Government Guidelines on Low-Income Housing
Government-subsidized housing provides a place for low-income people to live. The federal government has established "Section 8" housing programs throughout the United States. Understanding the government guidelines on low-income housing can help you determine if you qualify for assistance.
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Section 8
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The name "Section 8" refers to a part of the U.S. Housing Act, which was passed in 1937 to respond to a shortage of low-income housing as a result of the Great Depression. Section 8 helps low-income people find rental housing. It also provides guidelines and procedures for the operation, acquisition and development of low-income housing.
Availability
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As authorized by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), low-income housing units can be apartments, townhomes or multi-family housing complexes. HUD, with local housing authority organizations, works with local property owners and landlords to establish available housing units. HUD also provides tax credits for developers to build low-income housing according to HUD guidelines.
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Income
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To qualify for Section 8, your income must be less than 50 percent of the median income in the Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) where you live. Section 8 participants pay 30 percent of their monthly income toward rent. HUD determines the fair market value of the rent and pays the rest.
Priorities
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HUD gives priorities for low-income housing to the disabled and elderly, reserving a percentage of units in each housing complex for them. All other applications for are processed with regular priority through housing associations designated by HUD.
Administration
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HUD works with local governments and housing authorities to ensure that federal guidelines are met concerning low-income housing. Most of the housing authorities are nonprofit organizations that specialize in administering the Section 8 programs in their communities.
The housing authorities process the Section 8 paperwork regarding income, credit and background checks and assigned housing availability. Having a negative credit report or criminal background doesn't make you ineligible for applying for low-income housing.
Annual Review
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Once Section 8 housing is obtained, tenants are reviewed annually to determine if their "living" status has changed. This review includes verifying any change in annual income and the number of dependents or other family members. As long as tenants meet the annual requirements, there is no time limit on how long they can live in low-income housing.
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- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Derrick Tyson
