Types of Housing Assistance Available

Housing assistance is provided by the HUD who administers federal aid to local housing agencies (HAs). It is these HAs that manage the housing for low income individuals and families making sure that they have a rent that they can afford. There are 3 different types of housing assistance that you can apply for: disability, elderly, or family.

Disability Housing Assistance

If you are disabled, you can qualify for government housing assistance under Section 504 from the HUD. Section 504 guarantees that disabled individuals will not be discriminated upon in the application process for housing assistance. The government recognizes that there are certain disabilities that prevent one from having a job, or performing many of life’s activities. This is no reason for denial of housing assistance. As long as the disabled person does in fact have tenancy and is in financial need they can receive housing assistance by applying to Section 8 under disability housing assistance.

Elderly Housing Assistance

Elderly low-income individuals also have a separate screening process for housing assistance. As a low-income senior you can qualify for Section 8 housing vouchers to subsidize your monthly rent payments. But you also have access to public housing complexes specifically for elderly individuals. In this situation you will be given housing in a specialized senior’s complex with inexpensive monthly rent payments. You can apply for both types of senior housing assistance through the HUD.

Family Housing Assistance

The Housing Choice Voucher Program is the federal HUD’s largest program to accommodate low-income families in affording decent, safe and sanitary living accommodations. This housing assistance gives families the flexibility to live where they want, rather than being confined to public housing complexes. A family using these rental housing vouchers is responsible for finding a suitable housing unit of their choice where the owner agrees to rent under the program. During the application process, the housing assistance will collect information on family income, assets, and family composition. They will then cross check the information you provide with other local agencies, your employer and bank, and based on this information will determine your program eligibility and the amount of the housing assistance payment.

If you are looking for housing assistance you may also consider applying for a housing grant. This is a great way to subsidize your housing needs until you are approved for government housing assistance. For more information on the types of government grants available or the grant application process you should consider using a free grant kit that will provide hassle free information on your options.