How to Apply for Low Income Housing Programs
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD, provides the funding for programs that provide housing subsidies to low-income, disabled and elderly individuals and families. While all housing authorities must abide by the federal regulations in order to receive funding, local public housing authorities, or PHAs, actually administer the programs and accept applications. The HUD programs provide a housing subsidy for recipients who live in project-based communities and to participants in the housing choice voucher program, which allows the participant to rent from a private landlord.
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Things You'll Need
- Income verification
- Social Security cards
- Driver's license or state identification card
- Birth certificates
Instructions
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Compare your household income to the median income for your county or metropolitan area. The HUD website provides lists of Income limits by area. Your household income must be below 50 percent of the median income in your area for your family size.
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Make copies of documents you are likely to need. Requirements may vary, but you will usually need Social Security cards and birth certificates for all members of the household as well as identification for all adults. You will also need verification of income for the past year or longer.
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Locate the contact information for the public housing authority, or PHA, where you wish to apply. Contact information can be found on the HUD website.
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Apply in person at the PHA office. Most offices require you to apply in person during certain days and times. Bring copies of all required documents with you when you apply.
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Tips & Warnings
If anyone in you household is disabled or elderly, or you are homeless or dislocated due to a natural disaster, make sure you mention this. In many cases, you will be given a preference, which can move you up on the list.
While you may qualify with income below 50 percent of the area median, at least 75 percent of low-income housing must go to households with income below 30 percent of the area median.
Almost all PHAs have long waiting lists. Some lists are closed due to the number of people on the list. Consider applying to many PHAs to increase the possibility of securing housing.
