Types

• A vast majority of HUD's low-income housing stock comes from the Section 8 and public housing programs. Known as the Housing Choice Voucher Program, Section 8 allows low-income renters to seek rental housing from private landlords. In some cities, entire developments contain Section 8 units; these projects frequently cater exclusively to elderly benefit holders. HUD owns and operates public housing units, which take various shapes, ranging from large apartment complexes to scattered site single-family homes.
  
  

Process

• To apply for Section 8 or public housing assistance, applicants must contact their local HUD housing office. In most cities, filling out an application simply gets a family on the waiting list of their choice. Families can opt to get on the Section 8 and public housing waiting lists concurrently. Most applications ask for income details as well as details regarding household composition, including if any elderly individuals will live in the assisted unit. When a family's name reaches the top of a waiting list, a housing agency representative contacts the family and qualifies them on the basis of income and household makeup.
  
  

Income Calculations

• For Section 8 housing, a family cannot earn more than 50 percent of their area's median income. If they use a voucher to secure a rental, their share of the rent payment typically does not exceed 30 to 40 percent of their combined household income. For public housing, HUD accepts applications from families with earnings at or below 80 percent of their area's median. For each elderly family member, HUD allows applicants to deduct $400 from their annual income. Public housing residents pay different rates, but HUD tends to be toward the 30 percent of income standard.
  
  

Preferences

• Both programs allow local housing agencies to use preferences when placing families on and selecting them from a waiting list. While not all preferences deal with income and age, some do. For example, HUD requires housing offices to provide 75 percent of their Section 8 assistance to families with incomes at or below 30 percent of their area's median income. Many cities give preference to households who spend more than half of their income on rent as well as seniors. Some developments -- Section 8 and public housing -- only accept elderly dwellers.