Many people rent their home for flexibility, affordability, and lifestyle choices. According to the U.S. Census Bureau in 2019, over 36% of American households rent their home. Over the last five years, rental prices have increased at a rate that is hard to keep up with. Did you know there are options for both renting and owning a home?
The Housing Choice Voucher Program, is the federal government’s program for helping very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing. This program allows you to find your own housing, including single-family homes, townhomes, and apartments, as long as the landlord agrees to participate, and is not limited to units located in subsidized housing projects.
Have you lost your job or have long term financial issues due to COVID-19? You may qualify for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program.
Are you unsure about your housing situation? Do you need help deciding if you should keep renting or try to afford a mortgage? HUD sponsors the Housing Counseling Assistance Program, which provides housing counseling and advice for free or low cost to citizens. Visit the Talk to a Housing Counselor page to find an agency near you.
Finding housing assistance can be hard to do on your own. With so many types of loans, grants, and aid programs, it can be hard to know what is best for you and your family. This article is going to look at programs that help both homeowners and renters with housing needs.
Will you be moving soon? Learn more about Transferring Benefits Across States
Moving to a new state? Be sure to take the necessary steps to ensure you don’t miss out on your benefits. Many federal benefits will go with you when you move to a new state, so you will not have to reapply to keep getting your benefits. However, there are some programs that are managed through state governments, so they can’t be transferred from state to state. These programs include:
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Unemployment Insurance
- Medicaid
- Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
To learn more about these programs, click here.