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GUAM HOUSING AND URBAN RENEWAL AUTHORITY

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

2025 Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program Lottery Questions & Answers




 Q 1: What is the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP)?
A:The Section 8 HCV program provides rental assistance to eligible, very low-income families so they may afford to rent a safe, decent, and sanitary home in the private rental market. The HCV program is federally funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (US HUD).
 Q 2: How may I apply for the Section 8 HCVP?
A:Before an official application can be accepted, your name must be placed on the Section 8 waitlist through a pre-application registration process. GHURA re-establishes a new waitlist using a lottery system. Because of funding constraints, GHURA can only assist a limited number of applicants. Thus, a waitlist is necessary to ensure families are assisted fairly and expeditiously. Only upon your selection from the waitlist will you be required to complete an official Section 8 housing assistance application.
A:A person must be 18 or older, or be an emancipated minor to participate in the lottery system. If you are an emancipated minor, you must provide a copy of the court's decision regarding your emancipation. You do not have to be a resident of Guam, but upon initial admission into the program, you will be required to live in Guam for twelve consecutive months.
A:The purpose of having a lottery is for GHURA to re-establish a waiting list. The lottery system will begin by having families apply online via the Internet at www.ghura.org. GHURA will begin accepting online pre-application registrations at 8:00 AM (Chamorro Standard Time) on January 6, 2025. When the application is completed a confirmation number will be provided to you. The system will be available 24 hours and stop accepting submissions at 4:59 PM (Chamorro Standard Time) on January 13, 2025. Any entries received after the deadline will be voided automatically. Following the next business week, GHURA will have available the system-generated waitlist from our software vendor. The waitlist printout will not have names, only the randomly selected lottery numbers from 1 to 1,800. Entries not selected will be discarded, and only those selected will be notified in writing. Lottery-winning numbers will be made available online at the GHURA website and can be verified using your application confirmation number.
A:You may apply from the comfort of your home or any location just as long as you have either a computer, smartphone, or tablet with an internet connection.
A:No, the new statute does not impact selection for placement on the waitlist through the lottery process; but it will affect the final selection for admission under the Section 8 program. The new statute states: “U.S. citizens and U.S. nationals shall have priority over non-U.S. and citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia.” Families will be randomly slotted on the waitlist, but at the time of selection for admission, U.S. citizens and U.S. nationals shall have priority.
A:Yes, you may call GHURA’s help desk for assistance at (671) 475-1300.
A:For those without access to the Internet, there are several public places where you can access free Internet using your smartphone, tablet, or computer, such as cafés, restaurants, and libraries. GHURA will also make a computer with internet access available at the main office located at 117 Bien Venida Avenue, Sinajana.
A:Yes, if you need assistance, staff will be available at the GHURA main office, located at 117 Bien Venida Avenue, Sinajana, to assist you in accessing and completing a lottery pre-application form.
A:Yes, the lottery entry process will be available in the four most predominant languages for Guam: English, Chamorro, Chuukese, and Filipino. For other languages not mentioned, please call 671-475-1375 to request translation on a specific language. A request for translation services must be made three days in advance.
A:
Step 1: Visit the GHURA website at www.ghura.org;
Step 2: Click on the yellow box “Online Housing Applications”
Step 3: Under “OPEN WAIT LISTS”, click “Section 8”
Step 4: The instruction page will pop up; Read instructions thoroughly and then click “Begin”
Step 5: Complete the application by filling out ALL required fields.
Step 6: After you have completed your application, review it for accuracy then Click “Submit”
Step 7: A lottery number will appear. IMPORTANT: Print or write down your lottery number and keep it for future verification. You will need the lottery number to check if you have been selected.
A:No, only one entry per family will be permitted. The system is designed to detect multiple entries and will automatically void additional entries. Multiple entries from the same household may also disqualify your entry.
A: The winning lottery numbers and placement on the wait list will be made available online at the GHURA website. You may also check your lottery number against the list on GHURA’s website at www.ghura.org.
A:If you believe the selection process was unfair, you have the right to an informal review per policy (24 CFR 982.554(a) and 16-IIIB- Informal Reviews and Hearings of the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program Administrative Plan). A request for an informal review must be made in writing and delivered to GHURA within ten (10) days after the publication of the lottery waitlist. Your written request for an informal review must state the reason(s) why you believe your non-selection was not attained fairly. The informal review will be conducted by a Hearing Officer, who will schedule and notify you of the informal review within ten business days of the receipt of your request.
A:No, selection for the lottery system does not guarantee to receive a voucher. It only means you've been selected for placement on the HCV (Section 8) waiting list. You will receive a voucher when your name reaches the top of the waitlist and you have been determined eligible to participate in the HCV program.
A:Only those selected and placed on a waitlist through the lottery process will receive written notifications about their selection. The notification letter will also include instructions on what documents will be required from the family to determine eligibility.
A:No, there is no charge to apply for housing assistance or to participate in the lottery. The only website where you can register is www.ghura.org. Any other website offering housing assistance for a price is not legitimate and should be reported to GHURA or the HUD Office of the Inspector General at www.HUD@gov.
A:To qualify for the Section 8 HCV Program, your family must meet the following program requirements:
  • The household income does not exceed the gross annual income limits specified for Guam when your official application is received. As of January 6, 2025, the income limit per household size is as follows:

    Household Size Gross Annual Income
    1 $31,100
    2 $35,550
    3 $40,000
    4 $44,400
    5 $48,000
    6 $51,550
    7 $55,100
    8 $58,650
    Please note: The above income limits chart is subject to change.

  • The applicant family must have at least one family member who is a U.S. Citizen or have an Eligible Immigration status.
  • The applicant was not evicted from any Section 8 or public housing program for drug-related criminal activity for the past five years.
  • The applicant or family members has no criminal history or pattern of criminal histories relating to drugs, alcohol, or violent, illegal activities for the past five years.
A:Yes, if selected to be on the waitlist, when your address or contact number has changed, you must report the changes in writing to GHURA's Section 8 Division. When reporting the change, please include your lottery number and social security number. Changes may be reported in person or you may contact Rosie Franscisco at (671) 475-1338 or email to rfrancisco@ghura.org.
A:You may obtain additional information about the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program through the GHURA website at www.ghura.org, or you may call the Section 8 Office at (671) 475-1330.