FAQs

Public housing provides decent, safe affordable rental housing for eligible low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. 

Eligibility is based on:

1. annual gross income (developed annually by HUD)
2. whether you qualify as elderly, a person with a disability, or as a family; and
3. U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status. The Housing Authority serving you will advise you of the current HUD income limit for the area household size. 

If you are interested in applying for public housing, contact your local HA. 

The housing choice voucher program is the federal government's major program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Since housing assistance is provided on behalf of the family or individual, participants are able to find their own housing, including single-family homes, townhouses and apartments.

The participant is free to choose any housing that meets the requirements of the program and is not limited to units located in subsidized housing projects.

Eligibility for a housing voucher is determined by a Housing Authority based on the total annual gross income and family size and is limited to US citizens and specified categories of non-citizens who have eligible immigration status. In general, the family's income may not exceed 50% of the median income for the county or metropolitan area in which the family chooses to live. The PHA serving your community can provide you with the income limits for your area and family size.

During the application process, the PHA will collect information on family income, assets, and family composition. The PHA will verify this information with other local agencies, your employer and bank, and will use the information to determine program eligibility and the amount of the housing assistance payment.

If the PHA determines that your family is eligible, the PHA will put your name on a waiting list, unless it is able to assist you immediately. Once your name is reached on the waiting list, the PHA will contact you and issue to you a housing voucher.

If you are interested in applying for a voucher, please visit the State-wide Centralized wait list available 24-hours a day, 7 days a week at www.waitlist-centralri.com.