Housing Assistance for Single Mothers

Single mothers are among the poorest in the nation and as such, are extremely vulnerable to low-paying jobs, poverty, and homelessness.

With the rising cost of basic necessities, it is not uncommon to see single moms struggle financially just to keep “a roof over their heads”.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers two main types of subsidized housing —

1. Housing Choice Voucher Program. Also known as Section 8.
2. Public Housing

Each program keeps rent at a level a low-income family can afford. Both are run locally by housing agencies, so who qualifies, how long you wait and what you pay can differ from one area to the next.

Low Income Public Housing Program

Public housing program was established to provide decent and safe rental housing for eligible low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. It comes in all sizes and types, from scattered single-family houses to high-rise apartments for elderly families.

HUD reports approximately 970,000 households living in public housing units, managed by some 3,300 local housing agencies (HAs).¹

Who is eligible for public housing?

According to HUD, a housing agency decides your eligibility based on three things: your annual gross income, whether you qualify as elderly, a person with a disability, or a family, and your U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status.

If you are eligible, the agency also checks your references, and it can deny admission to an applicant whose habits and practices may be expected to have a detrimental effect on other tenants or on the project’s environment.

HUD sets the lower income limit at 80% and the very low-income limit at 50% of the median income for the county or metropolitan area where you choose to live.¹

Because the limits vary from area to area, you may be eligible at one housing agency but not at another. You can look up the limits for your area on HUD USER  or ask the housing agency that serves your community.

How much rent do I pay in public housing?

HUD calls your rent the Total Tenant Payment. It is based on your family’s anticipated gross annual income less allowed deductions, such as $480 for each dependent. The payment is the highest of the following:

• 30 percent of your monthly adjusted income
• 10 percent of your monthly income
• welfare rent, if applicable
• a $25 minimum rent, or a higher amount (up to $50) set by the housing agency

How do I apply for public housing, and how long is the wait?

Contact your local housing agency . The application must be in writing, and the agency will ask for the names and birth dates of everyone who would live in the unit, your estimated income for the next twelve months and its sources, and the names of your current and previous landlords and employers.

If you are found eligible, your name goes on a waiting list unless the agency can help you right away. As demand often exceeds the resources available, long waiting periods are common, and an agency may close its waiting list when more families are on it than it can assist in the near future.

How long can I stay in public housing?

In general you may stay as long as you comply with the lease. The agency re-examines your income at least once every 12 months, and if your income is enough to obtain housing on the private market, it may determine whether your family should stay.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Office of Public and Indian Housing
(800) 955-2232

Housing Choice Voucher Program ( Section 8 )

Another rental assistance program by HUD is the Housing Choice Voucher Program, simply known as Section 8 which helps low-income families afford decent and safe housing outside of the public housing system. Around 2,000 local public housing agencies (PHAs) administer the program with HUD funding.

The program helps low-income families, elderly persons, veterans and people with disabilities afford housing in the private market.² Participants can choose any eligible unit, including single-family homes, townhouses and apartments, and a subsidy covers part of the rent and is paid directly to the landlord.

How much rent do I pay with a housing choice voucher?

According to HUD, the housing agency pays the owner the lower of the payment standard minus your total tenant payment, or the unit’s gross rent (rent plus utility allowance) minus your total tenant payment.

The total tenant payment is the highest of 30 percent of your monthly adjusted income, 10 percent of your monthly income, welfare rent if applicable, or the agency’s minimum rent.³

You may choose a unit that costs more than the payment standard and pay the owner the difference, usually not exceeding 40 percent of your adjusted monthly income.

Who qualifies for a housing choice voucher?

HUD lists these requirements:

• Your annual income and family size determine eligibility. Generally, a family must be extremely low-income or very low-income, and you can check the HUD income limits for your location .
• You must be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen as defined by HUD.
• The head of the household must have a valid Social Security number.
• Some crimes may make an applicant ineligible.

In general, your income must not exceed 50 percent of the area median income (the very low-income limit). By law, a housing agency must give 75 percent of its vouchers to applicants whose incomes do not exceed 30 percent of the area median income (the extremely low-income limit).

What’s the maximum income to qualify for section 8?

Use the Section 8 calculator to see HUD’s income limits for your area and household size, and which limit your income falls under. It also shows the Fair Market Rent for the number of bedrooms you need. HUD sets three limits for each HUD-defined area, which may be a county or metropolitan area: extremely low income (30% of area median income), very low income (50%) and low income (80%).⁴ Most Housing Choice Voucher applicants must meet the very low-income limit. Public housing eligibility generally uses the low-income limit.

The calculator is a first check, not a decision. Your housing agency determines eligibility, and waiting lists may be long or closed. You can also ask the AI assistant for the income limit or Fair Market Rent in your area.

Can I use a Section 8 voucher in another city or state?

According to HUD, you may choose a unit anywhere in the United States where a housing agency runs the voucher program. However, if you did not live in that agency’s area when you applied, you may be required to lease a unit within its jurisdiction for the first 12 months.

In general, waiting lists for Section 8 are longer than for public housing.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Office of Public and Indian Housing
(800) 955-2232

Family Unification Program

The Family Unification Program (FUP) provides Housing Choice Vouchers to families who risk losing their children to foster care because of housing, and to young adults ages 18 to 24 leaving foster care. The vouchers can be used to lease housing in the private market.

Who qualifies for a Family Unification Program voucher?

According to HUD, a family qualifies when the lack of adequate housing, such as substandard, overcrowded or homeless living conditions, is a primary factor in placing its children in out-of-home care or delaying their return home.

Youth vouchers are limited to 36 months, with an extension of up to 24 more months for those who meet certain requirements. Applicants must also meet the regular voucher income limits.⁵

How do I apply for a Family Unification Program voucher?

Contact your local housing agency, but keep in mind that FUP funding is competitive, so not all agencies run the program. The child welfare agency in your area can also determine whether you are eligible and refer you to a partnering housing agency.

For additional information about FUP or the voucher program, contact either the local PHA serving your community  or the Office of Public Housing within your local HUD office.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Office of Public and Indian Housing
(800) 955-2232

For families that are behind on their rent or individuals that are currently homeless, there are also local agencies, community groups, and charitable organizations that can help them afford the cost of living.

CoAbode Single Mothers House Sharing

CoAbode offers a unique “match-making” service to provide single mothers the opportunity to share housing with another single mother of their choosing; halving the cost of rent and overhead expenses and freeing up the much needed resources.

Beside providing them with affordable housing opportunities, CoAbode also provides specialized support groups, educational scholarships, community outreach and involvement designed to make parenting a child alone a lot easier.

CoAbode 
1223 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 102
Santa Monica, CA 90403
(240) 208-6318

The Salvation Army

When hard times hit, the Salvation Army assists families and needy individuals who are struggling to pay their rent with partial rent payment and if fund is limited, offers referral to other partner agencies.

Priority is given to single parents, seniors, families with children and those who are at risk of losing their permanent housing or who have currently become homeless.

For information on local rent assistance in your area, contact your local Salvation Army Corps Community Center. You can start on the Salvation Army’s rent and utility assistance page . Rules, funding and application windows are set by each local unit, so call ahead and ask what documents to bring, such as photo ID, proof of income and your lease or a late-rent notice.

Keep in mind that many of these programs have limited funding and resources available. Usually very low-income families with children, the elderly, the disabled, and people who are faced with an eviction or notice to quit will get priority consideration.

Down Payment Assistance

Down payment assistance helps a household cover the down payment or closing costs of a home purchase. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) lists homebuying programs by state.⁶

What national down payment assistance programs are available?

The National Homebuyers Fund provides down payment and closing cost assistance of up to 5 percent of the mortgage loan amount. A borrower is not required to be a first-time homebuyer. The assistance may be forgiven immediately, forgiven after a period of years, or repayable, depending on the program. It is available through participating lenders.⁷

The Chenoa Fund, administered by CBC Mortgage Agency, provides assistance of 3.5 percent or 5 percent of the down payment needed for a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan. The program is available in all states except New York and requires a minimum credit score of 600.⁸