It can be a burden to deal with overly expensive housing. Affordable housing is defined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as the tenant paying no more than 30% of their income on housing costs. Housing costs aren’t just the price of rent, but all housing costs like utilities as well. Unfortunately, a lot of households do not have affordable housing. They end up paying over 30% of their income towards housing which can lead to people becoming cost-burdened. Luckily, there are many housing assistance opportunities available that can help those in need.

Popular Housing Assistance Opportunities

When people find themselves dealing with housing costs that are too high, they may need to look at different ways to improve their situation. One popular way is with assistance programs that are designed to help eligible Americans get housing aid.

Popular Housing Programs

There are a variety of housing programs available at the local, state, and federal levels. These programs can provide housing assistance opportunities to eligible applicants.

Public Housing

Public housing properties are typically apartment complexes. However, they can also be a series of duplex homes or a cluster of private houses. In essence, it depends on the area you are in. Furthermore, HUD is the one that funds these complexes. While the HUD may fund this housing, your local public housing authority (PHA) will manage the complexes. If you want to move into public housing, then you will have to:

• Satisfy your area’s financial qualifications.
• Pass a background check. (May need references.)
• Be a citizen or have eligible immigration status.

Unfortunately, there are still many people who need this assistance. Given that, there isn’t enough supply of housing to accommodate how many people who need help (which is why there is currently an affordable housing crisis). With this in mind, that is why this assistance option generally has long waitlists.

The Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8)

This is a popular housing assistance option among people in need. This program provides approved applicants with a voucher that can be used towards the costs of housing. Unfortunately, even if you are able to receive a housing voucher, you may not be able to use them everywhere. There is no law that specifies that properties must accept this form of payment (however, the government offers tax incentives for landlords as a way to encourage more landlords to accept these types of rent repayment). This means that only properties that accept them as a form of payment are where you can use them. If you are interested in Section 8 assistance you must:

• Satisfy your area’s financial qualifications.
• Find an approved section 8 property.
• Have the landlord approve your application.

Sadly, this assistance also has long waitlists so it is important to get on them as soon as possible. The application process is free so you should try to begin it sooner rather than later.

Popular Housing Loans for Low-Income Individuals

There are plenty of housing programs that can help. However, there are other forms of assistance that can still be beneficial! Specialized low-income housing loans can provide easy-to-manage financing opportunities for those struggling.

Rural Homeownership Direct Loan Program

The Rural Housing Service (RHS) is an agency that lies within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and provides this assistance option. They are able to create loans for qualifying low-income households to be used towards building, repairing, or renovating rural homes. The loan funds can even be used towards relocating a home to a rural area. These plans have no down payment requirement and have subsidized interest rates.

Farm Labor Housing Loans 

This is a loan option that provides funds to buy, build, improve, or repair housing specifically for farm laborers. This even includes those in aqua farming like those with fish and oyster farms, as well as individuals involved in on-farm processing. Loans can be provided to farmers, family farm corporations, Native American tribes, non-profit organizations, farm worker associations, and more.

What to Do if You Don’t Qualify for Assistance?

If you can’t qualify for housing assistance, then you will need to look for other ways to reduce the costs of housing. You may need to make some serious lifestyle changes like downsizing your housing situation or relocating to a less expensive area.

Downsize Your Housing Situation

You may need to make some drastic changes to see a real reduction in the cost of housing. This can include downsizing your home or your housing situation. If you have a home that has a spare bedroom then downsizing and finding a housing option that has less space may be the best decision. If you don’t want to reduce the size of your home you can still “downsize your housing situation” by getting a roommate to split the costs of housing with. Another person to help handle your bills could potentially reduce the amount you have to pay by half!

Relocate to a Less Expensive Area

Not every area costs the same to live in. Los Angeles, CA will be drastically more expensive than some rural towns in Kentucky. Obviously, the change may not need to be that drastic but it can benefit you to look at relocating your home. When looking at other areas to live in, you need to consider other aspects like the commute to work, the school system of the area if you have children, etc.

Overall

There are a variety of assistance options available from housing benefit programs, housing loans, and other alternative options like grants. While figuring out an affordable housing situation can be difficult, it is important to educate yourself, remain calm, and find a housing option that works within your budget. The best place to start looking is at your local PHA. There you can review all of the opportunities that are available from the local, state, and federal levels. What you may be able to receive in your area may be different from another area.