How to Get Subsidized Rent as a College Student

In some cases you may use a housing voucher to purchase a modest home.

Subsidized housing, also called Section 8 housing, has helped people in all walks of life afford a safe place to live. Though there are some exceptions, college students may qualify for subsidized housing in certain instances. For example, disabled students who lived in subsidized housing before November 30, 2005 and students living with parents who receive this assistance are both eligible to live in Section 8 housing. However, part- and full-time students may not qualify by themselves for subsidized rent.

Instructions

1. Find your local public housing agency (PHA) using the PHA Contact Information website.

2. Click on your state. Scroll down the alphabetical list of cities until you find yours, where you will find contact information.

3. Contact your PHA to apply for a housing choice voucher. Your PHA will screen you for eligibility by comparing your gross annual income to your family size. Generally, your income mustn't exceed 50 percent of the median annual income of the area in which you plan to live.

4. Provide the PHA with necessary personal information, including family income and employer information, bank statements and documents that verify your assets. The PHA will use this information to determine how much, if any, assistance you qualify for.

5. Wait to hear from the PHA after you've applied. Unless you're eligible for immediate aid, the PHA will put you on a waiting list to receive your housing voucher. Once you've received a voucher, you may choose to live in any rental residence that participates in the Section 8 program.

References

• HUD; Inspections and Evaluations Reports: College Student Section 8 Recipients; June 2007
• HUD: Housing Choice Vouchers Fact Sheet

Resources

• HUD: PHA Contact Information