People who need housing assistance will soon have the opportunity to get on a waiting list to receive it.

The Suffolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority is opening waiting lists for two different types of housing assistance — the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8), as well as two-bedroom apartments for elderly or disabled tenants.

“We’re opening our waiting list because our waiting list right now has decreased,” said Sybil Bullock, director of housing operations for the housing authority. “Currently, we only have about 50 people on the list” for the Housing Choice Voucher Program, she said.

For the Section 8 program, participants who are approved receiving a voucher that can be used for rental assistance anywhere within the city of Suffolk, or even to a different city or different state. The amount of rent the tenant pays is decided based on his income. The remainder of the rent is paid by the housing authority.

Applications for the voucher program will be handed out at three different locations on Oct. 18-19 and Oct. 25-26 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. They can be obtained at SRHA, 530 E. Pinner St.; Paul D. Camp Community College, 271 Kenyon Road; and Little Grove Baptist Church, 6320 Hampton Roads Parkway (formerly Townpoint Road).

Applications can also be obtained from the website at www.suffolkrha.org. Applications also will be mailed to people with disabilities upon request. All applications must be completed and mailed to SRHA, 530 E. Pinner St., Suffolk, VA 23434 and must be postmarked by Nov. 18. Later postmarks will not be accepted.

In addition, a separate application process for two-bedroom apartments in public housing for the elderly or disabled is opening.

“We’re trying to rebuild that list as well,” Bullock said. “We’re going to keep that waiting list kind of open indefinitely right now.”

Applications will be taken on Wednesdays only in person at 530 E. Pinner St. between the hours of 9 a.m. and noon beginning on Nov. 2. Applications for this opportunity also are available on the website at www.suffolkrha.org.