The idea of affordable housing can be subjective. Every individual is in a different place financially and vocationally. What one may easily afford could be a struggle for someone else. Nevertheless, everyone seeks—needs—a place they can comfortably afford to call home. Renters are no exception.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defines affordable housing as “housing for which the occupant(s) is/are paying no more than 30 percent of his or her income for gross housing costs, including utilities.”
HUD calls its definition a guideline, noting that some areas may define it differently based on locally determined criteria.
In order to provide options for renters with limited or fixed incomes, affordable apartment rentals are available through a variety of government programs. Designed to ensure housing is available to those who earn the least, participants must meet certain criteria regarding income.
Two government entities define the poverty level in the United States: the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The threshold for poverty is determined by income, the number of people in a household, and is adjusted for inflation. These guidelines help determine those in the greatest need for assistance, like income-restricted rentals.
According to 2025 Census data, a family of four (two being minor children under age 18) earning a combined annual income of $32,649 or less, meet the threshold for living in poverty. Sometimes this group is called the working poor. Finding a rental while living in poverty presents obvious challenges, but there is assistance.
Affordable housing covers a variety of domiciles, including public housing projects, housing vouchers, and apartments that charge rent according to one’s income. The idea that someone could make too much money to be approved as a tenant might seem strange, but there’s a good reason.
Income restrictions are in place to ensure that tenants who legitimately cannot afford market rate rent have an opportunity to procure an apartment they can afford. Tenants who are not considered living “at the federal poverty level” as defined by the government do not need such assistance. Their incomes allow them to better afford typical rental rates.
Often the need outnumbers the supply. Many of these communities are at full occupancy. Waiting lists for available units can be long. There are no guarantees that an individual who needs and qualifies for lower-rent apartments will get one. Not unlike any other tenant seeking to rent an apartment, there is an application process.
Perhaps the biggest of these subsidized rental programs is managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) called, appropriately, the Multifamily Housing Program. In addition to loans, grants, and other resources, Multifamily Housing also subsidizes rents for eligible low-income tenants unable to pay rent in full. This is done via a vouchers-to-the-property-owners system. It is better known as the USDA’s Section 515 program.
The National Rural Housing Coalition (NRHC) says, “We strongly support the Section 515 Rural Rental Housing program as a model for addressing rental housing needs for our most vulnerable residents—low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.”
According to the NRHC, more than 500,000 families live in housing financed through the USDA’s Section 515 loans.
Rural Development Multifamily Housing Rentals (MFH) fall under this HUD program. Don’t be thrown by the name. This isn’t just for apartment complexes out in the sticks. Some areas initially considered rural have experienced development and growth, so they may now be suburban versus truly rural. Even so, they remain in the HUD MFH program.
Renters who qualify for these income-restricted apartments can search the HUD website to find apartment complexes throughout the U.S. Go to https://rdmfhrentals.sc.egov.usda.gov/RDMFHRentals.When apartment-hunting in person, look for USDA on the primary sign for the complex.
Online information includes total number of units, number of subsidized units, a map, contact information, and income limits detailed by number of people in the household. Potential tenants should contact management directly for the most accurate information and to learn the application process.
Renters may also search our website and use the "Low Income" filter to find other lower-cost options, including Section 8 rental properties. Section 8 is another taxpayer-funded government program. Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) pay a portion of the rent for low-income families, the elderly, veterans, and disabled individuals.
According to HUD, “Program participants can choose any eligible housing unit, including single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments, with rent partially covered by a subsidy paid directly to the landlord.”
In the U.S., HUD funds approximately 2,000 Local Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) that administer the HCV program. Like other programs, it is common to have a waiting list for these resources as the demand is greater than the supply.
According to Congress.gov, in addition to the USDA’s programs, these are the five main federal rent assistance programs. Many serve the multifamily rental market.
- “Public Housing: Housing developments owned and operated by local Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) for which the federal government provides capital and operating assistance.
- Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs): Rent subsidies that tenants can use to subsidize their rents in the private market housing of their choice.
- Section 8 project-based rental assistance: Subsidies provided directly to private owners of multifamily housing to subsidize the rents of specific units.
- Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly: Multifamily housing developments owned by private nonprofit organizations for which the federal government provides capital grants and project-based rental assistance.
- Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities: Similar to Section 202, but serves persons with disabilities.”
Another possible avenue for low-income renters is through Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) properties. These privately owned developments are subsidized through federal tax credits and are usually managed by private real estate companies or nonprofits, according to the Housing Authority of St. Louis County.
HUD maintains a searchable database of LIHTC properties, found here: https://www.huduser.gov/lihtc/. There’s also a pretty cool LIHTC mapping tool made available by Novogradac®’s Affordable Housing Resource Center, https://www.novoco.com/resource-centers/affordable-housing-tax-credits/lihtc-mapping-tool.
Having a home, whether you rent or own, is a part of the American dream. Affordable housing is the building block for success in other areas of life. A stable, solid place to lay your head and call home means everything. The success of these programs has no doubt improved life and lifestyle for many.
Because housing is such a basic human need, many organizations whose mission is to advocate for affordable housing exist on both state and national levels. The National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) “educates, organizes, and advocates to ensure decent, affordable housing for everyone.”
They work to “preserve existing federally assisted homes and housing resources, expand the supply of low-income housing, and establish housing stability as the primary purpose of federal low-income housing policy.”
The National Affordable Housing Management Association (NAHMA) calls itself “the leading voice for the affordable housing management industry, promoting, developing, managing and preserving quality affordable multifamily housing.”
Sometimes a non-profit, not a government program, can help. Some entities are dedicated to securing affordable housing for low-income tenants. One such example is Charity Choice Affordable Housing, Inc.
Based in Georgia, they buy and refurbish homes in order to “provide low-income housing that is affordable to individuals, families, senior citizens, people with disabilities, and veterans for community development for low-income families.”
For those considering renting but unsure about affordability, try our rent affordability calculator at https://www.apartments.com/rent-affordability-calculator/. Whether paying market rates or looking to qualify for a subsidized rental, this tool is a great place to start.
