How to Qualify for Low Income Housing in New Jersey

Housing assistance is available for those who qualify.

If you are struggling to pay your housing costs in New Jersey, you have options. Across the state, public housing and Section 8 rental programs are available to low income individuals and families who need help maintaining a safe and affordable living situation. Rent is determined according to your income with the public housing assistance covering the difference. Size of apartment is determined by your household size and limits are set for how much the rent can be.

Instructions

1. Understand your options. There are two low income housing programs in New Jersey: public housing and Section 8. Public housing developments are communities of apartments and/or houses in which the rent is based on a sliding scale according to the household income of the occupants. Rent can be no more than 30 percent of the total household income. Section 8 is a rental assistance program. Instead of living in a public housing development, Section 8 recipients receive vouchers that help them pay the rent on an apartment or house of their choosing, provided the landlord agrees and the housing is approved by the local housing authority issuing the vouchers.

2. Contact your local public housing authority. There are 100 housing authorities in New Jersey. You can find your authority on the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) website (see Resources below). They can advise you on the assistance programs in your town and help you decide whether public housing or Section 8 is the best low income housing program for your situation. They will also provide you with the correct application materials.

3. Apply for the assistance program the public housing authority recommends to you. Qualification depends on income standards set by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Council on Affordable Housing. These income standards change annually and are based on the income guidelines set yearly by HUD. The income standards vary depending on the size of your household and where you live. You can find the latest income guidelines on the Council of Affordable Housing website or by contacting your local housing authority.

Tips & Warnings

• Just as income qualification guidelines vary from region to region in New Jersey, so do application procedures, amount of available housing, and application processing times. For this reason, it is very important to contact your local housing authority to help you navigate the process.

References

• New Jersey Department of Community Affairs: Division of Codes and Standards
• HUD: Rental Help: New Jersey

Resources

• HUD: New Jersey Public Housing Authority Contact Information
• New Jersey: Council on Affordable Housing