It can be challenging for people to find housing to fit their limited budgets.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (H.U.D.), helps some of these people with two programs, using grants from the federal government: Section8, and Housing and Community Facilities Programs.

How to acquire low income housing using the Section 8 program:
Make sure you are eligible.
To qualify, your total household income must be under limits established by the housing authority in your region. You must be over 18 and have a satisfactory public record (usually meaning no history of violence).

Get and fill out the Section 8 application.

Meet with the housing authority in your area and ask for the application. It’s free.

Remember that you can apply to multiple offices of the public housing authority, within separate geographic areas near you. When work on completing the applications(s), be candid about your history. Include the necessary documentation, including pay stubs, tax records and so forth. You must list all the people who will live with you.

Arrange to have your name put onto the waiting list for each public housing authority you apply to.

Yo must be patient--it can take more than a year to get to the top of the list. If you have an emergency, it may help to tell the housing authority. They might agree to grant need you priority status.

Ensure that you tell the housing authority when your contact details change.

When you get to the top of the list, you’ll be mailed a housing a voucher.

Find an apartment that agrees to use Section 8

Bear in mind that there’s a time limit to find your housing--this is usually 90 days.

How get low income housing using the Housing and Community Facilities Program:
Pull together your paperwork for the local Public Housing Agency.

This comprises pay stubs, Social Security cards and birth certificates for you and your dependents.

Locate your nearest Public Housing Agency.

It will be either a state or municipal agency that pays funds. See the HUD web site at HUD.gov for information on finding the housing office nearest you.

Prepare to wait. Since the application for public housing far exceeds the available funds, waiting time can be months or even years. If you are homeless the housing office conceivably can help you find emergency housing.

Stay in regular touch with your local housing office. The staff there may be able to direct you to additional programs for low-income people.

See also: The Habitat for Humanity program. Check its web site, www.habitat.org. They have a committee that decides the need of he homeowners it ultimately builds houses for. Factors include whether you are able and willing to donate your time to help construct other houses, and whether you have the means to pay back the loan
on a house that is built for you.