How to Find Low-Income Housing Near You
Low-income and affordable housing generally falls into a few free-to-search categories: public housing owned and run by your local Public Housing Agency (PHA), Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) that help you rent in the private market, and privately owned apartment communities that participate in affordable housing programs and set rents based on income for qualifying households. Start by finding your local PHA through HUD's directory at hud.gov, and call 2-1-1 (211.org) to ask about other income-restricted housing in your area. Waitlists for many of these options can be long, so applying broadly and early tends to help, and lawhelp.org is a free resource if you run into a legal problem, like discrimination, during your search.
Educational — information, not legal advice, and not attorney-reviewed. The exact rule depends on your state, city, and lease; the app shows the verified rule for where you live.
What this means
Searching for an affordable place to live can feel overwhelming, especially when it's not always clear which listings are legitimate or where to even start looking. The good news is that there are well-established, free ways to search for income-based housing, once you know the main categories.
Low-income and affordable housing generally falls into a few types: public housing, which is owned and operated directly by your local Public Housing Agency (PHA); Housing Choice Vouchers, commonly called Section 8, which help you rent a unit you choose in the private market; and privately owned apartment communities that participate in affordable housing programs and set rents based on a household's income for qualifying renters.
Your local PHA is a good starting point for more than one of these — start by finding it through HUD's PHA directory on hud.gov, then ask directly what public housing, vouchers, and other income-based listings they manage or know about in your area. Calling 2-1-1 (211.org) can also connect you with other income-restricted housing options and application help specific to where you live, and your state or local housing agency may keep its own listings as well.
Waitlists for many of these options can be long, and some are closed to new applicants at times, so applying broadly and as early as possible tends to help. Never pay a fee just to get on a waitlist or to see a listing — that's a common scam tactic, not a normal part of the process. If you run into a legal problem during your search, like being turned away because of your source of income or another protected characteristic, lawhelp.org can connect you with free or low-cost legal help, and Renter Shield can help you keep your search organized.
What to do
- Find your local Public Housing Agency (PHA) through HUD's directory at hud.gov and ask what it manages or lists.
- Call 2-1-1 (211.org) to ask about other income-restricted housing options in your area.
- Check your state or local housing agency's website for its own affordable housing listings.
- Apply broadly and early, since waitlists for many programs can be long.
- Never pay a fee just to get on a waitlist or view a listing, and contact lawhelp.org if you face discrimination during your search.
What to do next
Housing Choice Vouchers are one path to lower-cost housing — see our guide on how Section 8 works to learn more.
Free help — always free
- Call 211 (or 211.org) for local help and referrals.
- Find free legal aid at lawhelp.org.
- Read HUD tenant rights.
- Call 911 in an emergency.
Know exactly where you stand.
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