How to Get Help from the Housing Authority of Winston-Salem (HAWS)

The Housing Authority of Winston-Salem (HAWS) is the local public housing authority for Winston-Salem and parts of Forsyth County, North Carolina. It manages public housing communities, Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8), and some special housing programs for seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income families.

You cannot apply for help through HowToGetAssistance.org; you must go through HAWS directly using their official offices and portals.

Quick summary: Getting started with HAWS

• Main role: HAWS runs public housing and Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) programs in Winston-Salem.
• First action today:Call or visit the main HAWS housing office to ask which waiting lists (public housing or vouchers) are currently open and how to apply.
• Primary touchpoints:
  • The HAWS central administrative office (in-person or phone)
  • The online applicant/tenant portal run by HAWS (for applications, updates, and documents when available)
• What to expect next: If a list is open, you complete an application and then usually wait for a placement or eligibility notice, not immediate housing.
• Big snag to watch for: Incomplete applications or missing documents often push you to the bottom of processing or get your application skipped until corrected.

How HAWS Typically Helps and Who They Serve

HAWS is a local housing authority that works under federal HUD rules but sets its own local procedures, waiting lists, and priorities.

The main types of help HAWS commonly offers include:

• Public Housing: Apartments or homes owned/managed by HAWS with reduced rent based on income.
• Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8): Rental assistance you use with a private landlord; you pay part of the rent and HAWS pays the rest directly to the landlord, if the unit passes inspection.
• Special programs: Sometimes HAWS operates senior housing, disability-focused units, or programs tied to supportive services (such as self-sufficiency programs or rehousing).

Eligibility typically depends on:

• Income within HUD and local limits
• Household size and composition
• Citizenship/eligible immigration status for at least one household member
• Criminal background and rental history under HAWS screening rules

Rules, income limits, and preferences (for example, local residents first) can vary over time and by program, so current information from HAWS is essential.

Where to Go Officially: Offices and Portals HAWS Uses

To avoid scams, always use .gov or official housing authority contact information and never pay anyone to move you up a waiting list.

Two main official HAWS touchpoints you’ll typically use are:

• HAWS Central Administrative / Housing Office:

  • Handles questions on open waiting lists, applications, documentation, and general eligibility.
  • Staff can tell you if public housing, vouchers, or specific sites are accepting applications and how to submit yours (online, in person, or by mail).

• HAWS Online Applicant/Tenant Portal (when available):

  • Used to submit pre-applications, update your address, upload documents, and sometimes check your application status.
  • Access instructions are usually given on printed flyers, application packets, or over the phone by HAWS staff.

If you’re not sure which portal or phone number is real, search for “Housing Authority of Winston-Salem official housing authority” and use the contact info on the government or authority-branded site only. When in doubt, call the main listed number and ask, “Is this the Housing Authority of Winston-Salem, and can you tell me how to apply for housing or vouchers?”

What You’ll Need to Prepare Before You Apply

You can make real progress today by gathering common documents before you contact HAWS. Applications move faster and you avoid repeat trips.

Key terms to know:

• Public Housing — Apartments or houses directly owned or managed by HAWS where your rent is usually set as a percentage of your income.
• Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) — A voucher that helps pay rent to a private landlord for a unit that meets HAWS and HUD standards.
• Waiting List — A list of applicants who have applied and are waiting for an available unit or voucher. Being on the list is not the same as being approved or housed.
• Recertification — A periodic review (often yearly) where HAWS checks your income and household to adjust your rent or continue your voucher.

Documents you’ll typically need:

• Proof of identity for all adults — such as a state ID, driver’s license, or other government-issued photo ID.
• Proof of household income — such as recent pay stubs, an award letter for Social Security or SSI, or unemployment benefit statements.
• Proof of current housing situation — such as a current lease, eviction notice, or letter from a shelter/homeless program if you are homeless or about to be homeless.

You may also be asked for:

• Social Security cards for household members (or proof of application)
• Birth certificates for minors
• Proof of disability or veteran status if you are seeking priority for certain programs

Bringing or uploading clear copies of these up front reduces delays when HAWS reviews your file.

Step-by-Step: How to Start an Application with HAWS

Below is a practical sequence many applicants in Winston-Salem follow when seeking help from HAWS.

1. Contact HAWS to confirm which programs are accepting applications

Your first concrete action today: Call the main HAWS housing office and say something like, “I live in Winston-Salem and I need help with affordable housing. Are any public housing or Section 8 waiting lists currently open, and how do I apply?”

If you can visit in person, go to the central HAWS office during business hours and ask at the reception desk for applications for public housing and vouchers or instructions for the online application.

2. Get the correct application form or portal access

Depending on what’s open, staff will usually:

• Provide a paper pre-application for public housing or vouchers; or
• Direct you to an online application portal with instructions on how to register and complete your pre-application.

What to expect next: Time-sensitive instructions. There may be an application window (for example, online applications accepted only between certain dates) or a limited number of spots. Pay attention to any deadlines printed on the application or posted in the office.

3. Gather your documents and fill out the application completely

Once you have the application or portal access:

1. Fill in every section honestly, including all household members, income sources, and contact information.
2. Attach or upload required documents, especially ID and income proof.
3. If you’re unsure how to answer a question, it’s better to leave it blank and ask staff than to guess inaccurately.

What to expect next: If something is missing or unclear, HAWS may send you a notice, call, or flag your application for follow-up. Missing documents commonly slow down processing, so organizing them ahead reduces the risk of being skipped over.

4. Submit the application through the official channel

Submit your completed application:

• In person at the HAWS office (keep copies and ask for a date-stamped receipt).
• By mail, if they allow it, to the address they provide (keep a copy and mailing receipt).
• Online, through the HAWS portal, and print or save the confirmation page or email with an application or confirmation number.

What to expect next: You are usually placed on a waiting list, not given immediate housing. You should eventually receive a written notice or email saying either that you’re on the waiting list (with a date, time, or confirmation number) or that they need more information.

5. Watch for eligibility interviews, verifications, and inspections

As your name comes up on the list:

• For public housing, HAWS will typically:

  • Schedule an eligibility interview to review documents and household information.
  • Run background checks and verify income and landlord history.
  • Offer a specific unit when one is available, followed by a lease signing.

• For vouchers, HAWS will typically:

  • Confirm your income and household info.
  • If approved, issue a voucher briefing and voucher document that lists your time limit to find a unit.
  • Require the unit to pass an inspection before they start paying the landlord.

What to expect next: You may receive multiple notices over time (interview letters, verification requests, final approval or denial). Responding by the stated deadlines is crucial to avoid being removed from the list.

Real-world friction to watch for

A common problem is that people move or change phone numbers while on the HAWS waiting list and do not update their contact information. When HAWS sends an interview or offer letter to the old address and gets no response, applications are often marked inactive or removed. To prevent this, use the HAWS portal or contact the main office anytime your mailing address, phone number, or email changes and request written confirmation that your file has been updated.

Scam Warnings, Common Snags, and Where to Get Help

Because housing involves money and identity information, stay cautious as you work with HAWS and any landlords.

Common snags (and quick fixes)

• Applications rejected or delayed because of missing signatures or blanks → Before submitting, review each page to confirm signatures and dates where required.
• You don’t have a document HAWS is asking for (e.g., Social Security card) → Ask staff, “What alternative verification do you accept?” (often a printout from Social Security or other official letter).
• Unsure if a call, text, or website is really HAWS → Hang up or close the site, then call the number listed on the official HAWS or city/government contact page and ask if the message was from them.
• Landlord refuses vouchers even though you have one → Ask HAWS staff if there is a landlord list, housing locator, or partner properties that commonly work with vouchers.

Scam/fraud warning:

• HAWS does not charge a fee to get on a waiting list or to “move up” the list.
• Do not pay individuals or “consultants” who promise faster approval or guaranteed housing.
• Only give your Social Security number, date of birth, or ID copies to verified HAWS staff or through the official portal.

Legitimate help options around HAWS

If you need help working with HAWS or with housing more broadly:

• Local legal aid office: Can sometimes help if you are denied, terminated from a voucher, or have a dispute with HAWS or a landlord.
• Nonprofit housing counselors or social service agencies: Some provide application assistance, document gathering help, and can explain HAWS notices.
• Emergency shelters or homeless outreach programs: Often know current HAWS processes and can help you document homelessness, which may affect priority in some programs.

If you’re stuck, one simple phone script to use with HAWS is: “I’ve submitted an application for housing, and I want to confirm that you have my current address and phone number and that my application is still active. Can you tell me what, if anything, you still need from me?”

From here, your best next official step is to contact the Housing Authority of Winston-Salem directly, confirm which programs are open, and either start or complete your application using their official forms, offices, or portal.