Income limits used to determine the income eligibility of applicants for assistance under three programs authorized by the National Housing Act. These programs are the Section 221(d)(3) Below Market Interest Rate (BMIR) rental program, the Section 235 program, and the Section 236 program. These income limits are listed by dollar amount and family size, and they are effective on the date issued. Due to the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-289), Income Limits used to determine qualification levels as well as set maximum rental rates for projects funded with tax credits authorized under section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code (the Code) and projects financed with tax exempt housing bonds issued to provide qualified residential rental development under section 142 of the Code (hereafter referred to as Multifamily Tax Subsidy Projects (MTSPs)) are now calculated and presented separately from the Section 8 income limits.

Thumbnail image by Tony Moody.This dataset includes all housing developments approved by the City of Boise’s (“city”) Planning Division since 2020 that are known by the city to have received or are expected to receive support or incentives from a government entity. Each row represents one development. Data may be unavailable for some projects and details are subject to change until construction is complete. Addresses are excluded for projects with fewer than five homes for privacy reasons.

The dataset includes details on the number of “homes” in a development. We use the word "home" to refer to any single unit of housing regardless of size, type, or whether it is rented or owned. For example, a building with 40 apartments counts as 40 homes, and a single detached house counts as one home.

The dataset includes details about the phase of each project. The process for build a new development is as follows: First, one must receive approval from the city’s Planning Division, which is also known as being “entitled.” Next, one must apply for and receive a permit from the city’s Building Division before beginning construction. Finally, once construction is complete and all city inspections have been passed, the building can be occupied.

The dataset also includes data on the affordability level of each development. To receive a government incentive, a developer is typically required to rent or sell a specified number of homes to households that have an income below limits set by the government and their housing cost must not exceed 30% of their income. The federal government determines income limits based on a standard called “area median income.” The city considers housing affordable if is targeted to households earning at or below 80% of the area median income. For a three-person household in Boise, that equates to an annual income of $60,650 and monthly rent or mortgage of $1,516. See Boise Income Guidelines for more details.Project Address(es) – Includes all addresses that are included as part of the development project.Address – The primary address for the development.Parcel Number(s) – The identification code for all parcels of land included in the development.Acreage – The number of acres for the parcel(s) included in the project.Planning Permit Number – The identification code for all permits the development has received from the Planning Division for the City of Boise. The number and types of permits required vary based on the location and type of development.Date Entitled – The date a development was approved by the City’s Planning Division.Building Permit Number – The identification code for all permits the development has received from the city’s Building Division.Date Building Permit Issued – Building permits are required to begin construction on a development.Date Final Certificate of Occupancy Issued – A certificate of occupancy is the final approval by the city for a development, once construction is complete. Not all developments require a certificate of occupancy.Studio – The number of homes in the development that are classified as a studio. A studio is typically defined as a home in which there is no separate bedroom. A single room serves as both a bedroom and a living room.1-Bedroom – The number of homes in a development that have exactly one bedroom.2-Bedroom – The number of homes in a development that have exactly two bedrooms.3-Bedroom – The number of homes in a development that have exactly three bedrooms.4+ Bedroom – The number of homes in a development that have four or more bedrooms.# of Total Project Units – The total number of homes in the development.# of units toward goals – The number of homes in a development that contribute to either the city’s goal to produce housing affordable at or under 60% of area median income, or the city’s goal to create permanent supportive housing for households experiencing homelessness.Rent at or under 60% AMI - The number of homes in a development that are required to be rented at or below 60% of area median income. See the description of the dataset above for an explanation of area median income or see Boise Income Guidelines for more details. Boise defines a home as “affordable” if it is rented or sold at or below 80% of area median income.Rent 61-80% AMI – The number of homes in a development that are required to be rented at between 61% and 80% of area median income. See the description of the dataset above for an explanation of area median income or see Boise Income Guidelines for more details. Boise defines a home as “affordable” if it is rented or sold at or below 80% of area median income.Rent 81-120% AMI - The number of homes in a development that are required to be rented at between 81% and 120% of area median income. See the description of the dataset above for an explanation of area median income or see Boise Income Guidelines for more details.Own at or under 60% AMI - The number of homes in a development that are required to be sold at or below 60% of area median income. See the description of the dataset above for an explanation of area median income or see Boise Income Guidelines for more details. Boise defines a home as “affordable” if it is rented or sold at or below 80% of area median income.Own 61-80% AMI – The number of homes in a development that are required to be sold at between 61% and 80% of area median income. See the description of the dataset above for an explanation of area median income or see Boise Income Guidelines for more details. Boise defines a home as “affordable” if it is rented or sold at or below 80% of area median income.Own 81-120% AMI - The number of homes in a development that are required to be sold at between 81% and 120% of area median income. See the description of the dataset above for an explanation of area median income or see Boise Income Guidelines for more details.Housing Land Trust – “Yes” if a development receives or is expected to receive this incentive. The Housing Land Trust is a model in which the city owns land that it leases to a developer to build affordable housing.City Investment – “Yes” if the city invests funding or contributes land to an affordable development.Zoning Incentive - The city's zoning code provides incentives for developers to create affordable housing. Incentives may include the ability to build an extra floor or be subject to reduced parking requirements. “Yes” if a development receives or is expected to receive one of these incentives.Project Management - The city provides a developer and their design team a single point of contact who works across city departments to simplify the permitting process, and assists the applicants in understanding the city’s requirements to avoid possible delays. “Yes” if a development receives or is expected to receive this incentive.Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) - A federal tax credit available to some new affordable housing developments. The Idaho Housing and Finance Association is a quasi-governmental agency that administers these federal tax credits. “Yes” if a development receives or is expected to receive this incentive.CCDC Investment - The Capital City Development Corp (CCDC) is a public agency that financially supports some affordable housing development in Urban Renewal Districts. “Yes” if a development receives or is expected to receive this incentive. If “Yes” the field identifies the Urban Renewal District associated with the development.City Goal – The city has set goals to produce housing affordable to households at or below 60% of area median income, and to create permanent supportive housing for households experiencing homelessness. This field identifies whether a development contributes to one of those goals.Project Phase - The process for build a new development is as follows: First, one must receive approval from the city’s Planning Division, which is also known as being “entitled.” Next, one must apply for and receive a permit from the city’s Building Division before beginning construction. Finally, once construction is complete and all city inspections have been passed, the building can be occupied.

This statistic depicts the maximum monthly income limits for government-subsidized rental housing eligibility in Hong Kong as of **********, by family size. According to the source, the maximum monthly income limit for a family of three people to be eligible to receive government-subsidized rental housing in Hong Kong was ****** Hong Kong dollars.

The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) is the most important resource for creating affordable housing in the United States today. The LIHTC database, created by HUD and available to the public since 1997, contains information on 48,672 projects and 3.23 million housing units placed in service since 1987. Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Qualified Census Tracts must have 50 percent of households with incomes below 60 percent of the Area Median Gross Income (AMGI) or have a poverty rate of 25 percent or more. Difficult Development Areas (DDA) are areas with high land, construction and utility costs relative to the area median income and are based on Fair Market Rents, income limits, the 2010 census counts, and 5-year American Community Survey (ACS) data.

The Housing Affordability Data System (HADS) is a set of files derived from the 1985 and later national American Housing Survey (AHS) and the 2002 and later Metro AHS. This system categorizes housing units by affordability and households by income, with respect to the Adjusted Median Income, Fair Market Rent (FMR), and poverty income. It also includes housing cost burden for owner and renter households. These files have been the basis for the worst case needs tables since 2001. The data files are available for public use, since they were derived from AHS public use files and the published income limits and FMRs. These dataset give the community of housing analysts the opportunity to use a consistent set of affordability measures. The most recent year HADS is available as a Public Use File (PUF) is 2013. For 2015 and beyond, HADS is only available as an IUF and can no longer be released on a PUF. Those seeking access to more recent data should reach to the listed point of contact.

The Housing Affordability Index value in the United States plummeted in 2022, surpassing the historical record of ***** index points in 2006. In 2024, the housing affordability index measured **** index points, making it the second-worst year for homebuyers since the start of the observation period. What does the Housing Affordability Index mean? The Housing Affordability Index uses data provided by the National Association of Realtors (NAR). It measures whether a family earning the national median income can afford the monthly mortgage payments on a median-priced existing single-family home. An index value of 100 means that a family has exactly enough income to qualify for a mortgage on a home. The higher the index value, the more affordable a house is to a family. Key factors that drive the real estate market Income, house prices, and mortgage rates are some of the most important factors influencing homebuyer sentiment. When incomes increase, consumer power also increases. The median household income in the United States declined in 2022, affecting affordability. Additionally, mortgage interest rates have soared, adding to the financial burden of homebuyers. The sales price of existing single-family homes in the U.S. has increased year-on-year since 2011 and reached ******* U.S. dollars in 2023.

The affordable rental housing developments listed below are supported by the City of Chicago to maintain affordability standards. For information on rents, income requirements and availability, contact each property directly. For information on other affordable rental properties in Chicago and Illinois, call (877) 428-8844, or visit www.ILHousingSearch.org.

California State Income Limits reflect updated median income and household income levels for acutely low-, extremely low-, very low-, low- and moderate-income households for California’s 58 counties (required by Health and Safety Code Section 50093). These income limits apply to State and local affordable housing programs statutorily linked to HUD income limits and differ from income limits applicable to other specific federal, State, or local programs.

A Home for Everyone is the City of Boise’s (city) initiative to address needs in the community by supporting the development and preservation of housing affordable to residents on Boise budgets. A Home for Everyone has three core goals: produce new homes affordable at 60% of area median income, create permanent supportive housing for households experiencing homelessness, and preserve home affordable at 80% of area median income. This dataset includes information about all homes that count toward the city’s Home for Everyone goals.

While the “produce affordable housing” and “create permanent supportive housing” goals are focused on supporting the development of new housing, the preservation goal is focused on maintaining existing housing affordable. As a result, many of the data fields related to new development are not relevant to preservation projects. For example, zoning incentives are only applicable to new construction projects.

Data may be unavailable for some projects and details are subject to change until construction is complete. Addresses are excluded for projects with fewer than five homes for privacy reasons.

The dataset includes details on the number of “homes”. We use the word "home" to refer to any single unit of housing regardless of size, type, or whether it is rented or owned. For example, a building with 40 apartments counts as 40 homes, and a single detached house counts as one home.

The dataset includes details about the phase of each project when a project involves constructing new housing. The process for building a new development is as follows: First, one must receive approval from the city’s Planning Division, which is also known as being “entitled.” Next, one must apply for and receive a permit from the city’s Building Division before beginning construction. Finally, once construction is complete and all city inspections have been passed, the building can be occupied.

To contribute to a city goal, homes must meet affordability requirements based on a standard called area median income. The city considers housing affordable if is targeted to households earning at or below 80% of the area median income. For a three-person household in Boise, that equates to an annual income of $60,650 and monthly housing cost of $1,516. Deeply affordable housing sets the income limit at 60% of area median income, or even 30% of area median income. See Boise Income Guidelines for more details.Project Name – The name of each project. If a row is related to the Home Improvement Loan program, that row aggregates data for all homes that received a loan in that quarter or year. Primary Address – The primary address for the development. Some developments encompass multiple addresses.Project Address(es) – Includes all addresses that are included as part of the development project.Parcel Number(s) – The identification code for all parcels of land included in the development.Acreage – The number of acres for the parcel(s) included in the project.Planning Permit Number – The identification code for all permits the development has received from the Planning Division for the City of Boise. The number and types of permits required vary based on the location and type of development.Date Entitled – The date a development was approved by the City’s Planning Division.Building Permit Number – The identification code for all permits the development has received from the city’s Building Division.Date Building Permit Issued – Building permits are required to begin construction on a development.Date Final Certificate of Occupancy Issued – A certificate of occupancy is the final approval by the city for a development, once construction is complete. Not all developments require a certificate of occupancy.Studio – The number of homes in the development that are classified as a studio. A studio is typically defined as a home in which there is no separate bedroom. A single room serves as both a bedroom and a living room.1-Bedroom – The number of homes in a development that have exactly one bedroom.2-Bedroom – The number of homes in a development that have exactly two bedrooms.3-Bedroom – The number of homes in a development that have exactly three bedrooms.4+ Bedroom – The number of homes in a development that have four or more bedrooms.# of Total Project Units – The total number of homes in the development.# of units toward goals – The number of homes in a development that contribute to either the city’s goal to produce housing affordable at or under 60% of area median income, or the city’s goal to create permanent supportive housing for households experiencing homelessness. Rent at or under 60% AMI - The number of homes in a development that are required to be rented at or below 60% of area median income. See the description of the dataset above for an explanation of area median income or see Boise Income Guidelines for more details. Boise defines a home as “affordable” if it is rented or sold at or below 80% of area median income.Rent 61-80% AMI – The number of homes in a development that are required to be rented at between 61% and 80% of area median income. See the description of the dataset above for an explanation of area median income or see Boise Income Guidelines for more details. Boise defines a home as “affordable” if it is rented or sold at or below 80% of area median income.Rent 81-120% AMI - The number of homes in a development that are required to be rented at between 81% and 120% of area median income. See the description of the dataset above for an explanation of area median income or see Boise Income Guidelines for more details.Own at or under 60% AMI - The number of homes in a development that are required to be sold at or below 60% of area median income. See the description of the dataset above for an explanation of area median income or see Boise Income Guidelines for more details. Boise defines a home as “affordable” if it is rented or sold at or below 80% of area median income.

This dataset provides information about the median family income in Austin (SD23 measure EOA.B.6). Median family income (MFI) is calculated annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help set income limits that determine eligibility for assisted housing programs. This dataset includes the MFI calculated by HUD for the Austin-Round Rock MSA and the United States. For years prior to FY 2016, HUD reported on the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos MSA instead of the Austin-Round Rock MSA. This information is important in understanding economic and affordability trends in Austin. Additionally, the Housing and Planning Department uses median family income data in setting income limits for affordable housing programs in Austin. View more details and insights related to this dataset on the story page: https://data.austintexas.gov/stories/s/Median-Family-Income/r93e-edn2

The rental housing developments listed below are among the thousands of affordable units that are supported by City of Chicago programs to maintain affordability in local neighborhoods. The list is updated periodically when construction is completed for new projects or when the compliance period for older projects expire, typically after 30 years. The list is provided as a courtesy to the public. It does not include every City-assisted affordable housing unit that may be available for rent, nor does it include the hundreds of thousands of naturally occurring affordable housing units located throughout Chicago without City subsidies. For information on rents, income requirements and availability for the projects listed, contact each property directly. For information on other affordable rental properties in Chicago and Illinois, call (877) 428-8844, or visit www.ILHousingSearch.org.

The dataset contains current data on low rent and Section 8 units in PHA's administered by HUD. The Section 8 Rental Voucher Program increases affordable housing choices for very low-income households by allowing families to choose privately owned rental housing. Through the Section 8 Rental Voucher Program, the administering housing authority issues a voucher to an income-qualified household, which then finds a unit to rent. If the unit meets the Section 8 quality standards, the PHA then pays the landlord the amount equal to the difference between 30 percent of the tenant's adjusted income (or 10 percent of the gross income or the portion of welfare assistance designated for housing) and the PHA-determined payment standard for the area. The rent must be reasonable compared with similar unassisted units.

This data, maintained by the Mayor’s Office of Housing (MOH), is an inventory of all income-restricted units in the city. This data includes public housing owned by the Boston Housing Authority (BHA), privately- owned housing built with funding from DND and/or on land that was formerly City-owned, and privately-owned housing built without any City subsidy, e.g., created using Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) or as part of the Inclusionary Development Policy (IDP). Information is gathered from a variety of sources, including the City's IDP list, permitting and completion data from the Inspectional Services Department (ISD), newspaper advertisements for affordable units, Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation’s (CEDAC) Expiring Use list, and project lists from the BHA, the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), MassHousing, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), among others. The data is meant to be as exhaustive and up-to-date as possible, but since many units are not required to report data to the City of Boston, MOH is constantly working to verify and update it. See the data dictionary for more information on the structure of the data and important notes. The database only includes units that have a deed-restriction. It does not include tenant-based (also known as mobile) vouchers, which subsidize rent, but move with the tenant and are not attached to a particular unit. There are over 22,000 tenant-based vouchers in the city of Boston which provide additional affordability to low- and moderate-income households not accounted for here. The Income-Restricted Housing report can be directly accessed here:
https://www.boston.gov/sites/default/files/file/2023/04/Income%20Restricted%20Housing%202022_0.pdf

Learn more about income-restricted housing (as well as other types of affordable housing) here: https://www.boston.gov/affordable-housing-boston#income-restricted

This statistic depicts the maximum monthly income limits for government-subsidized rental housing eligibility in Hong Kong as of **********, by household size (of unrelated elderly individuals aged 60 and over). According to the source, the maximum monthly income limit for a household of five unrelated elderly people was ****** Hong Kong dollars in order to apply for a government-subsidized flat in Hong Kong.

This map shows households that spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing, a threshold widely used by many affordable housing advocates and official government sources including Housing and Urban Development. Census asks about income and housing costs to understand whether housing is affordable in local communities. When housing is not sufficient or not affordable, income data helps communities:

• Enroll eligible households in programs designed to assist them.
• Qualify for grants from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnership Program, Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG), Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA), and other programs.

Map opens in Atlanta. Use the bookmarks or search bar to view other cities. Data is symbolized to show the relationship between burdensome housing costs for owner households with a mortgage and renter households:

This map uses these hosted feature layers containing the most recent American Community Survey data. These layers are part of the ArcGIS Living Atlas, and are updated every year when the American Community Survey releases new estimates, so values in the map always reflect the newest data available.

The housing affordability measure illustrates the relationship between income and housing costs. A household that spends 30% or more of its collective monthly income to cover housing costs is considered to be “housing cost-burden[ed].”[1] Those spending between 30% and 49.9% of their monthly income are categorized as “moderately housing cost-burden[ed],” while those spending more than 50% are categorized as “severely housing cost-burden[ed].”[2]

How much a household spends on housing costs affects the household’s overall financial situation. More money spent on housing leaves less in the household budget for other needs, such as food, clothing, transportation, and medical care, as well as for incidental purchases and saving for the future.

The estimated housing costs as a percentage of household income are categorized by tenure: all households, those that own their housing unit, and those that rent their housing unit.

Throughout the period of analysis, the percentage of housing cost-burdened renter households in Champaign County was higher than the percentage of housing cost-burdened homeowner households in Champaign County. All three categories saw year-to-year fluctuations between 2005 and 2023, and none of the three show a consistent trend. However, all three categories were estimated to have a lower percentage of housing cost-burdened households in 2023 than in 2005.

Data on estimated housing costs as a percentage of monthly income was sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) 1-Year Estimates, which are released annually.

As with any datasets that are estimates rather than exact counts, it is important to take into account the margins of error (listed in the column beside each figure) when drawing conclusions from the data.

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, instead of providing the standard 1-year data products, the Census Bureau released experimental estimates from the 1-year data in 2020. This includes a limited number of data tables for the nation, states, and the District of Columbia. The Census Bureau states that the 2020 ACS 1-year experimental tables use an experimental estimation methodology and should not be compared with other ACS data. For these reasons, and because data is not available for Champaign County, no data for 2020 is included in this Indicator.

For interested data users, the 2020 ACS 1-Year Experimental data release includes a dataset on Housing Tenure.

[1] Schwarz, M. and E. Watson. (2008). Who can afford to live in a home?: A look at data from the 2006 American Community Survey. U.S. Census Bureau.

[2] Ibid.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2023 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table B25106; generated by CCRPC staff; using data.census.gov; (17 October 2024).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2022 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table B25106; generated by CCRPC staff; using data.census.gov; (22 September 2023).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2021 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table B25106; generated by CCRPC staff; using data.census.gov; (30 September 2022).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2019 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table B25106; generated by CCRPC staff; using data.census.gov; (10 June 2021).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2018 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table B25106; generated by CCRPC staff; using data.census.gov; (10 June 2021).;U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2017 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table B25106; generated by CCRPC staff; using American FactFinder; (13 September 2018).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2016 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table B25106; generated by CCRPC staff; using American FactFinder; (14 September 2017).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2015 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table B25106; generated by CCRPC staff; using American FactFinder; (19 September 2016).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2014 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table B25106; generated by CCRPC staff; using American FactFinder; (16 March 2016).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2013 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table B25106; generated by CCRPC staff; using American FactFinder; (16 March 2016).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2012 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table B25106; generated by CCRPC staff; using American FactFinder; (16 March 2016).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table B25106; generated by CCRPC staff; using American FactFinder; (16 March 2016).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2010 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table B25106; generated by CCRPC staff; using American FactFinder; (16 March 2016).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2009 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table B25106; generated by CCRPC staff; using American FactFinder; (16 March 2016).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2008 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table B25106; generated by CCRPC staff; using American FactFinder; 16 March 2016).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2007 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table B25106; generated by CCRPC staff; using American FactFinder; (16 March 2016).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2006 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table B25106; generated by CCRPC staff; using American FactFinder; (16 March 2016).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2005 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table B25106; generated by CCRPC staff; using American FactFinder; (16 March 2016).

This dataset contains multifamily affordable and market-rate housing sites (typically 5+ units) in the City of Detroit that have been built or rehabbed since 2015, or are currently under construction. Most sites are rental housing, though some are for sale. The data are collected from developers, other government departments and agencies, and proprietary data sources in order to track new multifamily and affordable housing construction and rehabilitation occurring in throughout the city, in service of the City's multifamily affordable housing goals. Data are compiled by various teams within the Housing and Revitalization Department (HRD), led by the Preservation Team. This dataset reflects HRD's current knowledge of multifamily units under construction in the city and will be updated as the department's knowledge changes. For more information about the City's multifamily affordable housing policies and goals, visit here.Affordability level for affordable units are measured by the percentage of the Area Median Income (AMI) that a household could earn for that unit to be considered affordable for them. For example, a unit that rents at a 60% AMI threshold would be affordable to a household earning 60% or less of the median income for the area. Rent affordability is typically defined as housing costs consuming 30% or less of monthly income. Regulated housing programs are designed to serve households based on certain income benchmarks relative to AMI, and these income benchmarks vary based on household size. Detroit city's AMI levels are set by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the Detroit-Warren-Livonia, MI Metro Fair Market Rent (FMR) area. For more information on AMI in Detroit, visit here.

Total new and existing affordable housing reported since the implementation of Proposition R. Proposition R has two requirements regarding affordable housing. First, it requires that 30 percent of all multifamily housing completed in each fiscal year be affordable to low-and moderate-income households. Second, Proposition R requires that at least one-half of the total affordable housing completed be affordable for low-income households.

Income limits by household size for public housing

Since passage of the U.S. Housing Act of 1937, the federal government has provided housing assistance to low-income renters. Most of these housing subsidies were provided under programs administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or predecessor agencies. All programs covered in this report provide subsidies that reduce rents for low-income tenants who meet program eligibility requirements. Generally, households pay rent equal to 30 percent of their incomes, after deductions, while the federal government pays the remainder of rent or rental costs. To qualify for a subsidy, an applicant’s income must initially fall below a certain income limit. These income limits are HUD-determined, location specific, and vary by household size. Applicants for housing assistance are usually placed on a waiting list until a subsidized unit becomes available.Assistance provided under HUD programs falls into three categories: public housing, tenant-based, and privately owned, project-based.In public housing, local housing agencies receive allocations of HUD funding to build, operate or make improvements to housing. The housing is owned by the local agencies. Public housing is a form of project-based subsidy because households may receive assistance only if they agree to live at a particular public housing project.Currently, tenant based assistance is the most prevalent form of housing assistance provided. Historically, tenant based assistance began with the Section 8 certificate and voucher programs, which were created in 1974 and 1983, respectively. These programs were replaced by the Housing Choice Voucher program, under legislation enacted in 1998. Tenant based programs allow participants to find and lease housing in the private market. Local public housing agencies (PHAs) and some state agencies serving as PHAs enter into contracts with HUD to administer the programs. The PHAs then enter into contracts with private landlords. The housing must meet housing quality standards and other program requirements. The subsidies are used to supplement the rent paid by low-income households. Under tenant-based programs, assisted households may move and take their subsidy with them. The primary difference between certificates and vouchers is that under certificates, there was a maximum rent which the unit may not exceed. By contrast, vouchers have no specific maximum rent; the low-income household must pay any excess over the payment standard, an amount that is determined locally and that is based on the Fair Market Rent. HUD calculates the Fair Market Rent based on the 40th percentile of the gross rents paid by recent movers for non-luxury units meeting certain quality standards.The third major type of HUD rental assistance is a collection of programs generally referred to as multifamily assisted, or, privately-owned, project-based housing. These types of housing assistance fall under a collection of programs created during the last four decades. What these programs have in common is that they provide rental housing that is owned by private landlords who enter into contracts with HUD in order to receive housing subsidies. The subsidies pay the difference between tenant rent and total rental costs. The subsidy arrangement is termed project-based because the assisted household may not take the subsidy and move to another location. The single largest project-based program was the Section 8 program, which was created in 1974. This program allowed for new construction and substantial rehabilitation that was delivered through a wide variety of financing mechanisms. An important variant of project-based Section 8 was the Loan Management Set Aside (LMSA) program, which was provided in projects financed under Federal Housing Administration (FHA) programs that were not originally intended to provide deep subsidy rental assistance. Projects receiving these LMSA “piggyback” subsidies were developed under the Section 236 program, the Section 221(d)(3) Below Market Interest Rate (BMIR) program, and others that were unassisted when originally developed.Picture of Subsidized Households does not cover other housing subsidy programs, such as those of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Housing Service, unless they also receive subsidies referenced above. Other programs such as Indian Housing, HOME and Community Develo