Community, safety, comfort: Wichita Falls Housing Authority reopens housing waitlist

WICHITA FALLS, Texas (KAUZ) - The Wichita Falls Housing Authority is opening all of its waitlists, but only for a limited time.

Wichita Falls Housing Authority Executive Director Paris Ward said it’s not just about having a place to lay your head, it’s about having a home that offers three key things: community, safety and comfort.

“As the executive director, my main thing is that we live up to our mission, which is to promote adequate and affordable housing, economic opportunity and a suitable living environment free from discrimination,“ Ward said.

On a mission to provide more than just shelter, the Wichita Falls Housing Authority has reopened all of its housing waitlists. In less than a week, nearly 200 applications have already been submitted.

Ward says that’s a clear sign of how critical the need for safe, stable housing remains and the agency is doing what it can to make access more attainable for everyone.

“Even if it’s just somewhere that is your first start, or somewhere, you know, where you might be retired and not able to handle the expenses of a large home. We give the opportunity to our residents to live somewhere that is absolutely affordable to you, and I think that helps our community as a whole,” Ward said.

Some new residents will also benefit from recent renovations, including new stoves for home-cooked meals, ceiling fans to beat the Texas heat, and other updates that help turn an apartment into a true home.

All with the goal of meeting people where they are in life and helping them move forward.

“All applicants will receive a letter from us as soon as we receive their application. That’s just letting them know that we did receive it, and you are on the wait list. Wait times are anywhere as short as three months, and up to a year, possibly 18 months, but it really depends. People might think, well, I don’t qualify. The best advice that I can give is apply. Nothing hurts to apply,“ Ward said.

If you or someone you know is in need of affordable housing, the Wichita Falls Housing Authority waitlist is open now but only through Oct. 31.

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