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About the lottery
Pre-application entry
Create an account
Drawing results
Wait list next steps
More info
Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Lottery for the Omaha Housing Authority
Introduction
The Omaha Housing Authority (OHA) has a new process for applicants looking for rental assistance.
How the Lottery Works:
The lottery is conducted online, with lottery entries only accepted for a limited period of time through the OHA lottery website. At the conclusion of the time period during which the lottery entries are accepted, a random computer selection will take place from among all the entries. The lottery entries chosen in this random computer selection will be placed on the waiting list in the order in which they are drawn. Only one lottery entry form will be accepted; duplicate entries will be eliminated. Therefore, no one has more than one chance of being selected.
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The wait list will now be created by an online lottery process.
Applicants will have seven days to submit their pre-application. Those selected for the wait list will be drawn at random. It is no longer a
first-come, first-serve process. OHA has moved to a more equitable and inclusive solution — the new process is easier for applicants, the entry period is longer, and the application is more accessible to a wider group of people.
OHA administers approximately 4,300 vouchers. The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program is the federal government’s major program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly and the disabled to afford decent, safe and sanitary housing available in the private market. To learn more and/or find out if you are eligible, please go to www.OHAuthority.org/section8.
The Section 8 Wait List opens approximately two times a year.
The announcement appears in the Omaha World-Herald, the Omaha Star and El Perico at least seven days prior to the opening of the lottery.
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Applicants will have seven days to complete their registration and pre-application. It will no longer be first-come, first-serve — all applicants will be placed into the wait list lottery drawing. If applicants do not have access to a computer, they can use the computers at any Omaha Public Library or can access the website on a mobile device with internet access.
After the lottery closes:
Once the application period has ended, OHA will draw 3,000 names by computerized random lottery and these applications will be scheduled an appointment. The applicants will be notified by postcard within two weeks of the end of the lottery if they were or were not selected. Applicants can also log into their online accounts to check the wait list status.
If selected for the wait list, applicants will be given a date and time to come in to complete their application. Applicants that are scheduled appointments are not guaranteed a housing voucher. Anyone 10 minutes late for their appointment or those who miss their appointment will not be rescheduled.
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The announcement appears in the Omaha World-Herald, the Omaha Star and El Perico at least seven days prior to the opening of the lottery.
The OHA Section 8 application process will be completely online. Applicants will go to OHAsection8lottery.org to learn more about the lottery, how to register, and about the pre-application. Applicants will need to go to myportal.OHAuthority.org to create an online OHA account and submit the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) pre-application for a lottery drawing.
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Those not selected will need to re-apply when the lottery opens again. The lottery is random and computer-generated. There is no process of appeals for the lottery selection.
There are four easy steps to entering the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher lottery:
Enter your pre-application.
All applicants will be notified by postcard if selected or not selected.
If selected, an appointment will be set to complete the application for the Housing Choice Voucher wait list.
Omaha Housing Authority is committed to improving the experience for its Section 8 wait list selection.
OHA has moved to a more equitable and inclusive solution — the new process is easier for applicants, the entry period is longer, and the application is more accessible to a wider group of people.
If you should need assistance or have questions, please call the
Section 8 Lottery helpline at 402-444-6900.
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Go to myportal.OHAuthority.org to create your online account.
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About the lottery
Pre-application entry
Create an account
Drawing results
Wait list next steps
More info
Create an online account prior to lottery entry in the Applicant Portal.
Step One
All applicants must begin by registering for an online portal account.
Once the online portal is set up, applicants can complete their pre-application. Applicants must have an email address to set up a portal account. Any applicant who does not have an email can set up one through any free email service such as Gmail, Yahoo or Outlook.
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The process for setting up an online account is easy. Just follow these easy steps.
A. Create an account
New applicants to the portal will click on the red “Click here to register” link and start setting up their portal.
This is the same screen that will appear when you login to your account. Your username will be the email you use to sign up.
B. New and returning applicants
Applicants will be given two choices to click on:
If OHA sent a postcard to you with a registration code, you will want to click on “I am a current applicant or current participant;” all others (and most users) will click on “I am a new applicant.”
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C. Registration number
New applicants will be asked if they have or do not have a registration code. If OHA sent a postcard to you with a registration code, you will want to click on “I have a registration code;” all others will click on “I DO NOT have a registration code.”
D. Personal information
Part 1 — Personal Details — Applicants will need to enter the following information:
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F. Complete your account setup
After filling in your personal and account information, you will be required to complete a few more clicks, including:
E. Account information
Part 2 — Account Information — Applicants will need to enter the following information:
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An online OHA portal account has now been set up.
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About the lottery
Pre-application entry
Create an account
Drawing results
Wait list next steps
More info
Enter the lottery by completing a pre-application within the online portal.
Step Two
One you have finished setting up your account or have logged back in using the username (email address) and password you set up in step one, you will see a screen that has a top-left menu like that seen below.
The sections seen on the right under the “My Application” title are the sections required to complete a pre-application for the OHA wait list to enter the lottery.
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Applicants may only enter the lottery once.
At the conclusion of the time period during which the lottery entries are accepted, a random computer selection will take place from among all the entries. The lottery entries chosen in this random computer selection will be placed on the waiting list in the order in which they are drawn. Only one lottery entry form will be accepted, duplicate entries will be eliminated. Therefore, no one has more than one chance of being selected.
A. Pick a language
Each applicant can choose from eight languages. Once an applicant has chosen a language, click “Save and Continue.” Progress will be chosen at the top of every screen.
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B. Welcome page
Click “Save and Continue” to begin entering applicant(s) information.
C. Contact information
Click “Save and Continue” after entering applicant’s contact information.
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D. Household information
Click “Save and Continue” on this page.
D-1. Household members
The applicant will be automatically added to the table below and must first click on “More Info Needed” to add in their information. You must include all members who will be living in your household.
When all family members appear in the table, click “Save & Continue.”
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D-2. Annual income
Enter the combined annual income for all members of your household.
D-3. Unit accessibility
Applicant will need to click all that apply to themselves or a member of their household.
D-4. Special circumstances
Select any special circumstances for any/all family members listed.
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D-5. Additional details
Is the applicant or a family member a veteran?
This completes the household information section.
E. Wait list preferences
Click all that apply to applicant and family.
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F. Wait list (selection)
Click all that apply to applicant and family.
G. Review and submit
Review all the information entered, and if anything is wrong, click “Go Back” or use the navigation on the top left before you go any further.
DO NOT continue unless everything is correct.
For example: If you were waiting on a family member’s Social Security Number or birth date, do not continue. Everything has been saved to this point and you can log-in later from any computer to complete your pre-application if necessary.
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H. Accept the terms and conditions
If the pre-application is all correct, click “I accept all of the above Terms and Conditions,” followed by “Save and Continue.”
This will complete and submit your entry into the lottery.
I. Review/Download pre-application
Applicant can choose to download their pre-application to keep.
To review your application or check its status, click on
“Applications & Certifications” at the top of the page.
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Applicant will be given a confirmation number on this page. Write down the number and keep for future lotteries.
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About the lottery
Pre-application entry
Create an account
Drawing results
Wait list next steps
More info
During the lottery everyone who submitted a pre-application on time will be entered in a random, computerized drawing.
Step Three
Drawing Results
Once the application period has ended, OHA will draw 3,000 names by computerized random lottery, and these applications will be scheduled an appointment.
All applicants will be notified by postcard if they were or were not selected. Applicants can also log into their online accounts to check their wait list status.
Notification from OHA
Applicants will be notified by postcard within two weeks of the end of the lottery if they were or were not selected.
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Online account
Applicants can login to their OHA account within two weeks of the end of the lottery. The status of their pre-application will be displayed as:
Please do not call the Omaha Housing Authority to check the status of your application. Please wait for the postcard or log in to check your lottery status.
For more information on the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program, visit OHA’s website at www.OHAuthority.org.
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On List (for lottery)
Selected
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About the lottery
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Drawing results
Wait list next steps
More info
What’s next?
Step Four
If Selected:
All applicants will be notified by postcard within two weeks of the end of the lottery if they were selected. If selected for the wait list, applicants will be given a date and time to come in to complete their application via appointment. Applicants who are scheduled appointments are not guaranteed a housing voucher.
Applicants will need to bring the following to the application appointment:
Household members who are 18 years or older must be able to pass an OHA criminal background check and meet other standards for eligibility.
Applicants who are deemed eligible will be placed on the waiting list in accordance with OHA’s Section 8 Administrative Plan.
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About the lottery
Pre-application entry
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Drawing results
Wait list next steps
More info
OHA Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Lottery
FAQs
1. When will the lottery take place?
The Section 8 waiting list opens approximately two times a year. The announcement appears in the Omaha World-Herald, the Omaha Star, and El Perico at least seven days prior to the opening of the lottery.
2. How does the lottery work?
The lottery is conducted online, with lottery entries only accepted for a limited period of time through the OHA Applicant Portal. At the conclusion of the time period during which the lottery entries are accepted, a random computer selection will take place from among all the entries. The lottery entries chosen in this random computer selection will be placed on the waiting list in the order in which they are drawn. Only one lottery entry form will be accepted, duplicate entries will be eliminated. Therefore, no one has more than one chance of being selected.
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3. If I have a job, can I still enter the lottery?
Yes; however, income limits apply. Income limits for the program are on our website, www.OHAuthority.org. Eligibility for the program will be determined at the time your name reaches the top of the waiting list.
4. Why only accept applications online, versus paper?
The Omaha Housing Authority has moved to a more equitable and inclusive solution — the new process is easier for applicants, the entry period is longer, and the application is more accessible to a wider group of people.
The OHA Section 8 application process will be completely online and will be conducted through a lottery process. Applicants will have seven days to submit their pre-application. Those selected for the wait list will be drawn at random. It is no longer a first-come, first-serve process.
5. What if I don’t own a computer?
If you do not have access to a computer, you can use the computers at any Omaha Public Library, or you can access the website on a mobile device with internet access.
Please be careful not to save confidential information on public devices.
6. Will my lottery application qualify me for the program?
The application will qualify you to enter into a lottery for limited spots on the waiting list. Submission of an application to the waiting list lottery DOES NOT guarantee you will be on the waiting list.
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7. What information will I need to complete my entry?
Applicants will need names, phones numbers, Social Security Numbers, birth dates, and other basic information for themselves and all members of their household seen below.
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8. What happens if I need help submitting my application?
If you need assistance during the lottery because a disability restricts you from being able to apply online, we will have a helpline number available.