Public Housing Assistance

By Nicholas Pell

There are a few public housing assistance programs in the United States. However, they are not as extensive as they might be in some European welfare states. If you are having trouble making ends meet or affording decent housing, you should look into options for public housing assistance.

Housing Assistance Programs

There are over one million people living in public housing, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Eligibility requirements are often managed by state and local housing authorities autonomously. This means that eligibility requirements will vary widely from one place to another.

General Eligibility

As stated above, specific eligibility requirements vary widely from one place to another. This is largely due to the fact that the standard of living is far different in Los Angeles than it is in Wichita. Still, no matter where you live, there is likely a public housing assistance program that might be able to help you and your family. There are three main groups of people who are eligible for public assistance with regard to housing:

Low-income families
Elderly people
People living with disabilities

This means that a housing authority will evaluate you on the above characteristics.

Applying

If you wish to qualify for housing assistance, you will have to fill out applications at your local housing authority. Eligibility is based on:

Annual gross income. This helps the housing authority to determine whether or not you are in bona fide need of housing assistance.
Whether or not you are disabled.
Whether or not you are elderly.
Whether or not you and your dependents qualify as a family.
Citizenship or legal residence status.

You will also have to provide references as part of your application process. Once the housing authority has determined your eligibility, it will look into your references. This is to determine whether or not you and your family are the type of people the housing authority want living in public housing. If you and your family have habits and practices that will be detrimental to the general atmosphere of the housing unit, you will likely be rejected.

Income Requirements

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development set the income limits for local housing authorities. Income limits are modified every year and vary from one place to another due to the cost of living. Low income is defined as anything below 80% of the median income for the county where you live, with very low income being 50% or less of the median income. You may be eligible for housing assistance from one housing authority, but not another.

Other Information Needed

When you apply for housing assistance you will need to present other information. This includes:

The name, birth date, age, sex and relationship to the head of household of every person living in the apartment.
Where you currently live and your phone number.
Characteristics and circumstances, such as veteran status and current residence in substandard housing that might effect your eligibility.
Contact information for your current and previous landlord.
Estimates of your family income and the source of that income.
Contact information for employers and information about your bank account so that the housing authority can verify the information you have provided.

Staff of the housing authority might also decide it is necessary to visit your family in your home to verify the information provided. If and when you are approved you will be notified in writing. Most likely, you will be placed on a waiting list and contacted once there is available housing. You will then be required to sign a lease with the housing authority.

Moving Into Public Housing

There is no reason to be ashamed of living in public housing. The program exists to provide people in need with a decent place to live. If you believe that you will qualify for such housing, don't hesitate to talk to a representative at your local housing authority to determine eligibility.