Julia Anderson
We’ll show you how to find low-income housing via various avenues for people of all ages.
Even if you make a decent income, housing can be difficult to find nowadays as the real estate market is out of control. Does this mean you’re out of luck if you come from a low-income household? Not necessarily, as several resources can help you find a home that’s safe and affordable.
2023
Tax Forgiveness
We know how challenging it can be to pay off your tax debt.
The IRS just announced the 2023 Fresh Start Program, to qualify more people for tax relief!
1. Public Housing
This option for low-income families involves renting a unit from your local Public Housing Authority (PHA). 3,000-plus PHAs across the country manage over a million public housing units. Contrary to popular belief, these units aren’t all tiny apartments, as some exist in high-rise buildings, and others are single-family homes for those who need more room.
How can you find public housing? Contacting your PHA is an excellent place to start, as they’ll be in charge of helping you find what you need. Should you meet the income requirements and not make too much money, you could qualify. And if you have anyone who’s disabled or seniors living in the home, that can improve your chances.
2. Subsidized Housing
A subsidized housing setup is usually as follows: The government gives money to the property owner. In exchange, the owner rents their property to low-income tenants.
Subsidized housing is a solid option if you don’t want to live in public housing and would like more freedom to choose the property. To qualify, you’ll need to meet income requirements and follow other rules set forth by the property owner. You can find subsidized housing by using this tool from the HUD.
3. Section 8
If you want to lower how much of your income goes towards the rent, a Section 8 voucher is a great way to achieve that goal. With it, you will only have to pay 30 percent of your income to the landlord, with the rest of the tab getting picked up by the government.
Besides the benefit of paying a large portion of your rent, here’s another advantage of using Section 8 for low-income housing: It gives you more freedom to choose where you live, whether it’s in a single-family home, apartment, or townhome. In some cases, you can use your voucher to purchase a home through the Housing Choice Voucher homeownership program. To learn more about Section 8’s options, contact your PHA.
4. Rural Housing
You could qualify for subsidized housing from the USDA. It subsidizes over 10,000 complexes across the country, ranging from small studios to larger four-bedroom units. To learn more about this low-income housing possibility, go here.
5. Senior Housing
Many low-income seniors have a particularly tough time finding suitable housing. Options for seniors seeking an affordable place to live include:
- Your local Area Agency on Aging
- Eldercare Locator
- Senior Living Directory
- Section 202 Program (similar to Section 8, but offers housing and amenities tailor-made for seniors and their unique needs).
