed a letter indicating that you have been placed on the waiting list. This letter does not guarantee that you will be housed, but merely acknowledges that your application has been accepted and placed on the waiting list pending further verification.

The GHA has established the following local preferences:

Working residents of Gaston County (includes elderly, disabled) Elderly, disabled have preference over single Gaston County working singles. – 3 points

Residents of Gaston County and working singles – 2 points

All others - 1 point

Applicants are placed on the waiting list according to the number of preference points they claim (highest points first), then by date and time of application. When your name reaches the top of the waiting list, the preference(s) you have claimed will be verified. If we are not able to verify preferences, your application will be reclassified and placed back on the waiting list in a lower position. Applicants who provide false information in an effort to gain a better position on the waiting list will be denied. Further penalties for fraud may apply.

Yes. The Gastonia Housing Authority provides an interactive automated phone system called “My Waiting List” that will allow you to check your position on the waiting list? To use the system dial 704-864-6772. When the automated attendant answers, dial 86001 to access the “My Waiting List” feature. Follow the prompts to obtain your position. You will need your social security number and date of birth to access your records.

It is the applicant's responsibility to notify the Gastonia Housing Authority of any changes in income, family composition, employment status, address or phone number.

Changes for Section 8 applicants must be reported in writing. Update forms are available online and in the self-service rack in the Resource Center at the Central. Completed forms can be deposited in the drop box located in the lobby of the Central Office. Changes can also be reported via e-mail to Section 8 Admissions@ghanc.org.

No applicant updates will be taken over the telephone.

Failure to report any changes may cause your application to be purged from the waiting list and will require you to re-apply once the waiting list re-opens. This will delay your possibility of being offered housing or assistance.

Because the Gastonia Housing Authority uses a preference system to determine position on the waiting list, it is not uncommon for someone’s position number to change. As people are housed and applications are removed from the waiting list, your position may improve. As updates are received, applications are reclassified according to the preference point system. This could result in your moving further down the waiting list.