Lake County Housing Authority opens waiting list for Public Housing

After being closed for more than four years, the Lake County Housing Authority opened its waiting list for Public Housing scattered sites April 1.

The list had been closed since January 2010 due to an extensive number of applicants. However, the waiting list for senior buildings designated to individuals 55 and older remained open. Marion Jones Townhomes has also closed its waiting list due to anticipated demolition that is expected to be completed by the end of summer 2014. Note that the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) waiting list will remain closed.

Public Housing is a federally funded program operated by the Lake County Housing Authority. Residents pay 30 percent of their family income for rent.

The Lake County Housing Authority currently has 163 scattered site locations. These locations include: Antioch, Barrington, Beach Park, Gages Lake, Grayslake, Gurnee, Ingleside, Island Lake, Lake Bluff, Lake Villa, Lincolnshire, Lindenhurst, McHenry, Mundelein, Palatine, Prairie View, Round Lake, Wadsworth, Wauconda, unincorporated Waukegan, Wildwood and Zion.

The properties available are all nonsmoking and include duplexes, single family homes and townhouses, all with various floor plans available for those needing wheelchair accessibility. Unit amenities vary depending on the site; however, they all include on-site parking, stove and a refrigerator.

Selection from the waiting list is based on a combination of total preference points and bedroom size. Preference points determine the priority level on the waitlist and are factors applicable to the applicant or their spouse.

Preference categories include residency status, veteran status and whether the applicant or their spouse resides in a nursing home due to an inability to afford other housing.

An applicant's position on the waiting list will fluctuate due to changes that affect preferences and/or unit size. All changes must be submitted in writing. It is important to keep all information current.

Applications can be downloaded from www.lakecountyha.org or picked up at the following locations:

• Central Office, 33928 N. Hwy. 45, Grayslake;

• Northeast HCV Office, 1525 27th St., Suite 101, Zion;

• Marion Jones Townhomes, 1401 Sherman Ave., North Chicago;

• Warren Manor, 34425 N. Almond Road, Gurnee;

• Beach Haven Towers, 730 Golfview Drive, Round Lake Beach.

Applications will be accepted through Wednesday, April 30.