If you live in the U.S. and need help paying your rent, or if you have no money at all to cover your rent payments, you might qualify for housing assistance under the National Affordable Housing Act.
According to U.S. law, “Congress affirms the national goal that every American family be
able to afford a decent home in a suitable environment.”
In this post, you will learn about the top affordable housing programs that are available right now. You will also learn how each program works, and what it takes to qualify.
Let’s get started.
What is Affordable Housing?
Affordable housing programs are managed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). To get housing support, you have to apply for aid through your local Public Housing Authority (PHA). Each state and county in the US has its own housing authority. Find your local PHA.
There are different types of affordable housing options depending on where you live, how much money you make, and how big your family is. This is because of the fact that the United States is so large and diverse, and there are so many different areas where people might need housing support.
For example, if you live in a large city like Chicago, Dallas, or St. Louis, there are going to be different types of affordable housing options than there would be in a rural area like in Nebraska, Wyoming, or Montana. This is why each state and county has its own office that reviews housing applications and disperses aid.
Top Affordable Housing Programs Right Now
In the same way that the U.S. is geographically diverse, so too are people’s economic situations. Some people might need just a few hundred dollars extra each month to cover their rent payments. Others might have a more desperate need, with no job, and a large family to feed.
For this reason, there are several different types of affordable housing programs that are designed to help all types of situations. Let’s take a look at them.
1. Housing Choice Voucher Program
Under the housing choice voucher program, which is run by the HUD, very low income individuals and families cna get their housing expenses covered, or subsidized, by the government.
Depending on your income level, you may be required to pay some of the rent to your landlord (and the HUD will cover the rest of the payment). Learn more about how this program works, and check if you qualify.
2. Public Housing
Public housing means you will live in a residence that is owned and operated by the government. In some areas, this might mean living in a high-rise apartment building where you have several hundred neighbors who are also receiving financial support from the government. In other areas, you might be able to live in a townhouse style apartment, with just a few neighbors who are in the same situation as you. It all comes down to where you live and what housing options are made available through your local PHA.
3. Rent Payment Assistance
Rent payment assistance is exactly what it sounds like: money to help you pay your rent bill. This is different from the housing choice voucher program, or public housing programs described above. Rent payment assistance is more for people who, due to a sudden loss of job, or other unfortunate circumstance, cannot make their rent payment. If you are in this situation, apply for aid now from your local housing finance authority.
4. Affordable Rental Housing
If you earn less than the average income for your area, you might qualify for affordable rental housing. These properties are often owned by private landlords who make a deal with their local PHA to provide low-income people with discounted housing. There are many different types of affordable rental options available.
If you would like to search for affordable rental housing in your area, start here. You will first pick the state where you live, and then you can search for subsidized housing in your area.
Your Affordable Housing Journey
We hope that this post has helped you understand what affordable housing programs are available, and what you might qualify for. If you need housing assistance, the best thing you can do is apply right away through your local agency. Good luck.
