Skip to main content
Español

Find Affordable Rental Housing

Learn about government programs that help low-income people find affordable rental housing. Each of the programs - subsidized housing, public housing, and housing choice vouchers - is different. Get the details on how they work, who is eligible, and how to apply.

On This Page

Find Affordable Rental Housing

People with low income tooltip Low Income: a total family income that’s no more than the Section 8 low-income limit established by HUD. Individuals are considered one-person families. , seniors tooltip Senior: for housing benefit eligibility purposes, a person who is 62 or older. , and people with disabilities tooltip Person with a Disability: a person whose physical or mental impairment substantially limits one or more major life activities, such as eating or walking. may qualify for help from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to get affordable rental housing. HUD doesn't own rental property. It gives money to states and building owners, who in turn provide low-income housing opportunities.

Get Personalized Help with Your Search

Find a HUD-approved housing counselor in your area online or call 1-800-569-4287 to find a local housing counseling agency tooltip Housing Counseling Agency: an organization with experts who provide advice on buying a home, renting, avoiding mortgage default (missing a payment) and foreclosure, and credit issues. . The counselor may be from a non-profit organization approved to offer advice on housing assistance.

Search by Type of Program

There are three main types of affordable rental housing that are supported by HUD:

  • Privately owned, subsidized housing in which landlords are paid by the government to offer reduced rents to low-income tenants. Search for an apartment and apply directly at the rental management office.
  • Public Housing provides affordable rental houses or apartments for low-income families, people who are elderly, and people with disabilities. To apply, contact a public housing agency in your state.
  • Housing Choice Voucher Program in which you find a rental property yourself, and use the voucher to pay for all or part of the rent. To apply, contact a public housing agency in your state.

If you have trouble contacting your local public housing agency, contact your local HUD field office for help.

If you're a landlord, learn how you can participate in the Housing Choice Voucher Program.

COVID-19 Rental Assistance

The government COVID-19 eviction moratorium has ended. Landlords now have the ability to evict renters who are not able to pay rent during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a renter or as a landlord, government programs can help you with rent money and advice for your situation.

Emergency Rental Assistance 

Find rental assistance programs near you from your state, local, or tribal government.

Get Advice for Renters from a Housing Counselor

Learn How to Avoid Eviction as a Renter

Learn how to avoid eviction and how to make a payment plan with your landlord.

Find Emergency Housing

If you are going to be evicted and need emergency housing, call 211 for local housing help or search using HUD's Find Shelter tool.

Recover Back Rent as a Landlord

Learn how to recover back rent and find out about mortgage forbearance for your property if you are a landlord.

Housing Choice Voucher Program (Formerly Section 8)

Find out how the Housing Choice Voucher Program can help you pay for rental housing. Get information about eligibility requirements, how you can apply, and where to file housing complaints.

Learn About the Housing Choice Voucher Program

The Housing Choice Voucher Program (formerly known as Section 8) is a program from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). It helps families with a low income, seniors, and people with disabilities pay for rental housing.

You can find housing, including single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments. Housing Choice vouchers can pay for all or part of the rent.

Housing Choice Voucher Eligibility

Your local public housing agency (PHA) decides if you are eligible for a Housing Choice voucher based on:

  • Your annual gross income
  • Whether you qualify as a family, a senior, or a person with a disability
  • U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status
  • Your family's size
  • Other local factors

In general, your family's income may not exceed 50% of the median income for the county or metropolitan area.

Each state or city may have different eligibility rules for housing programs. Contact your local PHA to learn about your eligibility for Housing Choice vouchers.

How to Apply for a Housing Choice Voucher

  • To apply for a Housing Choice voucher, contact a public housing agency in your state. If you need more assistance, contact your local HUD office.
  • You will need to fill out a written application or have a representative of your local PHA help you.
  • The PHA representative will collect information on your family size, income, and assets.
  • The PHA will check this information with other local agencies, your employer, and your bank. This helps them decide if you qualify and how much assistance you'll get.
  • The amount of assistance you may get is adjusted so you can afford a moderately-priced rental in your area.
  • The housing you choose must meet health and safety standards before the PHA can approve the unit.
  • After you've been approved for a voucher and found a place to rent, the PHA will inspect the rental before you sign your lease. These inspections are performed so the PHA can be sure the property is worth the rental price.

 

Check the Status of Your Housing Choice Voucher Application

If you qualify for a Housing Choice voucher, the PHA will put your name on a waiting list. They will contact you when it's your turn to receive a voucher.

Get Help With Your Housing Choice Voucher Application

Since the demand for housing assistance is usually greater than the resources available, you may wait a long time to get on a list and to get a voucher. 

Being approved for a voucher in one city or state does not guarantee you'll be approved somewhere else.

How to Get Help Paying Rent

If you need help paying your rent, contact your state housing finance agency or your local public housing agency office. You may qualify for government programs to get help with your rent payments.

Contact your state human or social service agency:

  • If you need immediate, emergency assistance
  • To find out what other help may be available for you locally 

Even if you don't qualify for rental assistance through these agencies, they may be able to refer you to a community organization that can help. You may also search for and contact community or nonprofit organizations in your area. They may help you directly or offer you referral information.

Housing Assistance for Veterans

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers the HUD-VASH for homeless veterans. It combines HUD housing vouchers with VA supportive services. 

And a new VA program, the Shallow Subsidy initiative, offers a fixed rental subsidy to low-income vets for up to two years. 

Housing Assistance for Seniors

The Eldercare Locator is a free service that can connect you with resources and programs designed to help seniors in your area.

Rural Housing Assistance

Local Rural Development (RD) offices can help rural residents through the Rural Housing Service.

Public Housing

Find out about public housing, including what it is, whether you're eligible, how to apply, and whom to contact if you have a complaint.

Learn About Public Housing

Public housing is state-owned, affordable rental houses or apartments. It's intended for families with low incomes, seniors, and people with disabilities. Found nationwide, public housing comes in all sizes and types, from single-family houses to high-rise apartments. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) administers the program.

Since the demand for public housing is often larger than the amount of housing available to HUD and the local PHA, long waiting periods are common. A PHA may close its waiting list when there are more families on the list than can be assisted in the near future.

Public Housing Eligibility

Your local public housing agency (PHA) will determine your eligibility for public housing based on:

  • Your annual gross income
  • Whether you qualify as a senior, a person with a disability, or a family
  • U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status
  • Other local factors

PHAs use income limits developed by HUD. The lower income limit is 80% and the very low income limit is 50% of the median income for the county or metropolitan area where you want to live.

Because income limits and eligibility requirements vary from area to area, you may be eligible in one state, city, or county but not in another. Contact your local PHA to learn about your eligibility for:

  • Federal and local public housing programs
  • Housing Choice vouchers
  • Rental assistance
  • Subsidized housing 

 

Apply for Public Housing

To apply, contact your local PHA. Here’s what you can expect during the application process.

Either you or a PHA representative will fill out your written application. Your PHA usually needs to collect the following information to determine eligibility:

  • Names of all people who would be living in the unit, their sex, date of birth, and relationship to the family head
  • Your present address and telephone number
  • Conditions that might help your family's reception into the program more quickly, including:
    • Veteran status
    • Current residency in substandard housing
  • Names and addresses of your current and previous landlords to verify your family's suitability as a tenant
  • An estimate of your family's income for the next 12 months and the sources of that income
  • The names and addresses of employers, banks, and others to verify your income, deductions, and family composition

Someone from your PHA may visit you in your home to interview you and your family members to see how you manage the upkeep of your current home.

After collecting this information, the PHA representative should describe the public housing program. They'll go over its requirements and answer any questions you may have.

A PHA representative will ask for documents including birth certificates and tax returns. The PHA uses these documents to verify the information on your application. The PHA may also talk to your employer and your other references. You will be asked to sign a form to authorize the release of information to the PHA.

Check the Status of Your Public Housing Application

Your PHA has to provide written notification of your application's status. If the PHA determines you're eligible, your name will be put on a waiting list. Once it's your turn, the PHA will contact you.

Get Help With Your Public Housing Application

Contact your local PHA for help with a public housing application or more information about housing programs. If you need further assistance, contact your local HUD branch office.  

For information about any housing question, contact the PIH Customer Service Center.

File a Public Housing Complaint

If you need to file a complaint about your local PHA, contact the PIH Customer Service Center.

If you feel that you have been a victim of housing discrimination, file a housing discrimination complaint.

Identify and Complain about Housing Discrimination

Housing discrimination happens when a housing provider gets in the way of a person renting or buying housing because of their

  • Race or color
  • Religion
  • Sex
  • National origin
  • Familial status (such as having children)
  • Disability

A housing provider that discriminates against someone could be a landlord or a real estate management company. It could also be a lending institution like a bank or other organization that aids in the homebuying process.

Housing discrimination is prohibited by the Fair Housing Act. Discrimination covered by the Act can take many forms beyond just raising prices or lying about availability. For example, the Act addresses wheelchair access in some newer properties. Learn what the Fair Housing Act covers, how to complain, and how the investigation process works.

File a Housing Discrimination Complaint

If you think you have experienced housing discrimination,

LGBTQ Discrimination

The Fair Housing Act does not specifically prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. But discrimination against someone who is lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ) may still be in violation of the Act or other state or local regulations. If you think you've been discriminated against based on sexual orientation or gender identity, file a complaint as described above.

Share This Page:

Do you have a question?

Ask a real person any government-related question for free. They'll get you the answer or let you know where to find it.

Last Updated: July 8, 2022

Top