The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) gives funding to local Public Housing Agencies (PHAs), which manage the public housing program. As found on their website at https://www.hud.gov/helping-americans#Affordable, here’s a list of where to start if you need housing assistance and are searching for affordable housing.
• Public Housing: Public housing provides safe and affordable rental housing for low-income families, older adults, and people with disabilities. HUD gives funding to local Public Housing Agencies (PHAs), which manage these homes and set rent at an affordable price.
• Housing Choice Voucher (commonly known as Section 8): The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, also called Section 8, helps low-income families, older adults, and people with disabilities afford safe apartments and rental home in the private market. Instead of living in public housing, participants can choose their own apartment or rental home, and the voucher helps pay the rent.
Who Can Apply—Public Housing is available to low-income individuals and families. A Public Housing Agency will decide if you qualify based on:
• Your total yearly income
• Family size
• Your U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status
How to Apply: Contact your local Public Housing Agency. You will need to provide information about your family’s income, assets, and household members. The Public Housing Agency will use this information to see if you qualify and how much assistance you can receive. Visit https://www.hud.gov/helping-americans/housing-choice-vouchers to learn more on the Housing Choice Voucher Program.
If you're looking for an affordable apartment that accepts Housing Choice Vouchers or offers lower rent based on your income, you can visit https://resources.hud.gov, and select “Find Affordable Housing Opportunities Near Me” to begin your search for apartments in your area.
The HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program combines HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) rental assistance for homeless veterans with case management and clinical services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). If you are a veteran looking for housing help, call 1-877-4AID-VET (1-877-424-3838) for 24/7 assistance.
Lauren Bunting is a Broker with Keller Williams Realty of Delmarva in Ocean City, Maryland.
