The City of Janesville administers a Housing Choice Voucher Rental Assistance Program. This program is designed to assist low income individuals with their monthly rent and utility payments. Rent assistance is available for the elderly, disabled, and families of one or more. Total household income must be at or below 50% of county median income (see below). Participants in the program pay 30%-40% of their adjusted monthly income towards rent and utilities. To view the Section 8 Rent Assistance Administrative Plan, click Section 8 Administrative Plan.
Who is Eligible to Apply for Rent Assistance?
In order to be eligible to apply, a family must have a low income and must be a citizen of the United States or a noncitizen who has eligible immigration status. The income limit depends on how large your household is. The chart below indicates the highest income a household can earn to be eligible by household size.
Family Size Income
1 $ 21,800
2 24,900
3 28,000
4 31,100
5 33,600
6 36,100
7 38,600
8 41,100
How Do I Apply for Rent Assistance?
The Section 8 Rent Assistance waiting list is now closed and we are not accepting new applications at this time. You may contact the 24-hour information line at 755-3127 for the most current information about our waiting list.
After you complete the application, your name will be placed on a waiting list. You may contact the 24 hour information line at 755-3127 for the most up-to-date information regarding the waiting list.
When your name comes to the top of the list, you will be contacted by mail and will be requested to provide additional information about your income, assets and expenses. A criminal history review will be completed at this time. If you move while you are waiting for assistance, you must contact the Neighborhood Services Department to give your new address. It is your responsibility to notify us of your current mailing address. If we are unable to reach you at your mailing address, your name will be removed from the waiting list.
What Happens When I am Determined to be Eligible for the Program?
If your household is determined to be eligible, we will schedule an orientation meeting. At this meeting, we will explain the rules and regulations of the program. You will receive a Housing Choice Voucher. When you receive the voucher, you will decide where you would like to live (you may stay in your current unit or move to a new unit). The rental unit you choose must be decent, safe and clean to qualify for assistance.
After you decide where you want to live, the landlord must agree to work with the Rent Assistance Program. If the landlord agrees, you will ask the landlord to complete a Request for Lease Approval form and return it to the Neighborhood Services Department.
A Rent Assistance Inspector will then contact the landlord to schedule a property inspection to make sure that the unit is decent, safe and clean. If it is, you will be approved to sign a lease with the landlord. Do not sign a lease before the unit passes this inspection. The first lease must be for one year.
A monthly payment will be made directly to the landlord on behalf of your household.
Emergency Rent Assistance
The City of Janesville does not have funds available for emergency rent assistance. If you are currently homeless or in need of emergency assistance, you may wish to contact ECHO at 754-5333 or House of Mercy at 754-0045. Assistance may be available through these agencies.
Other Housing
There are some additional private rental housing units that offer assistance for low income individuals in Janesville. They each have their own admission rules. We would encourage you to contact them directly as we are unaware of their waiting lists and vacancies. Their contact information is as follows:
Grant Village; 2007 King Street; Janesville; 755-1755
Hamilton Terrace; 1400 Hamilton Avenue; Janesville; 757-2892
Janesville Commons; 3720 LaMancha Drive; Janesville; 754-3178
Lexington Townhomes; 2633 North Lexington Drive; Janesville; (262) 642-7704
If you are elderly (age 65 or older) or disabled, you may also want to consider:
Garden Court; 208 North Main Street; Janesville; 755-1755
Green Forest Run 1 Apartments; 1639 Green Forest Run; Janesville; (414) 228-1122
Riverview Heights; 930 North Washington Street; Janesville; 752-5999
Millenium Property Management; 11063 W Blue Mound Road, Milwaukee; (414) 228-1122
Lutheran Social Services (Disabled only); 1837 Alden Road; Janesville; 752-7660
Public Housing
The City of Janesville does not own any public housing.