Affordable Housing In Athens
Limestone County,
Alabama
19 Low Income Apartment Communities In Athens
Section 8 Vouchers, Apartments, and Waiting Lists in Athens, Alabama
Public Housing Agencies operate federally assisted affordable housing programs at local levels on behalf of HUD. Notably, housing agencies are responsible for managing Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher, Public Housing, and Project-Based Voucher waiting lists within their jurisdiction.
Households who qualify for these programs may also qualify for Project-Based Section 8, which contributes rental assistance payments directly to private landlords on behalf of low-income tenants. Eligibility for the project-based program is similar to the voucher programs, but waiting list and application policies will vary depending on the landlord.
Public Housing Agencies Serving Athens, Alabama
| Housing Authority | Programs |
|---|---|
| Housing Authority of the City of Athens Al | Public Housing |
Guide To Affordable Housing in Athens, Alabama
There are 19 low income housing apartment communities offering 1,209 affordable apartments for rent in Athens, Alabama.
Income Based Apartments in Athens, Alabama
Athens features 697 income based apartments. Tenants of income based apartments typically pay no more than 30% of their income towards rent and utilities.
Low Rent Apartments in Athens, Alabama
There are 442 rent subsidized apartments that do not provide direct rental assistance but remain affordable to low income households in Athens.
Housing Choice Vouchers in Athens, Alabama
On average, Section 8 Housing Choice vouchers pay Athens landlords $500 per month towards rent. The average voucher holder contributes $300 towards rent in Athens.
The maximum amount a voucher would pay on behalf of a low-income tenant in Athens, Alabama for a two-bedroom apartment is between $926 and $1,132.
2023 Athens, Alabama Fair Market Rents and Housing Choice Voucher Payment Standards
Fair Market Rents can be used to better understand the average housing costs of an area. Fair Market Rents are used by HUD to establish payment and rent standards for federal rental assistance programs like the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program.
| Studio | One BR | Two BR | Three BR | Four BR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens, Alabama Fair Market Rent | $737 | $872 | $1,029 | $1,354 | $1,612 |
| Athens, Alabama Payment Standard Range | $663 to $811 | $785 to $959 | $926 to $1,132 | $1,219 to $1,489 | $1,451 to $1,773 |
Sourced from federal housing data and AffordableHousingOnline.com research.
Athens, AL Affordable Housing Snapshot
| Total Affordable Apartment Properties | 19 |
|---|---|
| Total Low Income Apartments | 1,209 |
| Total Housing Units with Rental Assistance | 697 |
| Percentage of Housing Units Occupied By Renters | 34.51% |
| Average Renter Household Size | 2.35 |
| Average Household Size | 2.51 |
| Median Household Income | $47,542 ±$4,063 |
| Median Rent | $610 ±$25 |
| Percentage Of Renters Overburdened | 43.82% ± 6.85pp |
| Total Population | 23,938 |
Population and Household Demographics
Athens is a city in Limestone County, Alabama with a population of 23,938. There are 9,326 households in the city with an average household size of 2.51 persons. 34.51% of households in Athens are renters.
Income and Rent Overburden in Athens
The median gross income for households in Athens is $47,542 a year, or $3,962 a month. The median rent for the city is $610 a month.
Households who pay more than thirty percent of their gross income are considered to be Rent Overburdened. In Athens, a household making less than $2,033 a month would be considered overburdened when renting an apartment at or above the median rent. 43.82% of households who rent are overburdened in Athens.
Area Median Income In Athens
Affordable housing program eligibility is always determined by one's income. Each household's income is compared to the incomes of all other households in the area. This is accomplished through a statistic established by the government called the Area Median Income, most often referred to as AMI. The AMI is calculated and published each year by HUD.
HUD often uses an area larger than a city to determine the AMI because HUD anticipates those searching for housing will look beyond individual cities during their housing search. For Athens, the AMI is calculated from all households within Limestone County.
In Athens, HUD calculates the Area Median Income for a family of four as $92,700
Most affordable housing programs determine eligibility based on the percent of AMI a given household's income is. Among the programs that determine eligibility based on the AMI are Section 8, HOME, LIHTC, Section 515, 202 and 811.
Rental Assistance in Athens
Rental assistance is a type of housing subsidy that pays for a portion of a renter’s monthly housing costs, including rent and tenant paid utilities. This housing assistance can come in the form of Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, project-based Section 8 contracts, public housing, USDA Rental Assistance (in Section 515 properties) as well as HUD Section 202 and 811 properties for elderly and disabled households.
Income Qualifications for HUD Rental Assistance in Athens
| 1 Person | 2 Person | 3 Person | 4 Person | 5 Person | 6 Person | 7 Person | 8 Person | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30% AMI Income Limits Renters earning up to 30% of the Athens AMI may qualify for rental assistance programs that target Extremely Low Income households. |
$19,500 | $22,250 | $25,050 | $27,800 | $32,470 | $37,190 | $41,910 | $46,630 |
| 50% AMI Income Limits Renters earning up to 50% of the Athens AMI may qualify for rental assistance programs that target Very Low Income households. |
$32,450 | $37,100 | $41,750 | $46,350 | $50,100 | $53,800 | $57,500 | $61,200 |
| 80% AMI Income Limits Renters earning up to 80% of the Athens AMI may qualify for rental assistance programs that target Low Income households. |
$51,950 | $59,350 | $66,750 | $74,150 | $80,100 | $86,050 | $91,950 | $97,900 |
