The Charleston County Housing and Redevelopment Authority plans to accept up to 500 applicants for its Housing Choice Voucher waiting list, starting at 9 a.m. April 20, 2021.

Those are the vouchers many people refer to as “Section 8” although the official name changed years ago. They allow renters to find privately owned apartments. Vouchers covering most or all of the rent, up to federally-set limits.

For example, a voucher would cover up to $1,000 for a two-bedroom apartment in Charleston County, according to Ginean Mazyck, interim housing choice voucher director at the county authority.

“It depends on if a person can find a place to rent, with what the voucher pays,” Mazyck said. “With rent being so high, even those who are working and making a livable wage could need a voucher if they have a large family.”

The last time the county housing authority opened the waiting list was in early 2018. There are currently 186 people on the list, but the list is shorter than it appears because many who have been on the list for years may no longer qualify or be interested in a voucher.

For more information call (843) 722-1942 or go online to http://cchra.net/.