Low Income Housing Guides for Renters

Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Guide

The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) rental assistance program allows low-income renters to pay a portion of their monthly income for rent.

Section 8 Vouchers are in extremely high demand. Voucher holders can choose to live in a unit that is owned by a private landlord. However, Section 8 HCV waiting list openings are rare — a waiting list in some areas may not reopen for many years.

Read this guide to learn how to apply to the Section 8 HCV program.

Public Housing Guide

The Public Housing rental assistance program allows low-income renters to pay a portion of their monthly income for rent.

Public Housing participants have a unit assigned to them by a federal housing authority. Public Housing waiting list openings can be rare, but sometimes are more frequent than openings for Section 8 vouchers.

Read this guide to learn how to apply to the Public Housing program.

Low Income Housing Tax Credit Guide

The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) subsidy program allows low and moderate-income renters to pay rent at an affordable rate.

LIHTC participants have a unit assigned to them by a federal housing authority, or private property management company.

The monthly rent is not adjusted by income, but it is lower than the market rate. Low-income renters may not qualify for some LIHTC properties. The frequency of waiting list openings varies, depending on the area.

Read this guide to learn how to apply to the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.

Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance Guide

The Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA) program allows low-income renters to pay a portion of their monthly income for rent.

Section 8 PBRA participants have a unit assigned to them by a federal housing authority, or private property management company. The frequency of waiting list openings varies, depending on the area.

The Section 8 PBRA program has a similar name to the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program; but they are not the same. Only the Section 8 HCV program allows participants to choose their own unit.

Read this guide to learn how to apply to the Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance program.

Natural Disaster Housing Guide

Natural disasters unfortunately occur each year in many parts of the country. From earthquakes, to wildfires, to hurricanes, these disasters can result in mandatory evacuations, significant property damage, and loss of life. The most important concern for you and your family should always be safety.

There are many things you can and should do before, during, and after a disaster to ensure you and your family remain properly housed.

Housing for Immigrants Guide

There are housing programs in the United States that can provide affordable housing for all immigrants, including those that are undocumented. This guide will explain what federal affordable housing programs are open to immigrants, provide the eligibility requirements for these programs and describe other resources that can help immigrant households find an apartments they can afford.

Section 811 Housing for Persons with Disabilities Guide

The Section 811 Housing for Persons with Disabilities program allows disabled low-income renters to pay a portion of their monthly income for rent.

Section 811 participants have a unit assigned to them by a federal housing authority, or private property management company. The frequency of waiting list openings varies, depending on the area.

Read this guide to learn how to apply to the Section 811 Housing for Persons with Disabilities program.

Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Guide

The Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly program allows senior/elderly low-income renters to pay a portion of their monthly income for rent.

Section 202 participants have a unit assigned to them by a federal housing authority, or private property management company. The frequency of waiting list openings varies, depending on the area.

Read this guide to learn how to apply to the Section 811 Supportive Housing for the Elderly program.

Housing for Persons with Criminal Records

Having a criminal record can make it challenging to find affordable housing, but someone with a criminal record may still qualify for many federal low-income housing programs. Having an arrest, conviction, and incarceration on your record does not automatically disqualify applicants from certain housing program.

Read this guide to learn about affordable housing options for persons with a criminal record.

Housing for Seniors Guide

There are many federal housing resources available to seniors. These include affordable rental housing and supportive services to help seniors maintain independence for as long as possible. This guide will provide information about different housing resources available to seniors looking for affordable housing. Read below to find out how to get more information and apply for these programs.

Housing for Persons with Disabilities Guide

There are many federal housing resources available to persons with disabilities. These include affordable rental housing and supportive services to help disabled persons maintain independence and involvement in the community. This guide will provide information about different housing resources available to persons with disabilities looking for affordable housing. Read below to find out how to get more information and apply for these programs.

How to Port Your Section 8 Voucher

The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program allows voucher holders to transfer their voucher to pay rent in anew area, once certain conditions are met. This is called portability.

A HCV participant may only port out to a different area after one year of residency in their housing authority's jurisdiction (service area). If the voucher holder was a resident in the jurisdiction when they initially applied for the voucher, they may request to port out to a different jurisdiction at any time.

• For example, if you live in New York City, NY, and apply for the Chicago Housing Authority's HCV waiting list in Illinois, you must live within the Chicago Housing Authority's jurisdiction with your voucher for 12 months before porting. But, if you live in Chicago, IL and apply for the Chicago Housing Authority Section 8 waiting list, you may port to a new area any time after you receive your voucher.

You can also only port your voucher to another Public Housing Agency (PHA) that also offers the HCV program. Vouchers cannot be ported to a PHA that only offers the Public Housing program.

It is important to consider any expenses involved in moving to a new location such as your current lease, rental deposit, moving and travel costs, and utility costs. Have a plan for transportation, school registration, employment, and childcare before you start the porting process to ease the transition to a new home.

Housing authorities are given a lot of leeway by HUD in their porting policy, so there may be other requirements not mentioned in this guide to port your voucher.

Affordable Homeownership Guide

Low to moderate income buyers are able to purchase an affordable home; and many studies show that home ownership most likely will be cheaper and more beneficial than renting in the long run. But for some people, renting may better fit their lifestyle and situation.

Before reading any further, it is important to know the advantages and disadvantages to owning your own home vs. renting.

Emergency Housing Voucher Guide

Five billion dollars of American Rescue Plan funds have been allocated for the creation of the Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) program to help pay rent for persons and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. These vouchers are being distributed by Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) — also called housing authorities — across the country.

Because people who are homeless or facing homelessness need more time to recover from the fallout of the pandemic, it was deemed more effective to issue long term vouchers for these families, rather than use short term aid. Also, persons fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence/dating violence/sexual assault/stalking/human trafficking are eligible for EHVs.

The funds can be used for new EHVs, renewing existing EHVs, and paying administrative and other related costs.
 

What to Do to Prevent Eviction

The Supreme Court struck down the updated moratorium on evictions policy that was created by the CDC in August, 2021. This means that renters who are struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic, and cannot pay rent are at risk of being evicted by their landlord.

What can you do if you don’t have the rent money, and your landlord gives you an eviction notice?

How to Appeal a Section 8 HCV Termination or Change

If a participant of the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program gets a notice that their benefits have changed or been terminated, they can request an Informal Hearing to argue against the action taken. The Public Housing Agency administering the program must allow the completion of an Informal Hearing upon request.

There is an involved process for an Informal Hearing, and if the participant does not abide by the rules of the process, the Informal Hearing may not be granted. This guide helps explain what a PHA Informal Hearing is, and the regulations of the Informal Hearing process.