Help for Low Income Rentals
Low-income families and individuals can get safe and decent housing options through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's affordable housing programs. Applicants must meet income limits to qualify for help to pay their rent. The housing authority administers this program for the public and is responsible for determining the applicants' eligibility for help. You can obtain an application for help from the housing authority. Since funding is limited, you may be placed on a waiting list.
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HUD Public Housing Program
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HUD's Public Housing Program provides a rental subsidy to low-income families. This federally assisted housing unit allows the tenants to pay 30 percent of their income toward rent. HUD pays the remaining portion. To qualify for a public housing unit, the family's income cannot exceed 80 percent of the area's median income. The family must be U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens to receive the maximum subsidy.
Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher
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The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program also provides rental subsidies to low-income families. To obtain a voucher, the family's income cannot exceed 50 percent of the area's median income. Families with extremely low incomes are given priority over families with higher incomes. The voucher allows qualified renters to live in conventional housing and still have their rent subsidized. The landlord has to agree to accept the voucher as payment for the tenant to live there and get help to pay the rent. The tenant is required to pay 30 percent of her income toward rent.
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SIngle-Room Occupancy Program
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The Single Room Occupancy Program provides a rental subsidy to landlords who provide housing to homeless individuals. An SRO is a single unit with a bathroom or kitchen, or both. The landlord must make a minimum of $3,000 worth of repairs to convert his rental into an SRO to qualify for a subsidy. The tenant is responsible for paying 30 percent of his income toward rent. The landlord can receive the rental subsidy for the property for up to 10 years.
HUD-VASH Program
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HUD and the Department of Veteran Affairs have partnered to provide 20,000 Section 8 vouchers to homeless veterans. A veteran must not have an adequate night-time residence to qualify for help. The voucher subsidizes a portion of the veteran's rent to make it more affordable. The veteran must agree to participate in case management services, such as substance abuse counseling and job skills training, to ensure he can maintain his residential stability.
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References
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: HUD's Public Housing Program
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Housing Choice Vouchers Fact Sheet
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Single Room Occupancy Program (SRO)
- U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs: The Department of Housing and Urban Development and VA's Supported Housing (HUD-VASH) Program
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