How to Look for Renter's Assistance

With today's rising housing cost and expenses it is necessary to look for assistance in finding a low cost rental unit or getting assistance to help you pay for your current rental payments. With housing being the major family expense, finding assistance with rental payments can help your budget, your finances and cut your family's expenses in half. Read on to learn how to look for renter's assistance.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Contact your local housing authority by going online to the Housing and Urban Development's website and searching under Public Housing Authority. On the website you can also find out how to buy HUD homes and rent subsidized housing. Subsidized housing is housing in which your rent is determined by your house hold income.
2. Obtain a listing of your Public Housing Authorities available rental units and subsidized housing list. Find out if your Housing Authority offers a Housing Choice Voucher or Section 8 program that you can apply for or be eligible to apply for. The Housing Choice Voucher Program allows you to obtain government rental assistance. For more details about the program log onto the HUD website and click on Housing Choice Voucher Program.
3. Contact your State Housing Authority and find out if subsidized housing units are available throughout your local county area. You can also log onto Apartment Finder.
4. Contact your local housing counseling agencies or non-profit organizations who provide housing counseling and may help you to identify rental assistance programs for free. You may also look up certified HUD housing counseling agencies in your area by looking on the HUD website.
5. Look for home sales listings that advertise lease with an option to buy or lease indefinitely. Negotiate rental costs by explaining your circumstances. Some landlords may be willing to negotiate if they have sympathy towards your housing situation.

Tips & Warnings

• Housing Government assistance programs have stringent requirements. Be prepared to have a background check conducted, show your ID, birth certificates of yourself and family members, Social Security numbers of yourself and family members, pay stubs, W2s and previous references from landlord.
• Local non-profit organizations and churches may be willing to help with security deposits or down payment assistance.
• Don't get discouraged or frustrated with government workers or social workers who may be over worked, underpaid, and low in patience.
• Keep trying to seek out assistance without getting upset or rude with individuals who do not seem like they are trying to help you.

Who Can Help: