How to Find Low Income Housing in Burlington County, NJ

Finding low income housing in Burlington County mostly runs through local housing authorities, state housing programs, and nonprofit affordable housing providers, not one single office. You usually have to get on one or more waiting lists and apply separately with different agencies or property managers.

Quick summary for Burlington County renters

• Main systems involved: local housing authorities, the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA), and affordable housing / income-restricted apartment complexes.
• First action today:Call or visit a Burlington County housing authority office (for example, Mount Holly, Burlington City, Pemberton Township, or Willingboro) and ask what waiting lists are currently open and how to apply.
• Most common help types: Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8), public housing, and income-restricted apartments with lower rents.
• Key friction:waiting lists are often closed or very long; you may need to watch for short open periods and apply quickly.
• Backup help: local social service agencies, county Board of Social Services, and HUD-approved housing counseling agencies can help you understand options and paperwork.

Where low income housing help actually comes from in Burlington County

For Burlington County, low income housing is typically handled by local housing authorities and the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (state housing agency), plus some town-specific affordable housing programs.

Common official system touchpoints include:

• A municipal housing authority (for example, the Housing Authority of the Township of Mount Holly or the Housing Authority of the City of Burlington), which may run public housing developments and/or Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) waiting lists for that town.
• The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA), which administers statewide Section 8 and other rental assistance programs, and often uses an online waiting list portal for pre-applications.
• Township or borough affordable housing / community development offices, which may manage income-restricted units under New Jersey’s affordable housing rules (sometimes called “COAH” or “Mount Laurel” housing).

Since program rules and openings change, eligibility and availability vary by location and situation, even within the same county.

To avoid scams, look for .gov addresses when you search terms like “Burlington County NJ housing authority” or “New Jersey DCA Section 8 portal,” and never pay any private person to “get you a voucher faster.”

Key terms to know

Key terms to know:

• Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) — A rental subsidy that lets you find your own apartment; you pay part of the rent and the program pays the rest directly to the landlord.
• Public housing — Apartment units or townhouses owned/managed by a housing authority with income-based rent.
• Waiting list — A queue the agency uses when more people need help than they can serve; you usually must apply only when the list is open.
• Income-restricted / affordable housing — Privately or nonprofit-owned apartments with maximum income limits and lower rents tied to your income or to local “affordable” standards.

Step-by-step: Your first moves in Burlington County

1. Identify which housing authorities cover where you live or want to live

Start by figuring out which housing authority or program handles the area you’re interested in within Burlington County. Burlington County does not have one single countywide authority; instead, multiple towns have their own:

• City-based housing authorities (for example, Burlington City)
• Township housing authorities (for example, Mount Holly, Pemberton Township, Willingboro)
• State-run assistance via New Jersey DCA for areas without a local authority or for certain statewide programs

Action today:Call a nearby housing authority office and ask: “Do you manage Section 8 or public housing for [your town], and are any of your waiting lists open right now?” If they don’t cover your town, ask who does.

What to expect next: Staff will usually tell you whether their Section 8 or public housing waiting lists are open, closed, or accepting limited categories (such as seniors, veterans, or local residents only) and where to get the application (online form, paper pickup, or mail request).

2. Check New Jersey DCA programs that serve Burlington County

New Jersey’s Department of Community Affairs (DCA) operates several rental assistance programs that include Burlington County residents, especially if your town does not have its own Section 8 program or if you’re applying to statewide lotteries.

Typical steps for DCA-related programs:

1. Search for the New Jersey DCA official housing assistance portal using terms like “NJ DCA Section 8 waiting list pre-application.”
2. Look for announcements about open or upcoming waiting list periods; DCA sometimes opens a list countywide or state-wide for a short application window.
3. If a list is open, complete the pre-application online or follow the instructions to request a paper form if you don’t have internet.

What to expect next: After you submit, you typically receive a confirmation number or printed confirmation, and later a notice by mail or email telling you whether you were placed on the waiting list and what your approximate position or selection status is; actual vouchers often take months or longer due to high demand.

Documents you’ll typically need

When you apply for Burlington County low income housing (local authority, DCA, or affordable apartments), you are commonly asked for:

• Proof of identity and legal presence for all adults, such as state ID, driver’s license, or other government-issued photo ID, and Social Security cards if you have them.
• Proof of income for every working or benefit-receiving household member, such as recent pay stubs, Social Security or SSI award letters, unemployment benefit letters, or child support statements.
• Proof of current housing situation, such as a current lease, rent receipt, or eviction/termination notice if you are at risk of losing your housing or are already homeless (this may affect your priority on some lists).

Some programs also often require birth certificates for children, bank statements, or tax returns, so it helps to create a folder with as many documents as you can gather before your appointment or application.

How the application and waiting list process usually plays out

3. Submit applications and get on multiple lists if possible

Once you know which lists are open and you’ve gathered documents, your next goal is to submit complete applications to every program you qualify for in Burlington County.

Typical applications include:

• Section 8 voucher applications through local housing authorities or NJ DCA
• Public housing applications for specific developments in towns like Mount Holly or Burlington City
• Affordable housing applications for specific income-restricted apartment complexes listed by your town or county offices

Concrete action:Apply to at least one open waiting list this week, even if it’s not your ideal town or development, while you gather more information on other options.

What to expect next: After applying, you typically do not move in right away; instead, you’re placed on a waiting list and will receive future notices about:

• Requests for more documents or verifications
• An invitation to an interview or briefing (for vouchers)
• A notice that your name has come to the top of the list and you’re being screened for eligibility and background checks

4. Complete eligibility interviews and briefings

When your name gets near the top of a Burlington County housing authority or NJ DCA list, the next steps often involve:

1. In-person or phone interview where staff review your income, household size, and background.
2. Verification of information through employers, Social Security, or other agencies.
3. For vouchers: a briefing session explaining your responsibilities, how much rent you’re expected to pay, how to find an apartment that passes inspection, and deadlines to use the voucher.

What to expect next: If you are found eligible and a unit or voucher is available, you typically receive a formal offer letter or voucher with deadlines, such as a certain number of days to find a unit and have it pass inspection, or a date to sign a lease with the housing authority or property manager.

Housing providers in Burlington County generally recheck your income each year, so you’ll be asked for updated documents annually.

Real-world friction to watch for

Real-world friction to watch for

In Burlington County, a major obstacle is that waiting lists for Section 8 and public housing are often closed or only open for short periods, and many renters miss the window. To reduce this risk, ask each housing authority and the NJ DCA staff how they announce openings (such as local newspapers, their official website, or posted flyers) and keep a simple calendar or reminder to check those sources regularly so you can file a pre-application as soon as a list opens.

Getting extra help and staying safe from scams

Legitimate local help options

If the process feels confusing or you’re not sure which Burlington County programs you qualify for, there are legitimate, no-cost help options:

• Burlington County Board of Social Services: While it doesn’t run Section 8, staff can often point you toward emergency rental assistance, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), General Assistance, and local housing resources.
• HUD-approved housing counseling agencies: These nonprofit counselors can help you understand rental assistance options, read leases, negotiate with landlords, and correct credit issues that might impact rental approvals.
• Local township or city housing/community development offices: Many Burlington County municipalities maintain lists of affordable housing or inclusionary units and can explain how to apply for those buildings.
• Legal aid organizations: If you’re facing eviction while waiting for low income housing, legal aid can help you understand your rights and may help you request more time or negotiate agreements.

A simple script you can use when calling an official office:
“I live in [your town] in Burlington County, New Jersey. I’m looking for low income or Section 8 housing. Can you tell me which programs you manage for my area, whether your waiting lists are open, and where I can get an application?”

Scam and fraud warning

Because housing help involves money, identity documents, and Social Security numbers, Burlington County renters are often targeted by scams. Protect yourself by following these guidelines:

• Only apply through official housing authority, NJ DCA, or recognized nonprofit offices with contact information you can confirm on a .gov or well-known nonprofit site.
• Do not pay any person or company who promises to move you up a waiting list or “guarantee” a Section 8 voucher; legitimate agencies may charge standard application fees set by law, but they do not sell spots or faster processing.
• Never send photos of your ID, Social Security card, or bank info to someone who contacted you by social media or text claiming to be from a housing program; instead, call the agency’s phone number listed on their official government site to confirm.

Numbered action plan you can start now

1. List your towns: Write down the Burlington County towns where you currently live or would be willing to live.
2. Identify official agencies: For each town, search for “[Town Name] NJ housing authority” and note whether a housing authority or municipal affordable housing office exists; also search for the New Jersey DCA housing assistance portal.
3. Make one phone call today:Call one housing authority or the NJ DCA contact line and ask whether any Section 8, public housing, or affordable housing waiting lists serving Burlington County are currently open.
4. Gather core documents: Put together IDs, Social Security cards, recent pay stubs or benefit letters, and your current lease or eviction notice in one folder so you’re ready when an application or interview is scheduled.
5. File at least one application: If you learn that a list is open, obtain the official application (online or paper) and submit it as soon as possible, double-checking every field so it’s complete.
6. Watch your mail and email: After applying, check your mail and email weekly for any request for more information or a letter placing you on the waiting list, and respond before any deadlines listed in bold or under “response date.”

Once you have taken these steps, you will be in the actual Burlington County low income housing system, with your name on at least one waiting list and your documents ready for the next stage.