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Housing assistance guides

Search by your situation or browse a topic. Each guide explains the next steps and where to verify the rules.

Emergency help

Coordinated entry for homeless housing programs

Learn how local coordinated entry assessments and referrals work, what to ask, and how to seek shelter while waiting for housing.

Homeless services

Emergency cash assistance for rent and essential bills

Explore local emergency payments, TANF diversion, and other help for rent and essential bills. Check eligibility and available funding.

Emergency cash

Emergency rental assistance: how to find rent help

Need help paying rent? Find local emergency rental assistance, check eligibility, gather documents, and keep track of eviction deadlines.

Emergency rent help

Emergency shelter: rules, safety, and common questions

Prepare for shelter intake with questions about safety, families, belongings, pets, accessibility, and available complaint procedures.

Shelter questions

How to ask your landlord for a rent payment plan

Use a practical script to discuss late rent, propose a realistic payment plan, keep written records, and protect court deadlines.

Late rent

How to find emergency shelter tonight

Find shelter contacts for tonight, explain your household’s needs, and ask about intake, transport, accessibility, and alternatives.

Emergency shelter

McKinney-Vento rights for students without stable housing

Understand school enrollment, transportation, school-of-origin decisions, and how to contact the district’s homeless education liaison.

Students and families

Permanent supportive housing: eligibility and referrals

Understand permanent supportive housing eligibility, local referrals, disability documentation, rent, and waiting-list limitations.

Supportive housing

Rapid rehousing: assistance, eligibility, and referrals

Learn how rapid rehousing combines temporary rental assistance and services, how to access it, and how to plan for assistance ending.

Rapid rehousing

Security deposit and first month’s rent assistance

Find programs that may cover a security deposit, first month’s rent, or move-in costs, and learn what to confirm before signing.

Deposit help

Transitional housing: programs, eligibility, and costs

Compare transitional housing with shelter and permanent housing. Ask about referrals, program rules, costs, and your move-out plan.

Transitional housing

Section 8

Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS): escrow and graduation

Learn how the FSS program links employment goals and services with escrow savings, and ask your housing agency about enrollment.

Savings program

Housing authorities: services, contacts, and complaints

Find out what public housing agencies do, how to contact a caseworker, and how to request records, resolve a problem, or challenge a decision.

Housing agency questions

How Section 8 rent is calculated: formula and example

See how Section 8 rent is calculated, with a worked example covering income, payment standards, utility allowances, and the 40% move-in limit.

Rent calculation

How to apply for Section 8 housing assistance

Apply for Section 8 through a local housing authority. Find open waiting lists, gather the documents you need, and follow up on your application.

Application guide

How to find landlords that accept Section 8

Find voucher-friendly listings, explain the program to landlords, check local protections, and coordinate with your housing agency.

Voucher search

How to use a Section 8 voucher to rent a home

Move from voucher briefing to housing search, rent approval, inspection, lease signing, and move-in without missing key deadlines.

Using a voucher

Project-based Section 8: PBV and PBRA apartments

Compare PBV and PBRA apartments, find property application routes, and understand income-based rent and limits on moving assistance.

Project-based assistance

Section 8 application documents checklist

Prepare Section 8 identity, household, income, asset, and expense records. Confirm your agency’s document and submission requirements.

Application checklist

Section 8 changes in 2026: final rules and proposals

Track final rules, proposals, implementation dates, and funding developments affecting Section 8 and other HUD housing programs.

Policy tracker

Section 8 eligibility and income limits

Check Section 8 income limits for your household and location. Understand income, assets, student eligibility, immigration rules, and PHA screening.

Eligibility

Section 8 for landlords: leasing, inspections, and payments

Understand voucher leasing, rent approval, inspections, payments, owner responsibilities, and communication with the housing agency.

For landlords

Section 8 homeownership: using a voucher to buy a home

Ask whether your housing agency offers voucher homeownership, and check counseling, income, financing, and ongoing cost requirements.

Homeownership option

Section 8 inspections: HQS, NSPIRE, and repairs

Understand voucher inspection requirements, HQS and NSPIRE timing, repairs, tenant responsibilities, and complaint inspections.

Inspections

Section 8 payment standards and Fair Market Rents

Understand Fair Market Rents, local payment standards, bedroom sizes, utility allowances, and how they affect a voucher rent estimate.

Payment standards

Section 8 portability: moving with your voucher

Plan a voucher move between housing agencies, check eligibility and deadlines, and confirm receiving-area costs before relocating.

Portability

Section 8 recertification and reporting changes

Prepare for voucher recertification, report income and household changes, and check your agency’s deadlines and rent calculations.

Keeping your voucher

Section 8 termination: hearing rights and appeals

Respond to a voucher termination notice, request a hearing on time, gather evidence, and find legal help.

Protect your voucher

Section 8 waiting lists: openings, applications, and updates

Find official Section 8 waiting list openings, understand lotteries, and keep your application active. Apply directly through local housing authorities.

Waiting lists

Special-purpose vouchers: HUD-VASH, Mainstream, FUP, and FYI

Compare HUD-VASH, Mainstream, FUP, FYI, Stability, and Emergency Housing Vouchers. Check eligible households, referral routes, and conversion updates.

Targeted vouchers

Affordable housing

Affordable housing lotteries: eligibility and applications

Learn how affordable housing lotteries work, prepare documents, check income bands, and avoid scams. Selection does not guarantee eligibility.

Housing lotteries

Affordable housing: common questions

Answers to common questions about affordable housing eligibility, rent, applications, waiting lists, and finding legitimate local help.

Affordable housing questions

Area median income (AMI) and housing income limits

Understand area median income, household-size limits, and the difference between qualifying for housing and calculating your rent.

Income limits

Government housing assistance programs explained

Explore federal, state, local, and tribal housing assistance and learn which agency handles applications for each type of help.

Program map

How to apply for public housing

Apply for public housing through your local PHA. Learn about income limits, waiting lists, rent, unit offers, and resident requirements.

Public housing

How to find low-income apartments

Find low-income apartments through HUD, housing agencies, and property managers. Compare income-based rent, tax credit housing, and waiting lists.

Apartment search

LIHTC apartments: income limits, rent, and applications

Learn how tax credit apartments set rents and income limits, where to apply, and why a lower income does not automatically lower the rent.

Tax credit housing

Low-income housing programs compared

Compare Section 8 vouchers, public housing, LIHTC apartments, and USDA rentals by eligibility, rent, waiting lists, and where to apply.

Program comparison

Public housing vs. Section 8 vouchers

Compare public housing and Section 8 vouchers: where you can live, who manages the home, how rent works, and where to apply.

Public housing comparison

USDA rural rental housing and rental assistance

Find USDA rural rental properties and understand Section 515 apartments, income eligibility, and the availability of rental assistance.

Rural rentals

Renter rights

Breaking a lease: legal grounds, notice, and costs

Check legal grounds for early lease termination, notice requirements, negotiation options, and potential costs before moving out.

Ending a lease

Disability accommodations and modifications in housing

Learn how to request disability-related housing changes, provide appropriate documentation, and address a denial or delay.

Disability rights

Eviction record sealing and renting after eviction

Check local eviction record sealing rules, correct screening errors, and prepare a rental application after an eviction case.

Eviction records

Facing eviction: what to do and where to get help

Received an eviction notice? Identify your court deadlines, find legal aid, prepare a response, and look for emergency rental assistance.

Eviction help

Housing discrimination: rights and complaint procedures

Learn what the Fair Housing Act covers, how to document housing discrimination, and where to file a complaint. Check deadlines before you act.

Fair housing

Illegal landlord lockouts and utility shutoffs

Document a landlord lockout or utility shutoff, seek urgent local legal help, and learn how to request restoration of access or services.

Self-help eviction

Landlord entry: notice requirements and tenant privacy

Check notice and entry rules for your rental, understand emergency exceptions, document problems, and protect your privacy.

Privacy

Landlord retaliation: signs, evidence, and tenant rights

Recognize possible retaliation after requesting repairs or asserting rights, save evidence, and check local tenant protections.

Retaliation

Lead, mold, and health hazards in rental housing

Document rental health hazards, request repairs, contact inspectors, and find official guidance on lead, mold, pests, and safety.

Healthy homes

Rent increases: notice rules, rent control, and caps

Check rent increase notices, state and local caps, coverage exceptions, and different rules for subsidized housing.

Rent increases

Rental repairs and your right to habitable housing

Request rental repairs in writing, document unsafe conditions, contact local inspectors, and check legal options before withholding rent.

Repairs and habitability

Section 8 discrimination and source-of-income protections

Check whether local law protects voucher holders and other income sources, document a refusal, and find complaint resources.

Voucher protections

Security deposit rights: deductions and return deadlines

Understand security deposit deductions, refund deadlines, and state-law differences. Document your rental and request the return of money owed.

Security deposits

Tenant rights when a rental home is in foreclosure

Understand federal protections for tenants after foreclosure, lease and notice rules, deposits, and where to find legal help.

Foreclosure

The eviction process: notices, court, and removal

Understand eviction notices, court filings, hearings, judgments, and removal. Use local court rules to identify your actual deadlines.

Eviction process

VAWA housing protections for survivors of abuse

Understand VAWA protections in covered housing, confidentiality, emergency transfers, documentation options, and local survivor resources.

Survivor protections

Specialized help

Finding housing with a criminal record

Check housing screening rules, dispute inaccurate records, prepare mitigating information, and look for realistic rental options.

Reentry and records

HOPWA housing assistance for people living with HIV

Find HOPWA providers and learn about housing eligibility, rental and emergency assistance, confidentiality, and local availability.

HIV housing

Housing assistance for American Indian and Alaska Native families

Find tribal housing providers and learn about NAHASDA programs, repair assistance, and Section 184 home loans.

Tribal housing

Housing assistance for college students

Check student eligibility rules for rental assistance, tax credit apartments, and campus emergency housing resources.

Students

Housing assistance for immigrants: eligibility and rules

Understand housing eligibility, mixed-status assistance, public charge changes, and when to seek qualified immigration advice.

Immigrant households

Housing assistance for people with disabilities

Find housing assistance for people with disabilities, including Section 811, Mainstream vouchers, accessible rentals, and accommodation requests.

Disability housing

Housing assistance for youth leaving foster care

Explore foster youth housing referrals, FYI and FUP vouchers, transition planning, and local support for deposits and rent.

Young adults

Rural housing assistance: USDA loans, grants, and rentals

Explore USDA rural home loans, repair loans and grants, rental properties, and address eligibility through official program sources.

Rural areas

Senior housing assistance: apartments and home support

Explore senior housing assistance, Section 202 apartments, subsidized rentals, home repairs, and support for aging in place. Find local contacts.

Older adults

Veteran housing assistance: HUD-VASH, SSVF, and VA programs

Find veteran housing assistance through HUD-VASH, SSVF, VA home loans, and disability housing grants. Learn where to apply and request referrals.

Veterans

Utilities & repairs

Accessible home and bathroom modifications: funding options

Plan accessible home changes, compare potential funding, and understand who pays for modifications in different housing settings.

Accessibility

Electrical repair assistance and safety resources

Recognize urgent electrical hazards, request qualified repairs, and explore local rehabilitation, weatherization, and rebate programs.

Electrical repairs

Home energy rebates and efficiency assistance in 2026

Check current weatherization, state energy rebates, and utility incentives before paying for energy-efficient home improvements.

Energy upgrades

Home maintenance checklist: monthly and seasonal tasks

Use seasonal and monthly maintenance checklists to identify safety issues, plan professional service, and budget for larger repairs.

Maintenance

Home repair assistance: grants and low-cost loans

Find home repair grants and affordable loans through USDA, local housing agencies, and nonprofits. Check eligibility and covered repairs.

Home repairs

Phone and internet assistance: Lifeline and low-cost plans

Check Lifeline eligibility, discounted internet plans, and other connection options after the Affordable Connectivity Program ended.

Phone and internet

Roof repair assistance, insurance, and contractor checks

Find potential roof repair assistance, document storm damage, review insurance options, and check a contractor before paying.

Roof repairs

Utility bill assistance: LIHEAP and payment programs

Get help with utility bills through LIHEAP, crisis assistance, payment plans, and discounts. Find your local provider and check shutoff protections.

Energy bills

Utility shutoff protections and disconnection help

Respond to a shutoff notice, check medical and seasonal protections, request a payment plan, and contact your utility regulator.

Shutoffs

Water and sewer bill assistance and payment plans

Ask about water bill discounts, payment plans, leak adjustments, emergency aid, and local rules before a service disconnection.

Water bills

Weatherization Assistance Program: eligibility and applications

Find your local weatherization provider, check eligibility, and learn how an energy assessment determines covered home improvements.

Weatherization

Window repair and replacement assistance programs

Compare window repair with replacement, check assistance programs and lead-safe work requirements, and request repairs as a renter.

Windows

Homeownership

Buying a manufactured home: financing, land, and titles

Check land ownership, title, park costs, financing, inspections, and local protections before buying a manufactured home.

Manufactured homes

Disaster housing assistance: FEMA, insurance, and SBA loans

Navigate insurance, FEMA assistance, SBA disaster loans, and local recovery help. Track deadlines and avoid duplicate benefits.

Disaster recovery

FHA, VA, USDA, and conventional home loans compared

Compare FHA, VA, USDA, and conventional mortgages, including down payments, insurance costs, eligibility, and official loan limits.

Mortgage options

First-time homebuyer grants and down payment assistance

Find first-time homebuyer grants and down payment assistance. Compare repayment terms, income limits, counseling, and state housing programs.

First-time buyers

Foreclosure help: your options and legal rights

Organize foreclosure notices, contact your servicer, seek housing counseling and legal aid, and understand loss-mitigation deadlines.

Foreclosure help

Habitat for Humanity and sweat-equity homeownership

Learn how Habitat homeownership, sweat equity, mutual self-help housing, and community land trusts work, with local application steps.

Sweat equity

Heirs’ property: protecting an inherited home

Understand inherited ownership, probate, tangled titles, tax risks, and where to find legal help to protect a family home.

Inherited homes

Home improvement financing: grants and loan options

Compare repair grants, rehabilitation loans, home equity borrowing, and other financing before committing your home or savings.

Repair financing

Home insurance: coverage, claims, and costs

Understand home and renters insurance coverage, deductibles, exclusions, claim records, and how to compare policies.

Insurance

Homeownership costs: a household budget checklist

Build a homeownership budget that includes taxes, insurance, utilities, repairs, association fees, closing costs, and emergency savings.

Homeownership budget

How to recognize mortgage relief and foreclosure scams

Recognize mortgage rescue scams, check a provider’s credentials, avoid improper upfront fees, and find legitimate foreclosure help.

Scam prevention

HUD homes and the Good Neighbor Next Door program

Understand HUD home sales and Good Neighbor Next Door eligibility, bidding, occupancy requirements, and misleading one-dollar-home claims.

HUD homes

HUD-approved housing counseling: services and costs

Find HUD-approved housing counseling for renting, buying, foreclosure, or reverse mortgages. Learn which services are free and what to ask.

Housing counseling

Mortgage payment assistance and hardship options

Struggling with mortgage payments? Compare forbearance, repayment plans, and loan modifications, and find HUD-approved housing counseling.

Mortgage help

Property tax relief and home insurance assistance

Find property tax exemptions, deferrals, appeals, and insurance assistance. Check local eligibility, deadlines, and repayment obligations.

Taxes and insurance

Rent-to-own and contract for deed: costs and risks

Understand lease-option and contract-for-deed risks, ownership terms, balloon payments, and protections to check before signing.

Buyer beware

Renting vs. buying a home: compare the costs

Compare renting with buying using housing costs, maintenance, transaction fees, savings, and how long you expect to stay.

Rent or buy

Reverse mortgages: HECM eligibility, costs, and risks

Understand HECM reverse mortgage eligibility, fees, counseling, repayment triggers, and homeowner responsibilities before comparing alternatives.

Reverse mortgages

Renting basics

How much rent can I afford? A household budget guide

Build a realistic rent budget using take-home pay, utilities, transport, debt, savings, and upfront moving costs.

Rent budget

How to read a rental lease before you sign

Review rent, fees, deposits, repairs, entry, renewals, and early termination clauses before signing a residential lease.

Leases

Moving checklist for renters

Follow a renter’s moving checklist covering notice, applications, utilities, packing, records, inspections, and deposit follow-up.

Moving

Moving cost assistance and relocation programs

Find potential help with moving costs after displacement, a disaster, homelessness, or another hardship, and check program limits.

Moving costs

Rental application checklist: documents and fees

Prepare rental application documents, check fees and screening criteria, protect sensitive records, and save your submission details.

Applying to rent

Rental co-signers and guarantors: duties and alternatives

Understand a rental guarantor’s obligations, compare alternatives, and check the contract before someone agrees to cover your rent.

Guarantors

Renters insurance: coverage, costs, and exclusions

Learn what renters insurance covers, including belongings, liability, and temporary housing. Compare deductibles, exclusions, and policy costs.

Renters insurance

Renting a room: agreements, costs, and tenant rights

Before renting a room, check the agreement, deposit, shared bills, safety, and local rules for tenants and lodgers. Get important terms in writing.

Room rentals

Renting an apartment: common questions answered

Find answers about rental applications, deposits, leases, repairs, roommates, renewals, and move-out responsibilities.

Renting questions

Shared housing and roommate agreements

Plan shared housing with a written roommate agreement, clear payment responsibilities, privacy rules, and an exit plan.

Shared housing

Utility bills and deposits when renting a home

Check who pays each utility, connection deposits, billing arrangements, utility allowances, and shutoff protections before renting.

Utilities