Interested in Arlington Apartments?
See if you are eligible
We have a cap of 35 people waiting for an apartment at a time and we will open the application process when we have space to receive more.
All applicants must:
- Be 18 to 24 years old (families with children are welcome)
- Have valid ID
- Have a Social Security Card
- Have a reliable source of income or ongoing financial support in order to pay monthly rent and electric (see Required Documents below)
- Currently be facing homelessness or crisis
- Pass a criminal background check
Application Process
Step 1:
Complete the brief eligibility form.
- If you do not meet the primary requirements of Tacoma Housing Authority as shown on the eligibility form, please see our resource page for alternative options.
- If you do meet all initial requirements, your information will be saved in our “interest list” database and sent to our team.
If you have any questions, email the case management team at:
Step 2:
Speak to an Arlington team member to complete your application.
Someone from Arlington will reach out to speak with you about your application and clarify next steps. After that, you will be contacted every 30 days to see if you’re still interested in a unit.
- We respond to applications in the order they are submitted, so it may take several days, or weeks, before the first time a case manager contacts you.
- If you don’t respond or can’t be reached within 5 days of the case manager contacting you, your name will be removed from the interest list.
When a new space opens in the waitpool, applicants on the interest list will be contacted in the order their applications were received. You’ll then be asked to complete an in-person assessment and provide all necessary documents.
- You’ll need to provide a legal state ID, Social Security card, and proof of income, including a copy of all children’s birth certificates and Social Security cards if you are applying with minors.
- Without these documents, you will not be able to enter the waitpool, so we recommend you use the time before your intake to secure them.
If you provide all necessary documents and your assessment is cleared for suitability to rent, you will be added to the waitpool!
Step 3:
Get selected and move in!
Applicants on the waitpool are randomly selected when an appropriate unit for their household size and income becomes available.
- There is no determined wait time for available units, since these are regular apartments that don’t have rental time limits, so we recommend continuing to look for other housing options while in our waitpool.
Once you are selected, a Tacoma Housing Authority property specialist will contact you to set up a financial qualifications appointment with property management. Once approved, you will be given a lease signing and move-in date, as well as meet with a case manager to learn all the ways we can support you!
Required Documents
There are a few documents you should make sure to have before you book your appointment to complete your assessment.
A state identification card (ID card) or a state driver’s license card (DL card), Social Security card (SS card), and proof of income are all required at the time of assessment. Social Security cards and certified birth certificates are required for children.
Only original or certified copies of documents will be accepted. Photocopies can be accepted by THA in some circumstances.
See below for information and links as to where to obtain documents needed.
I. Social Security Card
If you need to replace a lost or stolen SS card, you can fill out an application either online or in-person at your local Social Security office and have a new card mailed to you at no cost.
Your can also submit your most current W-2, or a pay stub that includes your full Social Security number, instead of an SS card.
Please visit this link for a more detailed description of how to replace your SS card:
II. Proof of Income
If your income source is through a job – you will need to provide three months of pay stubs.
If your income is through SSI, TANF, etc. – you will need to provide your award letter with current dates and correct dollar amounts.
If you do not have a source of income – a guarantor (someone agreeing to pay your rent/electric for the first year while you gain income) may be considered in some situations. There are conditions to this.
III. Washington State ID or Driver’s License Card
You can apply for a Washington state ID or DL card, renew an existing ID, or replace a lost/stolen ID at your local Department of Licensing (DOL) office. If you’re applying for your first WA ID card, proper identification will be needed when visiting the DOL in person.
Please visit this link for a more detailed description of how to get your WA ID or DL card:
Other Resources
If you need housing assistance before a spot opens up, you can find more options and tools with our partners below.
Beacon Young Adult Shelter
- 415 S 13th St Tacoma
- 253-677-0102
- 7 days a week 8:30pm-7am
CCS Family Day Center
- 5050 South Tacoma WA Tacoma
- 253-471-5340
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9am-1pm; Wednesday 12pm-4pm
Comprehensive Life Resources
- 1305 Tacoma Ave, Suite 305, Tacoma
- 253-396-5065
- Monday 1pm-3pm, Wednesday 10am-12pm, Friday 12pm-2pm
Family Day Center
- 5050 South Tacoma Way, Tacoma, WA, 98409
- 253-682-3401
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from 9am-4pm, Wednesday from 12pm-6pm
HYPE Center
- 2342 Tacoma Ave S Tacoma
- 253-677-0102
- Monday-Friday hours 7:30am to 11:30am, closes for lunch, opens again 1pm to 8:30pm • Saturday and Sunday hours 1pm to 8:30pm
Nativity House Shelter
- 702 S 14th St Tacoma
- 253-502-2780
- Monday-Friday, 6:30am-4:45pm
Tacoma Rescue Mission Men’s Shelter
- 425 South Tacoma Way, Tacoma
- 253-383-4493
- Monday-Friday 10am to 4pm
Tacoma Salvation Army
- 501 6th Ave Tacoma
- 253-572-8452
- 7 days a week 7pm-8am
Tahoma Indian Center
- 1809 E. 31st St., Tacoma, WA, 98404
- 253-593-2707
- Monday-Friday 8am-4pm