City of Bowling Green, Kentucky

Whether you receive financial assistance with rent payments or not, tenants have the basic right to choose where they live. Fair Housing Act makes it illegal for landlords, insurance agents, financial institutions, or real estate companies to

• Refuse to rent or sell available housing
• Falsely inform you housing is unavailable
• Set different terms and conditions for rental or sale of a home
• Advertise housing to select groups of people
• Refuse to provide information on mortgages, loans or impose different terms on a loan
• Deny you property insurance
• Conduct appraisals of property in a discriminatory nature
• Refuse to make reasonable accommodations for those with disabilities
• Harass, intimidate or interfere with anyone exercising or assisting with fair housing rights.

When you have encountered discrimination of any kind and think it may be due to race, sex, national origin, religion, familial status, or because of a disability please contact Bowling Green Human Rights Commission and file your complaint.

The following file is the administrative plan for the Housing Choice Voucher program:

Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan

Choosing a Good Place to Live

A free service allowing landlords to post available units across the state, including unit information to assist families to determine what unit may suit their needs. More information can be found on the House and Urban Development website here:

Choosing a Good Place to Live

What Do Families Need to Do to Stay in the HCV Rental (Section 8) Program?

In addition to meeting eligibility requirements, individuals and families participating in the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher(HCV) Program must fully comply with Obligations and rules to continue in the program. Violation of any of these rules may result in termination of assistance or other punitive action and/or a three-year period of ineligibility. All information provided to the PHA must be true and complete. These obligations may be accessed by clicking the link below.

Family Obligations to Remain in the Section 8 Program.

When Can I Apply for HCV Rental Assistance?

To apply for housing assistance and place your name on the waiting list you may click on the Applicant/Waiting List link to begin the process. You will need to create an account before you can begin.

Applicant/Waiting List Portal

Preferences

Preferences for housing assistance may be offered to potential applicants who meet one or more of the preference categories listed below. Applicants are positioned on the waiting list based upon the number of preference points for which they are qualified, and the date and time of pre-application. Applicants who qualify for the highest number of preference points will be positioned ahead of those who qualify for fewer or no preference points on the waiting list.

All claims for the below preferences will be verified based on circumstances at the time the preference is selected and during the time the applicant is selected from the waiting list. If during the intake interview it is determined that the applicant is no longer eligible for any of the preferences claimed, the family will not receive the preference and will be placed back on the waiting list according to the date and time of pre-application.

Read the qualification criteria carefully before selecting a preference — it will do you no good to select a preference that you cannot document.

Scholar House Preference

I am claiming the Scholar House Preference and in doing so certify that I have been referred and approved by a Scholar House Board (must include referral letter with the application.)

Scholar House: Information Sheet Scholar House: Pre-Application Card

Homeless Preference

I am claiming the Homeless Preference and in doing so I certify that I have a referral letter from the local shelter or the homeless service organization that indicates the family resided at the shelter for at least 30 of the past 45 days or the family completed homeless services and is prepared for permanent housing and will continue to receive case management services.

Local Code Compliance Displacement Preference

I am claiming the Displacement Preference and in doing so certify that I have been displaced from my home due to grant-related activity or local code compliance activity undertaken by the City of Bowling Green.

• Grant Activity
• Local Code Compliance

Local Residency Preference

I have a permanent physical residence within the City limits of Bowling Green and have one (1) of the following documents with the same address:

1. Utility bill issued within 30 days (electric, gas, water, sewer, trash, telephone, or cable/satellite), or
2. Benefit letter issued within 30 days (from Social Security Administration, Food Stamps, Welfare Office, Pension or Retirement), or
3. Paystub that indicates the name and the address of the applicant, issued within 30 days.

I am working or have been notified that I am hired to work in the City limits of Bowling Green and have one (1) of the following documents to verify it:

1. The most recent Paystub indicates the name of the applicant along with a physical address of the employment site.
2. Employment form or a statement from the current employer verifying name, employment status, and the address of the job site.

What are the Income Limits for Eligibility?

2023 Bowling Green, KY HUD Metro FMR Area Median Income: $79,900