Public Housing

Most public housing assistance is offered through a program called “Section 8” housing. The waiting list for Section 8 housing can sometimes be very long. Some public housing agencies have special programs for aged out foster youth or young adults in crisis that are easier to get into, such as the Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) voucher or the Family Unification Program (FUP) voucher. Talk to your transition support case manager and PAL staff about applying for those special programs with your regional youth housing liaison.

If there is no special program you qualify for and you would like to see if you are eligible for public housing assistance, contact your local public housing agency. You can find your local public housing agency through the Local Public Housing link at www.hud.gov. To apply for assistance from a public housing agency, you will need to set up an appointment. Be sure to ask what you need to take with you to the appointment. You should expect to bring a completed public housing application, the names and dates of birth of people who will be living with you, proper identification, contact information of current and past landlords, and proof of your income.

The public housing agency will review your application and the other information they asked you to bring to determine how much financial help for housing they can give you. If you qualify for assistance, you will receive a voucher to use to pay for housing. You will have to follow certain rules, meet deadlines, and stay in contact with the public housing agency in order to keep your voucher, so it is very important that you understand exactly what the public housing agency expects you to do.

Once you are given a housing voucher, the public housing program should give you a list of apartments or houses in your area that accept the assistance; your transition support case manager and local transition center can tell you about possible places as well. You should also check other sources, like online apartment rental sites, for possible rentals. Be sure to ask the public housing agency how long you might expect to wait before receiving assistance. You can find more information about public housing here.

Subsidized Housing

Subsidized housing means apartment owners are paid by the government to offer cheaper rent to people who have a low income. There are other types of subsidized housing, including private properties that receive federal tax credits. These properties provide affordable rental rates to tenants who meet their income guidelines. You can find affordable housing in your area and more details about their funding programs using the housing resource locator here.

Additional Housing Assistance

Texas has several foster youth transition centers located throughout the state. Each center offers information regarding housing assistance, group housing, and shelter. See Transition Centers for more information.