Introduction
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is the federal agency responsible for:
- Creating and funding most affordable housing policy and programs
- Helping improve and develop local communities
- Enforcing fair housing laws
HUD's annual budget provides funding for most of the programs described on this page. Depending on the program, HUD directs its funding to state governments; non-profit or private housing developers; Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) or other housing agencies. Because housing programs are administered by a variety of agencies, they have different income and eligibility rules and different application and program regulations.
Rental housing assistance available to low-income families and individuals can come in one of two models:
- Project-based assistance; or
- Tenant-based assistance
With project-based assistance, the rental subsidy is assigned to a specific housing unit, and any eligible household who moves into that unit will receive assistance to cover the portion of the rent that it cannot otherwise afford. Housing with project-based assistance is often built or developed with the purpose of accepting low-income tenants specifically.
Tenant-based assistance is a rental subsidy that moves with a household into any qualifying housing within a certain area. The housing can be — and is often — private housing that may not have been built or developed with the intention of accepting solely low-income tenants, but if the quality and cost of the unit falls within a certain range, then it may qualify.
HUD has created many programs that are based on these two core concepts, and has expanded them to include special programs for designated populations such as families trying to reunite with their children, people with disabilities, people who are homeless, and people who are elderly. Below are short descriptions of some of the most popular rental housing assistance programs available in Vermont.
Each program is for individuals and/or families who are low-income. This can be defined based on a variety of standards but usually is related to the Area Median Income (AMI). Eligible households for each program may be limited to those earning just 30% of the AMI, 50% of the AMI, or up to 80% of AMI. For more information on specific income eligibility as well as what assistance may be available, contact the agency listed within each description or the property manager of the specific development.