You planned to read The Guide’s recommendations, but past experiences have you wondering if you can afford an apartment or house in D.C.
The cost of housing is an obstacle that has ended many D.C. residents' dreams of living independently. You can use The Guide to address housing obstacles (or barriers) due to income. Finding affordable housing in D.C. on a fixed or low income takes time and persistence. In Step 1 of The Guide, planning, and patience were stressed. You do not want to miss an affordable or accessible housing opportunity because you quit searching due to frustration.
The Guide helps persons with disabilities stay focused on their housing goals. It provides information on housing assistance programs and resources to consider when income alone is not enough to rent or buy in D.C.
Housing assistance programs can be in the form of a rent subsidy; down-payment and closing costs help; property taxes abatement, utility assistance, and eviction and foreclosure prevention. A rent subsidy reduces the monthly rent for renters, and down-payment and closing costs assistance reduce the monthly mortgage payment for homebuyers. Below are examples of three housing assistance programs:
- Mainstream Voucher Program (Renters)- This is a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) federally funded program. These vouchers subsidize rents for non-elderly persons with disabilities. This program is like the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV), aka Section 8.
- Home Purchase Assistance Program (Homebuyers) – This program, aka HPAP, is funded by the District of Columbia government. Qualified, first-time homebuyers can receive down-payment and closing costs assistance via a loan to help with buying a home in D.C. You must live in the home as your primary residence. The loans are interest-free and, based on your income, you may qualify for no monthly mortgage payment if you do not sell, refinance, or take out equity (money) from your home.
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The Ticket to Work Program
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TICKET TO WORK FACTSHEETS |
- Rapid Rehousing Program (Homeless) – This is a short-term housing program for persons experiencing homelessness.
For detailed information about the programs mentioned above, please refer to the Resource Section in The Guide. This section also contains information about eligibility requirements.
Persons with no income can search for rentals based on income or public housing. These rentals may have waiting lists, and some lists may be closed. Understanding the high demand for housing based on income will help you avoid frustration. There are other options, and in Step 5 of The Guide, you will learn more about housing assistance programs for low-income or no-income households.