If you are seeking affordable rental housing, there are different types of housing programs available for you to choose from, including public housing, privately owned subsidized housing, and housing choice voucher programs. Although all these programs aim to help citizens in need, they have different characteristics, and it is essential to understand each one before applying.
Public housing programs offer affordable apartments provided by the federal government to low-income families, elderly persons, and persons with disabilities. Applicants must meet certain eligibility conditions, such as having incomes below certain limits, and be approved by the local public housing authority.
Privately owned subsidized housing is a HUD program that helps apartment owners provide affordable housing to low-income families by reducing rental fees. In this case, applicants must meet the same eligibility criteria as for public housing.
Those living in public housing are answerable to the housing authority, which owns the rental building and also acts as the landlord. On the other hand, those living in subsidized housing are answerable to private owners who are responsible for managing the buildings and renting the units.
To apply for public housing assistance, applicants have to submit their applications to any housing authority in the town or city they intend to live in. However, those applying for subsidized housing can apply for vouchers through the housing authority that provides the Section 8 voucher program.
Public housing assistance programs have different requirements for beneficiaries living in public and subsidized housing. Beneficiaries of public housing must live in the community where they applied for assistance, while those who get vouchers for subsidized housing can use them wherever they choose to live in the state.
Public housing tenants pay about 30 percent of their income for rent, and Section 8 voucher programs require a tenant to pay as much as 40 percent of their income for rent. In multifamily subsidized housing, rent can be calculated as a percentage of income or as a fixed amount based on the rooms in the apartment rented.
It is essential to ask landlords about how rent is calculated, and how changes in income affect the rent paid by tenants. Tenants can change to another appropriate public housing or subsidized apartment if their family size changes, but transfers may take a long time to achieve.
Multi-family subsidized housing and public housing evictions can only occur if tenants violate program rules or lease terms. If a Section 8 beneficiary is evicted, they automatically lose rental subsidies.
