Written by Kimberlee Leonard; Updated December 15, 2018
- Application For Low Income Apartments
- Applying For Low Income Housing In California
- Applying For Low Income Housing
Application For Low Income Apartments
Income limits are established annually by the Department for Housing and Urban Development, based on the annual median income for the area. If you are applying for low-income housing, the local authority will check your income using tax returns and pay stubs, to verify that you are eligible for the program. Because public housing is available for low-income families, income eligibility is set each year based on the median income in your area. You're considered extremely low income if you make 30 percent of the median, very low income if you make 50 percent of the median, and low income if you make 80 percent of the median.
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Most emergency low-income housing information is available online, but you often must apply in person at the agency or charity offering assistance. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development sponsors programs for those who are homeless, are at imminent risk of becoming homelessness, are fleeing domestic violence or are otherwise homeless as defined by federal standards. Looking for resources online helps narrow the search; most programs have wait lists, and high-cost areas like San Francisco frequently even stop accepting applications at all because of the overwhelming demand.
Continuum of Care
This program is for individuals who are homeless in the specified area and do not have children. Representatives from the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing complete online referral applications to assist homeless people. Individuals are identified through community outreach, street walks and walk-ins. The application includes identifying information such as name, Social Security number, birthday and last known addresses. The case worker notes where the person last slept and how long he has been homeless. Once in the program, the case number stays with the individual in the event future help is needed.
Public Housing Authority
Low-income families should visit the local Public Housing Authority to find resources for emergency assistance. Many programs have wait lists, making getting help immediately very difficult. If the PHA is taking applications, priority is given to those with income falling below 30 percent of the area's median income. Potential programs to help include public housing and rental assistance through subsidized programs such as Section 8 vouchers. The PHA works with individuals and families in need. Applicants must have a job, pass a background check and meet the income caps set forth by HUD.
Veterans Programs
There are many programs to assist veterans at risk or actually homeless. HUD maintains the HUDVET national hotline for vets to call at any time to get assistance with homelessness. Vets can either call 877-424-3838 toll-free to request help or go online to the HUD Exchange website to find local resources. The local PHA might also have recommendations of local charities working specifically with vets to get them off the street and provide counseling and life-skills training to get back to work. While most of these resources don't have online applications, you can find information online to navigate options faster.
Transitional Housing
Emergency situations range from not having enough income to afford rent to unexpected homelessness. Transitional housing fills the gap of long wait lists at the PHA to getting a person or family into a more permanent, safe dwelling. The Human Services Agency of San Francisco works to find transitional housing for domestic violence victims, veterans, homeless individuals or prostitutes seeking to leave the streets. Participants are allowed to stay from six months to two years in housing projects run by private organizations. Participants must attend workshops on career skills, interviewing and life skills, and they must work and give 30 percent of their income to the organization for housing costs and services.
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About the Author
Kimberlee Leonard lived in the Bay Area while going to school at the University of San Francisco. Before becoming a full-time writer, she worked for major financial institutions such as Wells Fargo and State Farm. She has developed content for brands such as Trupanion, Live Your Aloha, Neil Patel and Home To Go. She currently lives in her home state of Hawaii with her active son and lazy dog.
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To qualify for a housing choice voucher, your yearly income must be below a certain level. Income limits are established annually by the Department for Housing and Urban Development, based on the annual median income for the area. If you are applying for low-income housing, the local authority will check your income using tax returns and pay stubs, to verify that you are eligible for the program.
Types of Low-Income Housing
The two main types of government-subsidized housing are public housing and the Section 8 program. The Department of Housing and Urban Development oversees and helps implement both. Local housing authorities manage public housing units, which they offer at rents affordable to low-income households. The Section 8 program provides vouchers to low-income families to make up the difference between the maximum rent for an area, as calculated by HUD, and what the families can afford.
Income Limits are Location Specific
HUD makes low-income units available to households with annual incomes at 80 percent, 50 percent and 30 percent of their area's median figure. HUD categorizes households at these levels as 'low income,' 'very low income' and 'extremely low income,' respectively. Generally, families at any of the three classifications are eligible for a public housing unit. For Section 8 housing, your household income cannot surpass 50 percent of your area's median income. Actual figures are precise and location-specific. For example, in San Francisco, HUD considers a single person 'low income' (80 percent of the city's median) if he earns $ 73,750. That number adjusts to $ 45,050 in less affluent places throughout the Bay Area.
Proof of Income Documentation
You need to verify your income with HUD to qualify for low-income housing. You can use IRS tax returns and recent pay stubs to do this. If you get into a public housing or Section 8 unit, HUD will look at your income documents annually to make sure you remain eligible.
Demographic Requirements
In addition to income documents, you need to provide HUD with other types of information. For instance, you need to document your family size on an application to determine where your income sits in the HUD scheme. You agree that this number and other demographic and economic information you provide is true and accurate when you execute an eligibility interview with HUD. You must also prove that you are a citizen or legal resident of the United States to qualify for government-funded low-income housing.
Be Prepared to Wait
Low-income housing programs are often oversubscribed and there aren't enough homes to serve every person in need. In these cases, you may be placed on a low-income housing waiting list. At the time of publication, the San Francisco Housing Authority section 8 waiting list is closed. There are no details about when the list will reopen, and those seeking low-income housing assistance may have to look in other areas.
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About the Author
As a writer since 2002, Rocco Pendola has published numerous academic and popular articles in addition to working as a freelance grant writer and researcher. His work has appeared on SFGate and Planetizen and in the journals 'Environment & Behavior' and 'Health and Place.' Pendola has a Bachelor of Arts in urban studies from San Francisco State University.
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