What IS Affordable Housing?

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defines affordable housing or apartments as one a household can obtain for 30% or less of its income.

Low Income Housing?

Low-income housing requires qualifying through your local housing authority. Here are some factors to consider:

• Requires earning less than 80% of the median income in the local area, or AMI

• Requires proof of income, including recent pay stubs, invoices, and IRS tax returns

• Requires reporting income changes to the local housing authority, even after signing a lease

• Includes Public Housing and Section 8 programs

• Most low-income housing and apartments are rented directly through public housing authorities

Who Is Eligible?

Public housing is limited to low-income families and individuals. An HA (Housing Authority) determines your eligibility based on:

1.  Annual gross income; HAs use income limits developed by HUD. HUD sets the lower income limits at 80% and very low income limits at 50% of the median income for the county in which you chose to live. These limits vary from county, so you may be eligible at one but not another. The HA serving your community can provide you with the income limits for your area and family size, these limits can also be found on the internet.

2. Whether you qualify as elderly, a person with a disability, or as a family;

3. U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status.

If you are eligible, the HA will check your references to make sure you and your family will be good tenants. HAs will deny admission to any applicant whose habits and practices may be expected to have a detrimental effect on other tenants or on the project’s environment.

Section 8 Housing

Section 8 is sometimes called the “Housing Choice Program,” and requires tenants to pay a minimum of 28% of their income towards their monthly rent. The program pays for the remainder of the rent directly to the landlord.

Despite the differences in how rent is paid, landlords still screen prospective Section 8 tenants the same way as other applicants. Tenants also sign a lease agreement, just like other renters.

How Do You Apply for Low Income and Affordable Housing?

Public housing, housing vouchers, Section 8, Section 42, and just about any income-restricted housing programs require an application process. Here’s how the process works.

The application must be written. Either you or the HA representative will fill it out. An HA usually needs to collect the following information to determine eligibility:

1. Names of all persons who would be living in the unit, their sex, date of birth, and relationship to the family head;

2. Your present address and telephone number;

3. Family characteristics (e.g. veteran), or circumstances (e.g. living in substandard housing), that might qualify the family for tenant selection preferences;

4. Names and addresses of your current and previous landlords for information about your family’s suitability as a tenant;

5. An estimate of your family’s anticipated income for the next twelve months and the sources of that income;

6. The names and addresses of employers, banks, and any other information the HA would need to verify your income and deductions, and to verify the family composition; and

Will I Need To Produce Any Documentation?

Yes, the HA representative will request whatever documentation is needed (e.g. birth certificates, tax returns) to verify the information given on your application. The HA will also rely on direct verification from your employer, etc. You will be asked to sign a form to authorize release of pertinent information to the HA.