Houston-area public housing waitlist lottery opens for first time in years

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- For the first time in three years, the Housing Alliance HTX has opened its waitlist lottery for several public housing properties.

The Housing Alliance, which rebranded from the Houston Housing Authority earlier this year, said the waitlist lottery would be for eight specific public housing properties.

8 properties for public housing lottery:

1. Kelly Village
2. Lincoln Park
3. Long Drive
4. Oxford Place
5. Bellerive (62+ senior community)
6. Lyerly (62+ senior community)
7. Independence Heights
8. Irvington Village

Representatives with the Housing Alliance confirm applications opened on June 22 and will close on July 6 to be considered for the waitlist lottery.

Data from the Kinder Institute shows more than 160,000 families in our city are experiencing poverty.

The Housing Alliance HTX pre-admission and occupancy manager, Daveta Thomas, told ABC13 that they have already seen more than 6,000 applications for the lottery waitlist in the first 24-hours.

"I never thought I'd have to open it again this soon after 2023," Thomas said. "But as people's incomes have changed and have moved to different programs or more conventional housing...we've had that need to open."

Housing Alliance, in a release, said the availability at each of the eight properties varies. Meaning, not every property will have the same number of one-room, two-room, three-room, and four-bedroom units available.

"Your rent being based on your income of your household and members of the household. So everyone's rent is based on their own individual situation," Thomas said.

They said the lottery only applies to the eight public housing waitlists. The team at Housing Alliance also said the Housing Choice Voucher remains closed. They said if you're on the HCV waitlist, you are able to be placed on the public housing waitlist as well.

Thomas and her team said if you're already on the public housing waitlists, you do not need to take any action to maintain the spot.

Applicants are able to apply to up to three of the eight properties for the lottery.

"Just by being on the waitlist, I'm feeling very hopeful...feeling very hopeful," said applicant Latasha Richar. "It's a blessing...it came at a time that I really needed it and I really appreciate it."

With the rising costs of virtually everything, including keeping a roof over your head, families are turning to assistance programs. The Gonzalez family told ABC13 that they have lived in an RV for the last two years and are hopeful as they apply for the first time to the waitlist lottery.

"Everyone is in need of a helping hand at some point in our lives, and that's what the program is for," Thomas said

Lottery results will be announced in late July.