This just in from Home Forward, Portland's Housing Authority:

Waiting lists are opening at several Home Forward apartment communities that provide homes for people who need subsidized housing. Rent for these apartments is income-based. Residents pay only 27.5 percent of their total income for rent.

The first opening is at New Columbia in North Portland, where lists for several different apartment sizes will open for three days, from Tuesday, June 26 through Thursday, June 28. Public housing waiting lists open for 1, 2, 4 and 5-bedroom apartments. Project-based voucher (Section 8) lists open for 4, 5, and 6-bedroom apartments.

To qualify for these homes, household income must be less than 60 percent of the area median income.

Applications will be available starting at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 26 at the leasing office, 4605 N. Trenton St., Portland, OR, 97203, or for download from www.newcolumbia.org. Applications can be submitted in person or by mail to the address above or by fax to (503) 285-2304.

The second opening is for waiting lists at four of Home Forward's public housing communities: Hollywood East (Northeast Portland/studios), Northwest Tower (Northwest Portland/studios), Williams Plaza (Northwest Portland/studios); and Ruth Haefner Plaza (Southwest Portland/1-bedroom apartments.)

To qualify for these apartments, one head of household must be age 55 or older or a have a disability that their doctor can verify, and their household income must be less than 80 percent of the area median income.

These waiting lists will be open from Wednesday, July 11 through Friday, July 13. Applications will be available beginning at 9 a.m. on July 11 at any of Home Forward's public housing community leasing offices or for download at www.homeforward.org. Applications can be submitted in person at the four public housing communities listed above, by mail to the leasing offices at those communities, or by fax at (503) 802-8488. Applications also will be accepted at the leasing office at any Home Forward public housing community.