Low income houses for rent: every option explained

Last updated 2026-07-09

What counts as low income housing for rent?

"Low income housing" is not one thing. It's a catch-all for any rental where a federal, state, or local program caps what you pay or caps what the landlord can charge. That umbrella covers four distinct federal tracks, plus dozens of state and local add-ons.

The four federal tracks are Housing Choice Vouchers (the Section 8 program), traditional public housing owned by local housing authorities, HUD-subsidized privately owned multifamily housing (project-based Section 8, Section 202, Section 811), and Low-Income Housing Tax Credit properties (LIHTC). Each works differently, serves a different income band, and keeps its own waitlist. Treating them as one thing is the single biggest mistake applicants make.

Every income limit traces back to HUD's Area Median Income (AMI) figures, published each spring. "Extremely low income" is generally 30% of AMI. "Very low income" is 50%. "Low income" is 80%. ^[1] The program you qualify for depends on which threshold your household clears, and those thresholds shift by county and metro.

For how low income housing fits the broader rent payment system, that page walks through payment standards in detail.

What are the main programs offering low income houses for rent?

Four federal programs do most of the work, and they pay tenants in two very different ways. Vouchers and public housing tie your rent to your income. LIHTC ties your rent to the area, not to you. That distinction decides whether a program actually helps you at the bottom of the income scale.

Program	Who owns the unit	Tenant pays	Income limit (typical)	Waitlist
Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8)	Private landlord	~30% of adjusted income	Very low (50% AMI)	1 to 7+ years [2]
Public Housing	Local housing authority (PHA)	~30% of adjusted income	Very low to low (80% AMI)	1 to 5+ years [2]
Project-Based Section 8 / Sec. 202 / Sec. 811	Private owner with HUD contract	~30% of adjusted income	Very low (50% AMI)	Varies by property
LIHTC (tax credit)	Private developer	Fixed below-market rent	Usually 50-60% AMI	Varies by property

Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV / Section 8). This is the largest federal rental assistance program. HUD funds local Public Housing Agencies (PHAs), which issue vouchers to eligible tenants. You find your own rental on the private market, the landlord agrees to participate, and the PHA pays the gap between your share (roughly 30% of adjusted income) and the payment standard. ^[2] The voucher works for houses, not only apartments. Many landlords list homes for rent with section 8 on Zillow or HUD's own listing tool.

Public housing. PHAs own and manage these units directly. The waitlist and application sit with your local PHA, not a private landlord. Rent is 30% of adjusted income. Public housing skews toward apartments in larger buildings, but scattered-site public housing does include single-family homes in some cities.

Project-based subsidies. HUD contracts directly with private owners to keep rents affordable in specific buildings. Section 202 is for seniors. Section 811 is for people with disabilities. Project-based Section 8 covers general families. You apply to the property, not the PHA. HUD lists these at the property level. ^[3]

LIHTC. The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program runs through IRS tax credits given to developers who agree to cap rents. Rent is set as a percentage of area AMI, not a percentage of your income. So the math is different: a LIHTC unit might charge $900 a month whether you earn $22,000 or $35,000. No subsidy flows to you. You just pay a below-market rent, which helps but doesn't guarantee affordability at the very bottom of the income scale. ^[4]

How do income limits actually work for low income houses?

HUD publishes income limits every year, usually in late spring. They're specific to each metro or county and they adjust for household size. A family of four in San Francisco has a much higher "very low income" cutoff than the same family in rural Mississippi. ^[1]

For the voucher program, federal law (42 U.S.C. § 1437f) requires that 75% of new vouchers go to families whose income does not exceed 30% of AMI. The other 25% can go to families up to 50% of AMI. ^[5] In practice, most applicants well below 50% AMI sit on waitlists for years because demand crushes supply.

LIHTC income limits are set by the state housing finance agency and vary by which tax-credit program the developer used. The common thresholds are 50% and 60% of AMI. ^[4]

Public housing uses an 80% AMI "low income" ceiling, but PHAs must spend at least 40% of their admission resources on extremely low-income families at or below 30% AMI, under 24 CFR 960.202. ^[6] So you need to be quite poor to reach the front of a public housing list too.

The safest move is simple. Go to HUD's income limit tool at huduser.gov and look up your county. The numbers move enough year to year that any figure quoted in an article can be stale within 12 months.

How do you find low income houses for rent right now?

Finding an actual unit is harder than qualifying for help. These are the channels people really use.

Your local PHA. The PHA runs both the voucher waitlist and the public housing waitlist. HUD's PHA locator at hud.gov lets you find every PHA in your area. Some open their waitlist for days or weeks, then close it again. Check every PHA near you, not only the one in your home city. ^[2]

HUD's subsidized housing search. HUD runs a property search at hud.gov that lists privately owned subsidized buildings by city and state. These are the project-based Section 8, Section 202, and Section 811 properties. You apply straight to the building manager.

LIHTC property databases. The National Housing Preservation Database and HUD's Picture of Subsidized Households both catalog tax-credit properties. Your state housing finance agency keeps a list too. ^[4]

Private listing sites. Landlords accepting vouchers post on Zillow, Apartments.com, and niche platforms. Go section 8 houses for rent is one of the older platforms built for voucher-accepting landlords. Trulia hosts a subset too; the guide on section 8 houses for rent on Trulia explains how to filter for them.

USDA Rural Housing. Outside metro areas, USDA Section 515 and Section 521 fund rural rental housing. In truly rural counties, they're often the only subsidy around. Apply through your state's USDA Rural Development office. ^[7]

211. Dial 211 to reach your local social services network. They know which waitlists are open right now, which matters because openings are hard to track any other way.

One honest note. If you already hold a voucher, the hard part is finding a landlord who takes it, not finding an affordable listing. The section 8 rent house article has a landlord-recruiting checklist that works.

What do you pay in rent in a low income housing program?

In the voucher and public housing programs, your share is 30% of your adjusted monthly income. Adjusted income strips out set deductions: $480 per dependent, $400 for elderly or disabled households, plus allowances for some medical and childcare costs. ^[2] Two households with the same gross income can owe different rent because of this.

Vouchers get complicated here. The PHA sets a "payment standard," the most subsidy it will pay for a given unit size in its area. Payment standards are based on HUD's Fair Market Rents, published annually. ^[8] Rent a unit above the payment standard and you pay the difference on top of your 30% share. That extra amount is the gap payment, and it squeezes households hunting for a low income house for rent in tight markets.

Federal rules cap total tenant payment at 40% of adjusted monthly income at initial lease-up when the rent tops the payment standard. ^[2] After you move in, if the landlord raises rent above what the PHA covers, your share can climb. That's a real risk in fast-appreciating markets.

LIHTC works differently. You pay a fixed rent, usually calculated as 30% of the gross income limit for the set-aside (say, 30% of 60% of AMI, divided by 12). That produces a set dollar figure unrelated to your actual income. It's a bargain if you're near the income limit. It can still be a stretch if you're far below it.

Use HUD's payment standard data and the fair market rent calculator to estimate what the PHA will cover in your market before you start hunting.

How long are the waitlists for low income housing?

Long. That's the honest one-word answer.

HUD's 2023 Worst Case Housing Needs report found that only about 1 in 4 eligible households gets federal rental assistance. ^[9] Demand swamps supply in nearly every metro. Nationally, median voucher wait times run from about 1.5 years to more than 7, depending on the PHA, per data compiled by the National Low Income Housing Coalition. ^[10]

Some PHAs in the tightest markets (New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago) stopped taking new voucher applications years ago and only reopen for brief windows. Boston's public housing waitlist has been closed more often than open over the past decade.

Rural areas tell a different story. USDA Section 515 properties often have vacancies, and some rural PHAs carry short waits. If you can move, rural low income housing can mean much faster access. ^[7]

Strategies that actually help:

• Apply to every PHA within a reasonable distance, more than your home city's.
• Check project-based property waitlists separately. A building can have a short list even when the PHA voucher list runs years.
• Apply for LIHTC properties. They keep their own waitlists and aren't tied to the PHA.
• Update your contact info with every PHA, every year. Getting skipped over an old address or dead phone number happens more than people think.
• Ask about preference categories. Many PHAs prioritize veterans, domestic violence survivors, people experiencing homelessness, or current residents of the jurisdiction. A preference can move your effective spot on the list a lot.

Can you rent a house (not an apartment) with Section 8?

Yes. The Housing Choice Voucher program is tenure-neutral. You can rent a single-family house, a duplex, a townhouse, a condo, or an apartment, as long as the unit passes HUD's Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspection and the rent is reasonable next to similar unassisted units nearby. ^[2]

The real constraint is landlord willingness. Plenty of single-family landlords don't know the HQS inspection process or dislike the payment timeline (the PHA pays its share monthly by direct deposit, typically on the first, though there's lag during onboarding). That gap is narrowing as more landlords see that the PHA guarantees its portion of the rent.

If you're a landlord weighing this, the rental assistance payment article explains how the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) contract works and when you get paid. VoucherReady also has a one-time landlord kit covering HQS requirements and the HAP contract, worth reading before you list.

For tenants, hud houses for rent covers HUD-owned single-family homes that sometimes come up for rent after foreclosure. They're a separate category from voucher rentals but worth knowing about. hud housing for rent has the broader overview.

With a voucher in hand, your PHA's payment standard for a bedroom size decides whether a specific house is feasible. A 3-bedroom house at $1,800 a month, in a metro where the 3-bedroom payment standard is $1,600, means you cover $200 on top of your 30% share. Run that math before you fall for a listing.

What's the USDA rural housing option and who qualifies?

USDA Rural Development runs two rental programs most people outside farm country have never heard of: Section 515 (rural rental housing loans to developers) and Section 521 (Rental Assistance, which subsidizes tenant rents in Section 515 and Section 514 properties). ^[7]

Section 521 Rental Assistance ends up looking a lot like the voucher program: tenants pay 30% of adjusted income and USDA covers the rest up to the contract rent. Eligibility rests on USDA's rural area designation and income limits that track HUD's thresholds closely.

These properties are geographically fenced. If you live in a place USDA calls rural, generally under about 35,000 in population, you may have access to Section 521-assisted units that never show up on mainstream housing search tools. USDA's multi-family property search lives at rd.usda.gov. ^[7]

The catch is funding. Congress has chronically underfunded Section 521 contracts, so some properties that opened with Rental Assistance lost it as contracts expired. Housing advocates have fought over this for years. When you apply to a USDA property, ask specifically whether the Rental Assistance contract is currently active for the unit you'd take.

For moderate-income households up to 115% of AMI, USDA also runs Section 502 guaranteed loans, but that's for buying a home, not renting, and a different topic entirely.

Do low income housing programs cover utilities?

Sometimes, and the rules differ by program.

In public housing, utilities are usually included in rent or handled through a utility allowance that lowers your tenant payment. The exact setup depends on the property. ^[6]

In the voucher program, if you pay utilities separately (not included in rent), the PHA applies a utility allowance. That allowance comes off your payment, which raises the subsidy. If the utility allowance is bigger than your calculated rent share, the PHA actually cuts you a small utility reimbursement check. ^[2] Utility allowance schedules are PHA-specific and belong in your briefing packet.

In LIHTC properties, utility treatment depends on how the developer structured the deal. Some units include utilities; some don't. When they don't, the rent limit is supposed to drop to account for estimated utility costs, but the exact math follows the state agency's rules.

LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) is a separate federal block grant that helps with heating and cooling costs no matter your housing type. ^[11] If you pay utilities out of pocket in a LIHTC unit, apply for LIHEAP through your state. LIHEAP income limits generally sit at or below 60% of state median income.

What disqualifies you from low income housing programs?

Federal rules force denial in a few categories, and PHAs have discretion well beyond that.

Mandatory disqualifications under federal law:

• Conviction for methamphetamine manufacture or production on federally assisted housing premises. ^[12]
• Lifetime sex offender registration status (denied from all HCV and public housing). ^[12]
• Current drug-related eviction from federally assisted housing (for public housing; different rules apply to vouchers).

Beyond those, PHAs have wide latitude. They can deny for recent criminal history (lookback periods vary, typically 3 to 7 years), evictions from any housing in recent years, serious negative landlord references, or debt owed to any PHA.

HUD guidance from 2016 warned PHAs against blanket bans on applicants with criminal records, citing disparate impact concerns. ^[13] Some PHAs have narrowed their denial criteria in response. But narrowed doesn't mean gone. Read the specific PHA's Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (ACOP) for public housing, or its Administrative Plan for vouchers.

Get denied and you have the right to an informal hearing to contest it. Request it in writing, fast. The deadline is usually 10 to 14 days from when you receive the denial notice.

Citizenship status matters too. Only U.S. citizens and certain eligible noncitizens qualify for federal housing assistance. Mixed-status families, where some members are eligible and some aren't, can still get prorated assistance. ^[2]

How does the application process work for low income rental housing?

The process changes by program track. Here's how each one runs in practice.

HCV voucher. Apply to your local PHA during an open enrollment period. Most PHAs use a random lottery or a first-come waiting list. You submit income documentation, household composition, and ID. When your name comes up (possibly years later), the PHA reverifies eligibility, and if you still qualify you get a voucher with a search period, typically 60 to 120 days, to find a unit. ^[2] VoucherReady's free waitlist tracker helps you watch multiple PHAs at once without losing track.

Public housing. Apply directly to the PHA's public housing division. Many PHAs run a combined application for both programs. Same long wait. When a unit matching your bedroom size and preference opens, you're offered it. You can refuse a limited number of offers before losing your spot.

Project-based subsidized buildings. Apply directly to the building manager or its management company. Each property runs its own waitlist. HUD's Multifamily Housing Property Search at hud.gov is the best starting point. ^[3]

LIHTC properties. Apply to the property management company. No PHA involved. You verify income and household size, and the property recertifies you annually. If your income rises past the program limit, most properties let you stay but you may lose the subsidy tier.

For every program, gather these before you apply: photo ID for all adults, Social Security numbers or documentation of eligible immigration status, birth certificates for minors, proof of income for the last 30 days (pay stubs, benefit award letters, tax returns), and landlord contact info for the past three to five years.

Are there low income housing programs specifically for seniors or people with disabilities?

Yes, and general applicants often miss them.

Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly is HUD-funded for households with at least one member age 62 or older. Rents are subsidized through project-based rental assistance, and residents pay 30% of adjusted income. ^[3] These properties sometimes carry shorter waitlists than general HCV lists because fewer people know they exist.

Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities targets households with at least one non-elderly adult with a disability. The income limit is typically 50% AMI, and some 811 properties bundle in supportive services. ^[3]

HCV mainstream vouchers are a set-aside inside the regular voucher program for non-elderly disabled households, meant to help them avoid or leave institutional settings. PHAs may keep separate waitlists for these.

Veterans. The HUD-VASH program pairs HCV vouchers with VA case management. Veterans experiencing homelessness or at risk of it should contact the nearest VA medical center's social work department. ^[2]

If you're hunting for apts that take section 8 and you're a senior or have a disability, ask the PHA directly whether there are separate waitlists for 202, 811, mainstream vouchers, or HUD-VASH. Applying to those tracks alongside the general waitlist is worth the extra paperwork.

For disability accommodations during the application process (extended search time, accessible unit requirements, and the like), PHAs must provide reasonable accommodations under the Fair Housing Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

What rights do you have as a low income housing tenant?

Your rights come in layers. Federal law sets a floor, state landlord-tenant law adds to it, and your lease adds more.

Grievance procedures. Public housing residents have an explicit right to a grievance hearing before tenancy termination, under 24 CFR 966. ^[6] HCV tenants don't get a HUD-mandated grievance process for landlord actions, but they do have hearing rights when the PHA moves to end their assistance.

Lease terms. In public housing, leases go month-to-month after the first year, under 24 CFR 966.4. In the voucher program, once the initial lease term ends, you can shift to month-to-month, which gives you room to move and keep your voucher if you follow the PHA's move procedures.

Retaliation protections. Federal law and most state laws bar landlords from retaliating against you for complaining to the PHA or housing authority, requesting repairs, or organizing with other tenants.

Right to a habitable unit. HQS standards require HCV landlords to keep units decent, safe, and sanitary. ^[2] If a PHA inspection finds violations, the landlord has to fix them. If they don't, the PHA can abate (suspend) the housing assistance payment, which puts real financial pressure on the owner.

Source of income discrimination laws. About 20 states and dozens of cities bar landlords from refusing voucher holders based solely on their source of income. ^[14] If you're in a covered place and a landlord says "we don't take Section 8," that may be illegal. HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity handles complaints.

Your state's tenant protections matter as much as the federal rules. State law governs security deposit limits, notice periods, and eviction procedures in ways that can change your situation a lot.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find low income houses for rent in my area?

Start with HUD's PHA locator at hud.gov to find your local housing authority and apply for the voucher waitlist. Search HUD's Multifamily Housing Property Search for project-based subsidized buildings. Check your state housing finance agency for LIHTC properties. For rural areas, search USDA Rural Development's multi-family property database at rd.usda.gov. Dial 211 to reach local social services staff who know which waitlists are open now.

What is the income limit for low income housing programs?

Limits vary by area and family size. For Housing Choice Vouchers and most HUD programs, "very low income" (50% of Area Median Income) is the main threshold. In 2025 that might mean roughly $37,000 for a family of four in a mid-cost metro, but over $60,000 in high-cost areas like San Francisco. HUD publishes updated limits annually at huduser.gov. LIHTC properties typically use 50% or 60% AMI limits.

How much rent do you pay in low income housing?

In Housing Choice Voucher and public housing programs, you pay about 30% of your adjusted monthly income toward rent and utilities. The government covers the rest up to the PHA's payment standard. In LIHTC tax-credit apartments, you pay a fixed below-market rent based on area income limits, regardless of your actual income. That fixed rent can still be too high if your income is very low.

Can I use a Section 8 voucher to rent a house instead of an apartment?

Yes. Housing Choice Vouchers work for single-family houses, duplexes, townhouses, condos, and manufactured housing, as long as the unit passes HUD's Housing Quality Standards inspection and the rent is reasonable for the market. The challenge is finding a landlord willing to participate. Many single-family homeowners aren't familiar with the process, but participation rates are climbing in most metros.

How long does the Section 8 waitlist take?

Nationally, median wait times run from about 18 months to over 7 years, depending on the PHA. Some PHAs in high-demand cities like Los Angeles and New York have waitlists that haven't opened in years. Smaller cities and rural PHAs can move faster. Apply to every PHA within a reasonable distance, not only the one nearest you, and check for separate waitlists for project-based properties.

What disqualifies someone from low income housing?

Federal law mandates denial for lifetime sex offender registrants and anyone convicted of meth production on assisted housing premises. Beyond that, PHAs can deny based on recent criminal history (typically 3 to 7 years), prior evictions, bad landlord references, or debt owed to any PHA. If denied, you have the right to an informal hearing, which you should request in writing within the stated deadline, usually 10 to 14 days.

What documents do I need to apply for low income housing?

You'll typically need government-issued photo ID for all adult household members, Social Security numbers or eligible immigration status documentation, birth certificates for any children, proof of all income for the past 30 days (pay stubs, Social Security or SSI award letters, tax returns), and contact information for landlords from the past three to five years. Having these ready before waitlists open saves time when applications go fast.

Are there low income housing options for seniors?

Yes. HUD's Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly program funds subsidized rentals specifically for households with at least one member age 62 or older. Tenants pay 30% of adjusted income. These properties sometimes carry shorter waitlists than general voucher lists. Search HUD's Multifamily Housing Property Search and filter for Section 202 properties. Some PHAs also keep separate senior preference categories for vouchers.

Is HUD the same as Section 8?

No. HUD (the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) is the federal agency that administers multiple housing programs, one of which is the Housing Choice Voucher program, historically called Section 8. Section 8 is a program; HUD is the agency. HUD also runs public housing, Section 202, Section 811, LIHTC (through the IRS and state agencies), and the Fair Housing program, among others. People use the terms interchangeably in conversation, but they aren't the same thing.

Can a landlord refuse to rent to someone with a Section 8 voucher?

It depends on your state and city. Federal law does not prohibit source-of-income discrimination. But roughly 20 states and dozens of cities have laws that do bar landlords from refusing a Housing Choice Voucher based solely on the payment source. If you're in a covered jurisdiction, a blanket refusal may violate local fair housing law. File a complaint with HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity or your local fair housing agency.

What is LIHTC housing and how is it different from Section 8?

LIHTC stands for Low-Income Housing Tax Credit. Developers get IRS tax credits in exchange for keeping rents below market for 15 to 30 years. Unlike Section 8 vouchers, LIHTC isn't tied to your income: you pay a fixed rent based on area income limits, not 30% of what you earn. If your income is far below the limit, the rent can still be a stretch. No PHA is involved. You apply directly to the property.

Does the USDA have rental assistance for rural areas?

Yes. USDA Rural Development runs the Section 521 Rental Assistance program, which subsidizes rents in rural housing properties so tenants pay 30% of adjusted income. Properties must sit in areas USDA defines as rural, generally under about 35,000 in population. Search USDA's multi-family housing database at rd.usda.gov. Some rural counties have shorter waits than urban voucher lists, making this an underused option for people with location flexibility.

What happens to my low income housing if my income increases?

In voucher and public housing programs, your rent share adjusts annually as your income changes: you pay 30% of your new adjusted income. Rent rises as income rises, but you don't lose the assistance immediately. If your income exceeds 80% of AMI for two consecutive years in public housing, you may face a termination process. In LIHTC properties, crossing the income limit usually doesn't force you out, but you lose eligibility for new tax-credit certification.

Can I move to another city with my Section 8 voucher?

Yes, this is called portability. Under 24 CFR 982.353, an HCV holder can move to any area in the U.S. that has a PHA running a voucher program, as long as you've met the initial lease term requirement (typically 12 months in most cases). You notify your issuing PHA of your intent to move, and they coordinate with the receiving PHA. Porting takes 30 to 60 days typically. Your payment standard and utility allowances shift to the new PHA's area.

Sources

1. HUD, Income Limits documentation (huduser.gov): HUD publishes AMI-based income limits annually; extremely low income is 30% of AMI, very low is 50%, low income is 80%.
2. HUD, Housing Choice Vouchers Fact Sheet (hud.gov): Voucher tenants pay approximately 30% of adjusted income; PHAs pay the balance up to the payment standard; program allows rental of houses, apartments, and other unit types.
3. HUD, Multifamily Housing Programs overview (hud.gov): HUD funds Section 202, Section 811, and project-based Section 8 in privately owned buildings; tenants apply directly to properties.
4. HUD, Low-Income Housing Tax Credit overview (huduser.gov): LIHTC properties set rents as a percentage of AMI for the area, typically at 50% or 60% AMI thresholds, independent of the tenant's actual income.
5. U.S. Code 42 U.S.C. § 1437f, Housing Act of 1937 as amended: Federal statute requires 75% of new vouchers go to families at or below 30% of AMI; remaining 25% may go to families up to 50% of AMI.
6. Code of Federal Regulations, 24 CFR Part 960 (Public Housing): 24 CFR 960.202 requires PHAs to spend at least 40% of admissions on extremely low-income families; 24 CFR 966 governs grievance procedures.
7. USDA Rural Development, Multifamily Housing Programs: USDA Section 521 Rental Assistance subsidizes rents in rural rental housing so tenants pay 30% of adjusted income; applies to rural areas generally under 35,000 population.
8. HUD, Fair Market Rents documentation (huduser.gov): HUD publishes Fair Market Rents annually by metro area and bedroom size; PHAs use FMRs to set payment standards for the voucher program.
9. HUD, Worst Case Housing Needs 2023 Report to Congress (huduser.gov): Approximately 1 in 4 eligible households receives federal rental assistance; demand vastly exceeds supply.
10. National Low Income Housing Coalition, The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Homes 2024: Median wait times for Housing Choice Vouchers range from approximately 1.5 to over 7 years depending on the PHA.
11. HHS, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) (acf.hhs.gov): LIHEAP provides energy assistance to households at or below 60% of state median income, regardless of whether they live in subsidized housing.
12. HUD, Admission Regulations for Public Housing and Voucher Programs (hud.gov): Federal rules mandate denial for lifetime sex offender registrants and persons convicted of meth production on federally assisted housing premises.
13. HUD Office of General Counsel, Guidance on Application of Fair Housing Act Standards to Use of Criminal Records (2016): HUD cautioned PHAs against blanket criminal record bans citing disparate impact concerns under the Fair Housing Act.
14. National Housing Law Project, Source of Income Protections (nhlp.org): Approximately 20 states and dozens of cities prohibit landlords from refusing voucher holders based solely on source of income.