In order to submit an application to receive housing assistance through the Housing Authority of Joliet’s Public Housing Program, a household must first determine if the Public Housing Program waiting list is open and accepting applications from the general public. Interested households may either check this website or contact the Housing Authority of Joliet’s front desk at (815) 727-0611, extension 100 to inquire as to whether or not any Public Housing Program waiting list is open. Normal business hours are Mondays through Fridays from 8:00am to 4:30pm, excluding holidays.

Pre-Application Phase

If a Public Housing Program waiting list is open, a household can begin the pre-application process by either visiting this website or obtaining and then submitting a paper pre-application document that is available at the Housing Authority of Joliet’s Main Office located at 6 South Broadway Street, Joliet, Illinois 60436.

When preparing to register, a household will need to have the following information readily available to complete the process: household member composition (legal names, dates of birth, social security numbers); income, asset and deduction sources; any reasonable accommodation requests; criminal background history; prior rental history; and any claimed program admission preferences.

If submitting a pre-application document via the Housing Authority of Joliet’s website, once the document is submitted, the computer software will allow the household to print out a pre-registration applicant number for future reference. DO NOT MISPLACE this information, as it is a household’s only proof that a pre-application was submitted via the internet. Within 30 calendar days of submission, the pre-application document will be uploaded into the Housing Authority of Joliet’s computer system and the household will be assigned a waiting list position based on the original date of submission, submission time, claimed local admission preferences, and bedroom size. At this time a household will be considered to be an “applicant household on the waiting list” with a position.

If submitting a pre-application paper copy document, it will be necessary for the household to return the original signed document to the Housing Authority of Joliet’s Main Office located at 6 South Broadway Street, Joliet, Illinois 60436. Returning the pre-application document may be done either in person or via U.S. Mail. It is strongly recommended that applicant households retain a copy of the completed pre-application document as proof that it was returned to the Housing Authority of Joliet. Once received, within 30 calendar days of submission, the pre-application document will be uploaded into the Housing Authority of Joliet’s computer system and the household will be assigned a waiting list position based on the original date of submission, submission time, claimed local admission preferences, and bedroom size. At this time a household will be considered to be an “applicant household on the waiting list” with a position. Applicants should register with the applicant portal at myportal.hajoliet.org to review their application and update their contact information.

Checking On Waiting List Status

Once placed on a Public Housing Program waiting list, households with a touchtone telephone may check on the status of their current waiting list position 24 hours a day by accessing the Housing Authority of Joliet’s automated waiting list system..

Waiting To Receive an Offer for Housing Assistance

Waiting to receive a housing assistance offer can be a lengthy process. Rental unit vacancies dictate rental unit availability. If you experience a long wait time, please note that a household SHOULD NOT submit multiple applications for the same housing assistance program as long as a household remains active on the appropriate Public Housing Program waiting list. Submitting multiple applications for housing assistance does not make a household move up on the waiting list any quicker.

If any information contained within the pre-application document should need to be updated or changed after it has been submitted to the Housing Authority of Joliet for processing, it is the head of household’s personal responsibility to contact the Housing Authority of Joliet to obtain, complete and submit a Public Housing Program Applicant Update Form. Examples of changes that should be reported include, but are not limited to any change in the household’s mailing address, telephone number(s), or emergency contact information. Failure to provide current contact information will result in the household being removed from the Public Housing Program’s waiting list and the household will need to reapply for housing assistance when the appropriate bedroom size waiting list reopens to the general public. The Public Housing Program Applicant Update Form is available for download by clicking here.

For households that are living in unstable housing situations or who are homeless, it is strongly recommended that on the pre-application that multiple mailing addresses and telephone numbers be listed of family members and/or friends who can get in contact with the household within a 24 hour time period. If this is not possible, you should obtain a post office box and check it frequently for correspondence from the Housing Authority of Joliet. Several local social service agencies may assist a household in either obtaining a post office box or letting the household use a mail pick-up service box at their agency.

Applicant households are required to respond, in writing, to periodic requests from the Housing Authority of Joliet to update information on pre-application documents or to determine the household’s continued interest pursuing a housing assistance offer. An applicant’s failure to provide information to or respond to any Housing Authority of Joliet mailing within the specified time period will result in the household being removed from the waiting list. Once removed from the waiting list, a household wait to reapply for housing assistance once the Public Housing Program waiting list reopens to the general public.

Final Application Phase

Once a household nears the top of a Public Housing Program waiting list, the Public Housing Program Department will contact the household to schedule an eligibility interview and begin the process of determining if the household meets HUD and Housing Authority of Joliet established program eligibility criteria.

At this time, the Housing Authority will begin verifying any applicant claimed local admission preference that is listed on the pre-application document. Any claimed local admission preference must exist at the time it is being verified by the Housing Authority. Please note that the length of time that a household has been on the waiting list is not a consideration for award of a local admission preference. An award of a local admission preference is based on the applicant household’s current status and condition, not some other measurement.

Items that will be verified to determine a household’s qualification for admission into the Public Housing Program includes, but are not limited to:

  • Household claimed local admission preferences
  • Household composition (legal names, dates of birth, social security numbers)
  • Household type (elderly/single/family/non-elderly)
  • Household member annual income and asset sources
  • Household member eligible deductions from annual income
  • Household member citizenship or eligible immigration status
  • Household screening criteria, such as:
    • criminal background history
    • social desirability reference(s)
    • rent payment history
    • prior rental history
    • housekeeping history

After the verification process has been completed, the Housing Authority of Joliet will make a final determination regarding the household’s eligibility to receive Public Housing Program housing assistance. The final eligibility decision is based on the information that was provided by the household, verifications that are completed by the Housing Authority of Joliet, and the applicant screening process as set forth within the Housing Authority of Joliet’s Admission and Continued Occupancy Policy (ACOP).

If all program eligibility requirements have been met and all information that was provided to the Housing Authority verifies as accurate, a household is determined eligible to receive housing assistance through the Public Housing Program. The Public Housing Program Department will then extend an offer of housing assistance to the household.

If all program eligibility requirements have not been meet and/or all information that was provided to the Housing Authority does not verify as accurate, the household will be classified as ineligible to receive housing assistance. The Public Housing Program Department will not extend an offer of housing assistance to the ineligible/denied household. If this should occur, an ineligible/denied household is provided with an opportunity to request an Applicant Denial Meeting in accordance with established hearing procedures that are set forth by the Housing Authority of Joliet’s Admission and Continued Occupancy Policy (ACOP).