Affordable Rental Housing

Find Affordable Rental Housing
- Types of Housing Programs
- Housing Counselor
COVID-19 Rental Assistance
- The Emergency Rental Assistance Program
Housing Choice Voucher Program (Formerly Section 8)
- Who is Eligible for the House Choice Voucher Program?
- Steps to Apply for House Choice Voucher
How to Get Help Paying Rent
Public Housing
Identify and Complain about Housing Discrimination
- File a Housing Discrimination Complaint
- LGBTQ Discrimination

Find Affordable Rental Housing

People with low income, seniors, or those with disabilities often find trouble in locating affordable rental housing for themselves and their families. Fortunately, there are various government programs such as subsidized housing, public housing, and housing choice vouchers which are there to assist the people with low income and disabilities to assist in obtaining affordable housing.

Individuals and families with income that is less than the median income established by Housing and Urban Development tend to fall under the category of low income. People who are 62 years of age or older fall into senior eligibility and those with physical or mental disabilities may also be eligible to receive assistance.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development does not own rental properties, instead provides money and or vouchers to the Regional, Field and Local Housing Authorities to provide the housing opportunities to those in need.

Types of Housing Programs

There are three main types of programs of Multifamily Housing supported by HUD including: subsidized housing, public housing, and housing choice voucher program.

Subsidized housing program: Subsidized housing program is where the government pays landlords directly as an incentive to ensure routine payment. This also encourages the landlord to offer low rent to the tenants approved for the program. The tenants can search for an apartment (AF411-3)and apply for it at the rental management office. If the tenants have any complaints regarding the subsidized housing or privately-owned housing program, then the tenants can reach out to the multifamily housing complaint line at 1-800-685-8470.

Public housing program: The Public housing (AF411-4) program provides rental apartments to low-income families, seniors and those who have a physical or mental disability. These prospective tenants can reach out to their local public housing agency in their states to find affordable rental assistance.

Housing choice voucher program : This program allows the prospective tenants the ability to find a rental property that they choose for themselves and their families. The Housing choice voucher is used to put towards the rent payment. Each Housing Authority ensures that the rentals under this program are listed at an appropriate fair market rate. At times the Housing Choice Voucher could possibly pay the entirety of your rent however at times there would be an overhead that the tenant would be responsible for. This must be paid on time each month to continue to be eligible to receive this program assistance. You can reach out to your local public housing agency and apply for the housing choice voucher. There are times that the program is not accepting applications due to an overwhelming need and under supply of resources.