Public housing authorities (PHAs) determine eligibility based on an individual’s or family’s total annual gross income and family size. An applicant must be at least 18 years old, and a United States citizen or a noncitizen who has eligible immigration status. Single persons as well as families with or without children may apply.

The federal government’s Housing and Urban Development (HUD) agency commonly refers to any household as a “family.” A “family” can consist of one or more persons, and having children is not required to be considered a “family.” Eligible statuses include lawful permanent resident; registry immigrant; refugee or asylee; conditional entrant; parolee; withholding grantee; person granted 1986 amnesty status; resident of the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, or Guam; and victim or relative of a victim of trafficking.

In general, a qualifying applicant’s income may not exceed 50% of the median income for the county or metropolitan area in which they reside. Your local PHA can provide you with income limits for your area and family size.

If the PHA determines someone is eligible, they will be added to a waiting list. Waiting lists vary in length and time depending on local market conditions. PHAs establish their own specific preferences—veterans, victims of domestic violence and other statuses—for selecting waiting list applicants. They may close the list when it contains more families than can be assisted in the near future.