Low-income Housing Assistance

To make sure that all Americans have access to adequate housing regardless of their income, the federal and state governments in the US offer low-income housing assistance. These come in the form of subsidized rental housing, public housing, as well as home ownership help for low-income, first time buyers. In this article we are going to focus on and examine public housing assistance.

Low-income Public Housing Assistance

There are millions of individuals and families across the US who live in public housing developments. Public housing developments are apartments that are built and subsidized by either the state or federal government and are managed by local housing authorities.

To be eligible to live in public housing a family must typically earn no more than 80 percent of the area median income. Income guidelines vary from year to year and region to region, so make sure to check with your local housing authority for up-to-the-minute information.

The rent that each public housing tenant pays is unique. It’s based on household income and whether the costs of utilities (electricity, heat, cooking fuel) are included. As a general rule, tenants living in family public housing pay:

• 32 percent of net income where the tenant does not pay for utilities
• 30 percent of net income where the tenant pays for some (but not all) utilities
• 27 percent of net income where the tenant pays for all utilities

In order to apply for low-income public housing assistance you must contact your local housing authority who will add your name to a waiting list. Applicants may put their names on more than one waiting list if they qualify for more than one program, such as family public housing and disability public housing, for example.

Housing Assistance While You Wait

Because the wait times for public housing tend to be quite long, you may consider applying for a personal grant to subsidize your income and help pay your rent while you wait.