The Hollywood Housing Authority (HHA) will open a preliminary waiting list for its housing program on Friday, November 13, with a process that is exclusively phone-based and limited to the first 75 available slots, according to the official notice published on its website.
Calls will be received that day between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., and will close once 75 names are completed. The authority emphasizes that in-person visits will not be accepted under any circumstances: "Only one name will be accepted per phone call. In-person visits will not be allowed. No exceptions."
The number available for registration is 754-355-3066. There is a second line, 754-355-3067 (TTY/TDD), but it is reserved exclusively for individuals with hearing or speech disabilities; the HHA clarifies that no other calls will be answered on that line.
Those calling should have five pieces of information ready: full name, address, phone number, Social Security number, and date of birth. The authority will give preference to those who reside or work within the limits of the city of Hollywood.
An important detail that those interested should keep in mind: the official notice contains a terminological inconsistency.
The heading of the announcement mentions the "Public Housing Program for Families," while the body of the text refers to the "Preliminary Waiting List for Section 8."
Both are distinct federal programs —the first pertains to units managed directly by the authority, and the second is a subsidy for renting in the private market— and the HHA itself does not clarify in the notice to which of the two this opening corresponds.
Signing up for the preliminary list does not guarantee receiving housing assistance; it is merely the first step in a longer process.
The opening occurs in a context of severe shortage of affordable housing in South Florida. Broward County has an estimated deficit of 54,400 affordable homes, which represents 6.3% of its housing stock, according to data from the AEI Housing Center.
The HHA waitlists had remained closed for years; the last recorded opening of Section 8 in Hollywood was in September 2023.
This week has seen several announcements regarding housing assistance in the region. Hallandale Beach has opened a program for up to $100,000 for first-time homebuyers in its redevelopment district, and Miami has updated the status of its rental assistance lists for seniors, with some districts having completed the processing of applications while others are still under review.
The HHA reminds that it does not discriminate against any of the classes protected by federal law and guarantees equal housing opportunity to all applicants. Interested parties can find more details on the official waitlist page before November 13.
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