Subsidized housing

There are many different kinds of subsidized housing. If you apply to the local city or county housing authority, you may be eligible for conventional public housing (the Housing Authority is your landlord) or the Housing Choice Voucher Program (formerly called “Section 8”).

There are also housing developments that are subsidized as long as the tenant remains in the unit and high-rise buildings that accept senior citizens and/or the disabled. For each of these programs, the tenant’s rent is approximately 30% of the monthly household income, and therefore it is necessary to report all income and changes in family composition.

For many tenants, having subsidized housing allows them to afford the rent and avoid homelessness. Therefore, it is important to understand the rules and regulations to avoid eviction or loss of the subsidy. A tenant who is evicted from public housing or whose voucher is terminated may be ineligible to reapply for assistance for three to five years.

Click Next for more information