There are many ways you can find low-income housing opportunities on Affordable Housing Online. And now that our website has a new look for 2024, an overview of our new layout and features can help you navigate our pages with ease.
When starting your housing search, the menu button on the top of every page will help guide you through the different ways to find affordable housing. You can start by searching for local apartments with interactive maps and listings, finding open Section 8 waiting lists, or browsing apartment waiting list openings.
Option 1: Search for housing in a city.
- First, type the name of your city in the search box on the top of the Affordable Housing Online Home Page. Make sure you type all or most of the city’s name so it shows up in the list.
- A list of city names will show up in a drop down menu. Find your city in the list, and then select it.
- You are now on the Low-Income Apartments page for the city you selected. From here, you can either start scrolling down through the list of properties, or navigate using the map. To get to the map on a mobile device, select the blue map icon on the right of the screen.
Before selecting a property, you can also find other important resources about renting in the area; including the housing wage, local housing authorities, and more. - While on the map, select one of the circular markers to get a preview of a rental property. The property name will show up, along with the address and participating low-income housing programs.
Select the property name to visit its page on Affordable Housing Online. - On the property page, a lot more information is given to help you decide if this type of housing is right for you. These details include rents, bed and bath sizes, amenities, waiting lists, and more.
If a waiting list isn’t verified for a property, you will get a Waiting List Forecast. This feature — which is only available on Affordable Housing Online — predicts the likely waiting list status for interested tenants. Every Waiting List Forecast is carefully made by our housing experts who know how to spot the signs of properties with a waiting list, and how long the list might be.
Below waiting list information, you can find Dave’s Thoughts about the property. Our founder and CEO Dave Layfield, gives a unique summary of every property with information that helps you make a decision to apply, or not. - When scrolling through apartment listings, select the property name to visit its page on Affordable Housing Online.
This brings you to the property page, which is the same page that appears if you used the map. It has all of the same information, such as rents, waiting lists, and Dave’s Thoughts. - To find more housing options in the area, you can also check for waiting lists managed by HUD housing authorities. Finding open HUD waiting lists is a great way to start narrowing down your search.
Scroll past the property listings, and find the section called “What HUD offices serve (the area)?” If that area is served by a housing authority, a link to waiting list information will be available.
Option 2: Find open Section 8 waiting lists.
- From any page on Affordable Housing Online, select the menu button on the top, and then the Section 8 Waitlists link. On this page, you will find all Section 8 waiting list openings in the country discovered by Affordable Housing Online.
- There are two different ways to find openings on this page.
First, all Section 8 waiting lists in the country recently discovered by Affordable Housing Online are conveniently listed on the top of the page. Scroll left or right to browse waiting lists, and select the blue button for a waiting list opening to get information on how to apply. If the waiting list opens soon, the button will tell you to “Get Ready To Apply,” and if the waiting list is open, it says “Get The Application.”
You will then be directed to the waiting list information on the Affordable Housing Online housing authority page. Our housing experts write clear instructions on how to submit an application for the waiting list. - The other way to find waiting list openings is to search by state. Scroll down to the “Browse By State” button, and select it to find a link to waiting list information for every state and territory in the country.
- After selecting a state, you can scroll left or right through the list of openings in that state on the top of the page.
Select the blue button for a waiting list opening in that state to get information on how to apply. Just like on the nationwide Section 8 Waiting Lists page, you will be directed to information on how to apply.
Option 3: Find open apartment waiting lists.
- The steps to find low-income apartment openings are almost exactly the same as Section 8 waiting lists. Select the menu button on the top of any page, and then the Apartment Waitlists link.
- There are, again, two different ways to find openings on this page.
First, all HUD apartment waiting lists in the country recently discovered by Affordable Housing Online are conveniently listed on the top of the page. Scroll left or right to browse waiting lists, and select the blue button for a waiting list opening to get information on how to apply.
You will then be directed to the waiting list information on the Affordable Housing Online housing authority page. Our housing experts write clear instructions on how to submit an application for the waiting list. - The other way to find waiting list openings is to search by state. Scroll down to the “Browse By State” button, and select it to find a link to waiting list information for every state and territory in the country.
- After selecting a state, you can scroll left or right through the list of openings in that state on the top of the page.
Select the blue button for a waiting list opening in that state to get information on how to apply. Just like on the nationwide Apartment Waiting Lists page, you will be directed to information on how to apply.
Option 4: Read housing guides.
- On the top menu, select How To Apply to learn more about the many different affordable housing programs, and the options available for different types of renters.
- Scroll through the list of our many easy-to-read guides, and select the link for a guide to read more.
Option 5: Get the latest affordable housing news.
- From the top menu, select News to read news and announcements from Affordable Housing Online, and stay on top of important updates that help your search for a new home.
- On the News page, select the photo or headline link to read the full article.
Every Monday, we report on our most recent Section 8 waiting list discoveries, with links on how to apply when the waiting list is open.
Also, our team regularly reports on the latest affordable housing news and tips, Section 8 waiting list trends, and other important announcements about Affordable Housing Online.
Option 6: Sign up for email alerts.
- Using the top menu, select Sign Up For Alerts, and join more than 250,000 renters who subscribe to get email alerts from Affordable Housing Online!
- Enter your first and last name, email, and which states you want alerts sent to you.
- Select the “Send Me Email Alerts” button to start getting the latest Section 8 announcements, personalized apartment updates, opportunity spotlights, and guides that make affordable housing easier to find!