Help and assistance programs
From renting to owning: Family Self-Sufficiency and Section 8 homeownership
Some Section 8 voucher holders may be able to join a savings program called Family Self-Sufficiency and, in some areas, even use their voucher to buy a home instead of rent. This guide explains how both options work and what steps you can take to explore them.
Read Help and assistance programsOther ways to lower your housing costs: LIHTC, HUD senior and disability housing, USDA rural rentals
Beyond housing vouchers, there are other programs that may help you find affordable rental housing — including income-restricted apartments, HUD programs for seniors and people with disabilities, and USDA help for rural renters. This guide explains each one and shows you how to start looking.
Read Help and assistance programsCan you move with a Section 8 voucher? Porting to another city or state
If you have a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8), you may be able to take it with you when you move to a new city or state. This guide explains how voucher portability works, what steps to take, and what to watch out for.
Read Help and assistance programsAnnual recertification for housing assistance: what to report and when
If you receive housing assistance in the United States, your program is reviewed every year to make sure your information is still accurate. Knowing what to report and when can help you keep your benefits and avoid losing your housing.
Read Help and assistance programsSection 8 inspections: what a unit must pass and what happens if it fails
Before the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program pays rent, the home must pass a Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspection. This guide explains what inspectors check, what happens when something fails, and how you can protect your housing.
Read Help and assistance programsHow your rent is calculated with a Section 8 voucher
With a Section 8 housing choice voucher, you typically pay about 30% of your adjusted monthly income toward rent and utilities. Understanding how payment standards, utility allowances, and the 40% rule work can help you find a unit that fits your budget.
Read Help and assistance programsYou got a housing voucher, now what? Finding a landlord who accepts Section 8
Getting a housing voucher is a big step, but you have a limited time to find a landlord who accepts it. This guide walks you through how to search, what to say, and your rights.
Read Help and assistance programsHow to find your local Public Housing Authority (and what to ask when you call)
A Public Housing Authority (PHA) is your local gateway to affordable housing programs like Section 8 vouchers and public housing. Knowing how to find yours — and what to ask — can save you time and frustration.
Read Help and assistance programsHousing waitlists: why they close, how to find open ones, and how to stay on them
Most Section 8 and public housing waitlists are closed or very long, but some local lists do open up. This guide explains how these waitlists work, where to find open ones, and how to protect your spot once you're on a list.
Read Help and assistance programsHow to apply for Section 8, step by step
Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers help low-income renters pay for housing in the private market. Here is a step-by-step look at how to apply, what to expect, and how to stay ready while you wait.
Read Help and assistance programsDo I qualify for a housing voucher? Income limits and household size, explained
Housing vouchers help low-income households pay rent, but you have to meet income and household-size rules set by your local area. This guide breaks down how those limits work and what steps you can take right now.
Read Help and assistance programsSection 8, public housing, and LIHTC apartments: the three kinds of affordable housing, explained
There are three main types of government-supported affordable housing in the U.S. — Section 8 vouchers, public housing, and LIHTC apartments — and each one works differently, so knowing the difference helps you apply in the right places.
Read Help and assistance programsWhat to do if your benefits application is denied
A denial is not always the final word. Most benefit programs give you the right to appeal or reapply — and many decisions are reversed once a missing document or a simple error is fixed.
Read Help and assistance programsHow to stop a utility shutoff
If your power, gas, or water is about to be shut off, you often have more options than you realize — from emergency assistance and payment plans to legal protections that can delay or prevent disconnection.
Read Help and assistance programsHow to get help paying for prescriptions
If your medications cost too much, patient assistance programs, discount tools, and community clinics can bring the price way down — sometimes to little or nothing.
Read Help and assistance programsHow to get help paying for childcare
Childcare is one of the biggest costs families face, but subsidy programs and free early-learning options like Head Start can cut it dramatically — or cover it entirely.
Read Help and assistance programsSSI vs SSDI: disability benefits explained
SSI and SSDI both provide monthly income if a disability keeps you from working — but they qualify people differently: SSI is based on financial need, while SSDI is based on your work history.
Read Help and assistance programsHow Section 8 housing vouchers work
A Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher helps you pay rent on a home you choose in the private market — you generally pay about 30% of your income and the program covers the rest.
Read Help and assistance programsHow TANF cash assistance works for families
TANF gives short-term monthly cash to families with children who have little or no income — and often connects you to job, childcare, and other support along the way.
Read Help and assistance programsHow to get emergency rental and eviction help
If you're behind on rent or facing eviction, emergency rental assistance and local programs may be able to cover back rent and help you stay housed — but acting early makes a big difference.
Read Help and assistance programsHow to get help with your phone bill
If you're struggling to pay your phone or internet bill, there are real programs that can lower your costs or even cover them. Here's how to find help.
Read Help and assistance programsHow to apply for unemployment
If you've lost your job, unemployment benefits can help you cover basic bills while you look for work. Here are the steps to file a claim and what to expect.
Read Help and assistance programsWhat WIC offers for families
WIC is a free government program that provides food, nutrition support, and other resources to pregnant women, new moms, babies, and young children who qualify.
Read Help and assistance programsHow to apply for SNAP
Applying for SNAP food benefits can feel overwhelming, but the process is simpler than most people think. Here are the steps to get food help when you need it most.
Read Help and assistance programsHow to get free tax and money help
Free, trustworthy tax and money help is available near you — no cost, no judgment, just real support from trained people who want to help.
Read Help and assistance programsHow unemployment benefits work
Unemployment benefits can give you some income to cover basics while you look for your next job. Here is how the program works and how to apply.
Read Help and assistance programsHow to find local assistance programs
Finding local help for housing, health, and other needs can feel overwhelming. This guide shows you simple, practical ways to locate assistance programs right in your community.
Read Help and assistance programsHow Medicaid works, explained
Medicaid is a government program that gives free or very low-cost health coverage to people with limited income. If you qualify, it can help pay for doctor visits, hospital stays, prescriptions, and more.
Read Help and assistance programsHow LIHEAP helps with energy bills
LIHEAP is a free government program that helps low-income households pay heating and cooling bills. If you're struggling to keep the lights on or stay warm, this program may be able to help.
Read Help and assistance programsHow SNAP (food stamps) works
SNAP (formerly food stamps) helps low-income individuals and families pay for groceries. Here's how it works and how to apply.
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