Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program

Sarasota Housing Authority (SHA) is pleased to offer very-low income families in Sarasota a choice in where they live through the assistance of a Housing Choice Voucher. On October 1, 2010, SHA merged with Sarasota County’s voucher program. The combined voucher offices are now located at 40 S. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota, FL 34236. At this time we are unable to accept any new applicants on the waiting list.

Notice Regarding Sequestration Funding Levels

Due to the March 1, 2013 across-the-board, 5% federal spending cuts enacted by Congress referred to as Sequestration, the Sarasota Housing Authority (and all other housing agencies) has received significant funding cuts in the Housing Choice Voucher Program.  These immediate cuts to our subsidy that we pay to you our landlords is unprecedented. These cuts are going to affect our ability to make Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) unless we make changes to our current spending levels.  Several things are being done to help us lower our spending each month; one of which is to deny all rent increases.  Not only can we not sustain any increases in HAP at this time, but we will be doing everything we can to reduce HAP expenditures in order to sustain the payments that we make to our landlords. 

Our focus at this time is to continue to assist as many families as possible and keep from having to terminate families due to the reduced funding levels. In addition, SHA will not re-issue any vouchers as a result of attrition. Reducing the monthly subsidy expenditures in the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program is like turning a cruise ship around. It is a gradual, incremental process with the ultimate goal of not running out of subsidy by the end of the year and facing the necessity of having to terminate some families from the program.

We appreciate your participation in the Housing Choice Voucher Program and we look forward to working with you now and in the future.  Thank you for your patience and understanding in this matter.  If you have additional questions, please contact the caseworker assigned to your specific tenant.

SHA Policies & Procedures

Please click here to view SHA's Housing Choice Voucher administrative plan.

Housing Choice Voucher Program Staff

Housing Choice Voucher Director, Paula Scruggs, (941) 361-6210, ext. 229

Housing Choice Voucher Manager, Kami Headings, (941) 361-6210, ext. 230

Housing Specialist, Kaleena Sierra, (941) 361-6210, ext. 227

Housing Specialist, Brian Croke, (941) 361-6210, ext. 226

Housing Specialist, Gail Magliano, (941) 361-6210, ext. 239

Inspector Liaison/Intake Specialist, Jessica Gilbert, (941) 361-6210, ext. 262

Inspector, Todd Bellamy, (941) 361-6210, ext. 262

Receptionist, Elizabeth Ortiz, (941) 361-6210, ext. 232

Helpful Resource Links

The Section 8 waiting list is currently closed.  When we reopen our waiting list, you will be able to apply for housing by going to https://www.waitlistcheck.com/application/form.php?ID=2332-FL008 to complete an online application.

If you are an applicant and wish to check your status on a waiting list, you may go to https://www.waitlistcheck.com and log in to see your current status. Our agency will no longer accept phone calls regarding your application status.

If you are a program participant and you are thinking about moving, please click here to read the procedures for moving out of one unit and into another unit.

In order to list and rent your property through our program, there cannot be a discrepancy in the owner of record and the information that you provide.  Before listing your property, please verify that your property has the correct information.  You may do so by visiting:  http://www.sarasotaproperty.net/

If you are a landlord with the Housing Choice Voucher Program, you will now go to http://www.hapcheck.com/ to see your monthly HAP payments. A letter was mailed to all owners at the beginning of October 2010 that contained instructions on how to log in. If you did not receive a letter, please call our office for assistance in logging into the website.

Social Services-Department of Family and Children Services-Child Support – Welcome to Florida!: http://www.myflorida.com/  

Criminal Background Status: http://courtweb.co.sarasota.fl.us/crimapp/criminq.asp or http://www.manateeclerk.org/Home/tabid/57/Default.aspx

City of Sarasota:  http://www.sarasotagov.com/index2.html

Social Security Administration: http://www.ssa.gov/sitemap.htm#C

Housing Authorities in the United States: http://www.phada.org/ha_list.php