What the Dothan Housing Authority does

The Dothan Housing Authority (DHA) is a public agency that manages affordable rental housing in Dothan, Alabama, and administers federal housing programs for Houston County residents. It does not build or own all the affordable housing in the area — it runs specific programs, primarily public housing and Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8), and it maintains a waiting list for each. If you are looking for affordable rent in Dothan, the Housing Authority is usually your first stop, but it is not the only option.

The agency is independent from the city government, though it receives federal funding through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This means the rules that explore to DHA housing are federal rules, not local ones, and they are the same across all housing authorities in the country — though wait times and current availability vary widely by location.

Key Takeaways

  • The Dothan Housing Authority runs public housing units and Housing Choice Vouchers; both have separate waiting lists that may be open or closed depending on current demand.
  • You must meet income limits to be considered, and income is calculated using household size and gross monthly earnings before taxes.
  • Public housing is owned and managed directly by DHA; Housing Choice Vouchers let you rent from a private landlord and the program pays part of your rent.
  • You can contact DHA directly by phone or in person to ask whether waiting lists are currently open and what documents you will need to bring.
  • Wait times for public housing in Dothan can be months or years depending on unit availability and the size of the waiting list at the time you join.

Public housing versus Housing Choice Vouchers

The Dothan Housing Authority manages two main programs, and they work very differently. Public housing means DHA owns the building and you rent directly from them. Housing Choice Vouchers (also called Section 8) means you find a rental property on the private market, the landlord agrees to participate in the program, and the voucher covers part of your rent while you pay the rest.

Public housing in Dothan includes several properties scattered throughout the city. Rent is based on your income — typically 30 percent of your gross monthly income — so it changes if your income changes. You must report income changes to DHA, and if your income rises above the program limit, you may be asked to leave or move to a different unit.

Housing Choice Vouchers give you more choice about where to live, but you have to find a landlord willing to accept the voucher, and not all do. The voucher covers the difference between what you pay and the program's payment standard for your area, which means your out-of-pocket rent depends on both your income and the market rent of the unit you choose. You stay on the voucher as long as you meet program rules, even if your income changes.

Income limits and how they are calculated

To be considered for either program, your household income must fall below the limit set by HUD for Houston County. These limits change every year and depend on household size. For example, the limit for a single person is lower than the limit for a family of four. DHA uses gross monthly income — that is, earnings before taxes, deductions, or benefits are subtracted — to determine whether you may have access to.

Gross income includes wages from employment, self-employment income, Social Security, unemployment benefits, child support, and other regular sources of money. It does not include one-time payments, tax refunds, or some types of information. If you are unsure whether a particular income source counts, DHA staff can tell you when you contact them.

You will need to provide proof of income when you explore — usually recent pay stubs, a letter from your employer, tax returns, or a benefits statement. If your income is irregular or you are self-employed, DHA may ask for several months of records to calculate an average.

How to contact the Dothan Housing Authority

The Dothan Housing Authority office is located at 1003 Ross Street, Dothan, Alabama 36303. You can reach them by phone at (334) 793-0435. Office hours are typically Monday through Friday during standard business hours, though you should call ahead to confirm current hours and whether staff are available for walk-in visits.

When you call or visit, ask whether the waiting list for the program you are interested in is currently open. Many housing authorities close their waiting lists when demand is very high, and you cannot join until the list reopens. Staff can also tell you what documents to bring if you want to join the waiting list, such as proof of income, identification, and proof of residency in Houston County.

If you cannot reach DHA by phone, you can also contact HUD's local office or call HUD's main line at 1-800-669-9777 to ask for contact information or to report a problem with the Housing Authority.

Waiting lists and how long they typically take

Both public housing and Housing Choice Vouchers have separate waiting lists. When you join a list, your place in line depends on when you joined and, in some cases, on preferences DHA uses — for example, some programs prioritize people who are homeless or have very low incomes. The time from joining the list to receiving a unit or voucher can range from a few months to several years, depending on how many people are ahead of you and how quickly units or vouchers become available.

Public housing wait times in Dothan have historically been longer than Housing Choice Voucher wait times, but this varies. If you join the list, DHA will contact you when a unit or voucher matching your household size becomes available. You are expected to respond quickly — usually within a set number of days — or you may lose your place.

You can join both waiting lists at the same time if you want. Some people do this to increase their chances of being housed sooner, since the lists move at different speeds.

What happens after you are offered a unit or voucher

If you are offered public housing, DHA will show you the available unit and explain the lease, which is a standard HUD lease. You will pay rent based on your income, and DHA will handle maintenance and repairs. You must follow program rules, which include keeping the unit in good condition, not subletting, and reporting income changes.

If you are offered a Housing Choice Voucher, you have a set amount of time — usually 60 to 120 days — to find a rental property. The landlord must agree to accept the voucher, and the rent cannot exceed the program's payment standard for that area. DHA will inspect the unit to make sure it meets housing quality standards before you move in. Once you move in, you pay your share of the rent each month, and DHA pays the landlord directly.

In both cases, DHA will conduct periodic inspections and may ask you to recertify your income annually. If your circumstances change — you earn more money, your household size changes, or you move — you must report it to DHA.

Other affordable housing resources in Dothan

The Dothan Housing Authority is not the only source of affordable housing in the area. Nonprofit organizations, local developers, and private landlords also offer affordable units. You can search for other options through the Alabama Housing Finance Authority, which maintains information about affordable rental programs statewide, or by contacting local nonprofits that work on housing issues.

Some people use a combination of resources — for example, they might be on the DHA waiting list while also looking at other affordable rentals in the private market. This can be a practical approach if you need housing before DHA has an opening.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I be on both the public housing and Housing Choice Voucher waiting lists at the same time?

Yes. Many people join both lists because they move at different speeds and you cannot predict which will have an opening first. Let DHA know you are interested in both programs when you contact them.

What if my income goes up after I move into public housing?

Your rent will increase because it is based on your income. If your income rises above the program limit, DHA may ask you to leave or transition to a different program. You must report income changes to DHA within 30 days.

Do I have to accept the first unit or voucher I am offered?

For public housing, you generally must accept the unit offered or you lose your place on the waiting list. For Housing Choice Vouchers, you have time to search for a property, but you must find one within the time limit DHA gives you or the voucher may be returned.

What if I cannot reach the Dothan Housing Authority by phone?

Try calling during different times of day or visit the office in person. You can also contact HUD at 1-800-669-9777 to ask for information or to report a problem with the Housing Authority's responsiveness.

Are there income limits for Housing Choice Vouchers that are different from public housing?

The income limits are the same for both programs — they are set by HUD for Houston County. However, some housing authorities give preference to people with very low incomes for one program or the other, so ask DHA about their specific priorities.