Effective January 31, 2006, Congress amended the law regarding college students' eligibility for Section 8 housing assistance. Prior to the amendment, scholarships and grants received by students were not counted as income when determining eligibiltiy for Federal financial assistance with rent.
Contrary to notices posted by local landlords, students under 24 may still be eligible for Section 8 assistance. What is new is a 2-part economic eligibility test for students under 24. First, the student's parent or guardian must be eligible for housing assistance in the county in which the parents reside. Second, the student's income, which includes all Federal financial aid above tuition, is taken into account. Although it could appear that no student under 24 would continue to be eligible, this is not the case, as the guidelines are more generous than one would think. In addition, it is possible to show that a student is emancipated and the parents' income should not be considered under certain extreme hardship circumstances.
For students who have received a termination and/or non-renewal notice, the student must request an informal hearing in writing within 10 days of receiving the notice. The student has the right to a hearing in front of someone other than the person who made the initial determination.
If you are a current NIU student, contact Students' Legal Assistance for more information and advocacy.