How to Find Low-Income Housing Locations Near You

Finding where low-income housing is actually located starts with the local housing authority and HUD-affiliated housing search tools, then moves to specific buildings, complexes, and nonprofit providers in your area.

Quick summary: where low-income housing is usually located

  • Public housing: Apartments or townhomes owned by your city or county housing authority
  • Section 8 / Housing Choice Voucher units: Private rentals where landlords accept vouchers
  • Project-based Section 8 / Tax-credit properties: Specific buildings with permanently reduced rents
  • Specialized properties: Senior, disability, veteran, or supportive housing, often run by nonprofits
  • First stop is usually your local public housing authority (PHA) or your state housing agency website.

Rules, names of programs, and what’s available vary by state and city, so you always need to confirm using your local official sources.

Where to Look First: The Official Housing System

The main government system for low-income housing locations runs through:

  • Your local public housing authority (PHA)
  • Your state housing finance or housing department
  • The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which funds many of these programs

Key terms to know:

  • Public Housing Authority (PHA) — Local agency that manages public housing and most Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) programs.
  • Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) / Section 8 — A subsidy that helps pay rent in approved private-market units.
  • Project-based housing — A specific property where units themselves are subsidized; the subsidy doesn’t follow you if you move.
  • Income limits — Maximum income allowed to qualify, based on your area and household size.

To find locations in your area, search online for your city or county name plus “housing authority” and look for websites that end in .gov. On their site, there is typically a section labeled “Housing Programs,” “Public Housing,” “Housing Choice Voucher,” or “Affordable Housing List” that will show properties, addresses, or landlord listings.

Your state housing agency may also run an online “affordable housing locator” that lets you search by city, bedroom size, and income level; search for your state name plus “official housing search” or “state housing finance agency affordable rental search.”

How to Systematically Find Low-Income Housing Locations

Once you know which agencies handle housing in your area, use this step-by-step process to pinpoint actual addresses and properties, not just program names.

1. Start with your local Public Housing Authority website

Most PHAs maintain at least one of these:

  • Public housing property list with addresses and unit types
  • Maps of buildings or developments
  • Landlord/owner lists for Housing Choice Voucher–approved units
  • Downloadable PDFs listing affordable or subsidized complexes

Your first concrete action today:
Search for your city or county’s “public housing authority” and open the official .gov site, then click on the “Public Housing” or “Our Properties” section and make a list of all addresses within a reasonable distance from where you want to live.

What typically happens next: you’ll see each development with basic details (location, bedroom sizes, sometimes amenities and whether the wait list is open or closed). You can then decide which ones to contact directly for more information on current openings or application procedures.

2. Check your state’s official affordable housing locator

Many states run a central database for affordable rental properties, including:

  • Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) properties
  • Project-based Section 8 buildings
  • Some nonprofit-owned affordable units

On your state housing site, look for:

  • “Find Affordable Housing”
  • “Rental Search”
  • “Apartment Locator” or similar wording

These tools usually let you filter by:

  • County or city
  • Rent range or income level
  • Number of bedrooms
  • Sometimes special categories (senior, disabled, veteran, etc.)

After you enter your area information, expect a list of properties with names, addresses, and manager phone numbers or emails. Some listings will say whether they accept vouchers or have specific income limits.

3. Use HUD and nonprofit housing lists

HUD’s role is national, but it often links to:

  • Multifamily properties with HUD subsidies
  • Public housing authority contact lists
  • Continuum of Care or local homeless/housing networks

Nonprofit community agencies (such as community action agencies, Catholic Charities, or local housing nonprofits) often keep printed or PDF lists of low-income buildings, including:

  • SROs (single room occupancy)
  • Transitional housing
  • Supportive housing with services attached

To access these, call a local community action agency or 2-1-1 referral line and ask for:
“A current list of low-income or subsidized housing complexes and landlords in my area.”

What You Need to Prepare Before Calling or Visiting Properties

You often do not need a full application packet just to learn locations, but once you start contacting properties, managers will commonly ask for certain information right away.

Documents you’ll typically need:

  • Government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, state ID, or other official ID) to verify who you are.
  • Proof of income such as recent pay stubs, benefit award letters (SSI, SSDI, VA, unemployment), or a letter from an employer.
  • Current lease or eviction/notice-to-vacate documents if you are applying due to unsafe housing, overcrowding, or displacement (helping some programs prioritize your case).

Property managers or housing authority staff may also ask about:

  • Household size and ages (for bedroom size and occupancy rules)
  • Criminal background and rental history (evictions, prior landlords)
  • Immigration status for certain federally funded programs, though mixed-status families sometimes have partial eligibility

Even when you are only gathering location information, having these details ready speeds up the process if you find a property with an open wait list and want to apply immediately.

Step-by-Step: From “Where Are These Places?” to Contacting Them

Use this numbered sequence to move from a general search to actual contact with low-income housing locations.

  1. Identify your local housing authority and state housing agency.
    Search for your city/county name + “housing authority” and your state name + “housing finance agency”, and verify the sites end in .gov or clearly identify themselves as official state/local agencies.

  2. Download or write down property lists.
    From the housing authority’s “Public Housing,” “Properties,” or “Affordable Housing” page, copy down the names and addresses of developments that are within your target area; do the same for the state affordable housing search results.

  3. Check which properties match your situation.
    For each property on your list, note whether it is for families, seniors, disabled households, or general occupancy, and whether it accepts vouchers or is project-based, so you focus on locations you are actually eligible for.

  4. Call at least 2–3 property offices or management companies.
    Using the phone numbers listed by the housing authority or state site, call and say something like: “I found your property on the housing authority/state affordable housing list. Can you tell me if your wait list is open, and how I can get on it?”
    Expect them to tell you if the wait list is open or closed, whether they accept walk-ins, and what documents to bring or mail.

  5. Ask specifically for nearby voucher-friendly landlords if you have, or expect to get, a voucher.
    When talking to a PHA or property manager, ask: “Do you have a list of landlords or buildings in this area that regularly rent to Housing Choice Voucher holders?”
    Often, they will direct you to a landlord listing, online bulletin, or paper list at the office.

  6. Record wait-list details and follow application instructions exactly.
    Note application deadlines, office locations, and whether they require in-person, mail, or online applications.
    After you submit an application, you typically receive a confirmation letter or number and later a written notice when your name reaches the top of the list or if they need more information.

Real-World Friction to Watch For

Real-world friction to watch for
A common snag is that many public housing and voucher wait lists are closed for long stretches and only open briefly, which blocks you from applying at certain locations even though you qualify. The workaround is to get on every open list you can find in your region, sign up for email or text alerts from your housing authority, and ask staff how they announce new openings so you can act quickly when they appear.

How to Avoid Scams While Looking for Low-Income Housing Locations

Housing programs involve personal information and can include deposits or application fees, so scams are common.

Use these safeguards:

  • Only trust websites ending in .gov or clearly identified official housing authorities for program listings.
  • Be cautious with any site or person that demands large upfront fees just to “find” low-income housing; legitimate application fees are usually modest and clearly listed.
  • Do not send ID copies, Social Security numbers, or bank information to landlords or “locators” who are not associated with a property you can verify through a housing authority or state listing.
  • If someone guarantees approval or promises to “bump you up the list for a fee,” treat that as a red flag and report it to your housing authority or state consumer protection office.

Legitimate Places to Get Extra Help Finding Locations

If you’re stuck, there are several trusted help sources that work with the official housing system:

  • Local public housing authority front desk or customer service: You can ask, “Do you have a printed list or map of all your public housing and project-based properties?” and often pick one up in person.
  • State housing agency help line: Staff can usually direct you to regional lists of subsidized complexes or local housing partners.
  • 2-1-1 or local information/referral hotline: They commonly have up-to-date lists of low-income apartments, shelters, and transitional housing.
  • Legal aid or housing advocacy nonprofits: They can explain which types of properties are realistic for your income and situation and may know about smaller nonprofit-owned buildings not listed elsewhere.
  • Community action agencies: These organizations frequently manage or partner with affordable housing providers and can give you addresses and contact info plus help filling out applications.

Once you’ve contacted at least one housing authority, one state housing office or locator, and one local nonprofit, you will usually have a concrete list of actual low-income housing locations—public developments, subsidized properties, and voucher-friendly landlords—to start applying to through those official channels.