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Community and Internet Resources


Housing: Apartment Rental

Financial Assistance


National

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Section 8 page gives important information on Section 8 rental vouchers and rental certificates for people looking for funding for housing. The Section 8 rental voucher and rental certificate programs are the federal government's major programs for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to rent decent, safe and sanitary housing in the private market. Questions answered include: How do I apply? Am I Eligible? Federal preference and waiting list - What are they and how do they affect me? Rental vouchers and rental certificates - What are the differences and how do they function? Family share of rent versus the rent subsidy: Can I move and continue to receive Section 8 rental assistance? What are the roles of the tenant, the landlord, the housing agency and HUD? Also, they give contact information for public housing offices throughout the country.

State Listings

California

San Diego Housing Commission administers federal rental assistance programs that help low-income individuals obtain decent, affordable rental housing. Rental assistance programs include public and subsidized housing. For more information, call (619) 231-9400 or e-mail Sdhcinfo@sdhc.org.

Florida

Mending Hearts Charities promotes economic self-sufficiency and quality housing for the disabled, low-income and very low-income individuals/families in Orange County, Florida. They rent homes to families in the Holden Heights Community. Rental rates are 30-50% below market and they do not increase rents for the life of the tenancy. They also provide low monthly rental payment plans to families finding themselves in a temporary financial emergency. Tenants in need are also supplied with monthly food packages, as well as, health and beauty items. For more information, call (407) 843-4300 or e-mail mhcharities@aol.com.

Florida Housing Finance Corporation offers financial assistance to families and individuals in need of housing. They offer rental assistance for homes and apartments, home-buying programs and grants and several other special assistance programs. For more information, call (850) 488-4197.

Idaho

Idaho Housing and Finance Association (IHFA) administers federal rental assistance programs that help people with disabilities obtain decent, affordable rental housing. Their website offers information on the Section 8 Voucher program as well as public and subsidized housing. Their site also offers a directory of assisted housing (affordable and subsidized rentals), transitional housing and emergency shelter. For more information, call (208) 331-4882.

IHFA also offers the Accessibility Improvements Program, which provides people with disabilities with a grant to modify apartment units and homes with accessible features. Individuals may be eligible to receive up to $5000 in grant funds. This program is administered by Disability Action Center (north Idaho), Living Independence Network Corporation (southwest Idaho) and LIFE, Inc. (east Idaho). Contact the CIL nearest to you for more information.

Maryland

Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development offers a Rental Allowance Program. The Rental Allowance Program (RAP) provides monthly rent assistance for low-income families who are homeless or have an emergency housing need. The monthly payments are fixed amounts, depending upon the size of the family and the location of the rental unit. Payments can be received for up to 12 months, and may be extended under special circumstances. For more information, call (800) 756-0119 or e-mail customerservice@dhcd.state.md.us.

Nevada

Community Services Agency and Development Corporation, serving Northern Nevada, offers an emergency Rental Assistance program. As funding permits, CSA offers one-time assistance to help people who are in danger of eviction. This is sometimes available as a no-interest loan. For more information call (775) 786-6023.

Oregon

New Sign Housing Connections serves as an online clearinghouse of information for the Metro Portland area on affordable, accessible and special needs housing. Via this website you can search for apartments as well as housing services, including rent assistance.

Neighborhood House Inc., serving individuals and families residing in Southwest Portland, offers a temporary rent assistance program to assist families pay rent to prevent homelessness. Low income families with children or disabilities are given priority. For more information, call (503) 246-1663, ext. 103.

Texas

First United Methodist Church of Dallas offers the Emergency Financial Assistance Program for low-income households in danger of being evicted from their apartment. Grants of up to $150 to prevent eviction and up to $100 to prevent the disconnection of utility service may be granted to eligible households within the city of Dallas. Persons receiving financial assistance will be asked to attend a Household Budget Management Workshop at Crossroads Community Services. For more information, call (214) 560-2511 ext. 401 Mondays - Thursdays, 8:30am - 11:30am. You may also visit their offices between these hours at 1822 Young Street in Dallas, Texas (2 blocks E. of Dallas City Hall).

Canada

Co-Operative Housing Disability Trust is a loan program administered by the Community Housing Land Trust Foundation to assist people with disabilities who cannot afford to pay for their share when moving into housing co-ops. To be eligible for a Disability Trust Loan you must be a member of a British Columbia housing co-op, must have a permanent disability, and must demonstrate financial need. The loan, up to $750, need not be paid as long as the individual remains in the co-op and continues to have a financial hardship. For more information, call (604) 879-5111 ext. 141.

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