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Find Affordable Rental Housing

Housing instability continues to be a major challenge throughout the State of Oregon. The lack of safe affordable housing can negatively impact all areas of a person's life.

If you're not sure who's involved in rental housing, learn more on our roles and responsibilities page.

Below are links to search for affordable rental housing in Oregon. As you contact the different offices, be sure to inquire about all the eligibility requirements and wait lists.

Affordable Housing, General Lists

211info empowers Oregon and Southwest Washington communities. This service helps people identify, navigate and connect with the local resources they need.​

​https://www.211info.org​​

 Talk with a Housing Counselor: Find one near you.

OHCS funds affordable housing developments statewide. We keep a list of all the projects funded through our Notice of Funding Availability process. Most properties offer a part of their units to those below 60 percent median income.

​Applicants apply directly ​with the apartment rental offices.

​​Affordable Housing List, by County,​ all funded programs​ 

 Talk with a Housing Counselor: Find one near you.​

Oregon Community Action Agencies (CAAs) offer a variety of programs to serve low-income children, families, and seniors.

Many CAAs own, manage or have developed affordable housing complexes. They build affordable housing units for individuals, families, seniors, and people with disabilities.​


Community Development Corporation​ (CDCs) housing is generally more affordable than privately owned rentals. CDCs offer their services to medium and low income people. They may offer apartments, houses, or both for rent at below market rates.

Community Development Corporation housing is generally more affordable than privately owned rentals. CDCs offer their services to medium and low-income people. They may offer apartments, houses, or both for rent at below market rates.

There are often a waiting lists and waiting lists vary in length. Don’t be put off by a waiting list. Put your name on as many as you can. Keep track of your application. Call the manager periodically to see where you are on the list. Update them if your contact information changes while you are on the waitlist. Putting your name on a waiting list does not require you to accept an offer of housing.

Although there are no guarantees, CDCs may be more open to some screening barriers like bad credit and eviction. Private market, for-profit landlords may not be as open. Different CDCs may have different criteria for who they try to provide housing for.

Some Portland metro area CDCs are listed below: 

OHCS partners with Oregon Housing Centers. These Centers offer housing counseling services to help low and moderate-income families. They can help you find affordable rental housing and other living resources.

Housing for Persons with Disabilities

Source: https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/housing

How Do I Apply?
Contact your local public housing agency's office​ to find out more about this program. You can also find out which properties are available. 

About the Program
This program enables those with disabilities to live as independently as possible. They can live in a housing environment that provides supportive services. Services may include:
  • Personal assistance
  • Meals
  • Housekeeping
  • Counseling
  • Training in independent living skills
  • Recreation and transportation.
HUD awards funds to private non-profit organizations. They use the funds to construct or rehabilitate supportive housing for persons with disabilities. There are two types of funding programs:
  • Projects funded by capital advances 
  • Projects funded by Project Rental Assistance.
Who is Eligible?
  • Those who are 18 and older and are p​hysically, mentally, emotionally and/or developmentally disabled. 
  • Households must be very low-income (50% of median income) with at least one adult member with a disability.
  • The Project Rental Assistance Program residents must be extremely low-income (30% of median income). There must be at least one adult member with a disability. 
  • Median household income for residents is $9,204.
Housing

Group homes of eight or fewer units are typically single-family structures. They combine multiple bedrooms with a kitchen and shared living area. There is at least one bathroom for every four residents.

Condominium or cooperative units are independent living facilities. They can be cooperatively owned by the residents.

Independent living complexes consist of 16 or fewer units. In these units, each dwelling contains a kitchen and bathroom. This housing may also contain congregate dining, laundry, and community areas.

Rent Amount

Providers determine rent amount at 30% of adjusted monthly income.

Subsidized Housing

Source: https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/housing

How Do I Apply?

Apply at your local PHA. They will collect information on:
  • Family income
  • Tax returns
  • Bank statements
  • Social Security
  • Assets
  • Family composition. 
  • Other considerations including: 
    • Medical expenses
    • Health insurance payments
    • Prescriptions
    • Future medical expenses
Once you apply, you are placed on a waiting list. Because of the demand, waiting lists are often several years long. Ask that your application to be pre-qualified for income—that way you know ahead of time if you qualify. And ask about local preferences (e.g. you are involuntarily displaced, paying more than 50% rent, etc.). You can find your local HUD PHA here.​​

About the Program
The Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) provides rent vouchers for housing in the private market. This program is for low-income individuals, families, the elderly and the disabled. It is the largest assisted housing program administered by HUD.
HUD links these vouchers to specific properties run by local Public Housing Agencies (PHAs)​. 

There are two kinds of vouchers: tenant-based and project-based.

  1. Tenant-based vouchers move with the renter. 
  2. HUD assigns Project-based vouchers to particular units and buildings. These vouchers are not transferable.

​Who is Eligible?
There is no age requirement. 
  • Families or individuals who meet the extremely low-income requirements (30% of the area's median)
  • Very-low-income (50% of area median) based on total gross income. In some cases, those with low income (80% of area median) are eligible.
  • When assessing eligibility, the program counts income such as: 
    • Pensions
    • Retirement accounts
    • IRAs
    • Insurance annuities
    • Assets such as real estate, cars, etc. 
​Housing
Depending on your location, housing options can include:
  • Single-family homes
  • Townhouses
  • Apartments
Individuals can pick anywhere they want to live as long as the owner agrees to rent using the program's guidelines.

On a mobile device? Find project-based properties near you (turn location services ON).

Rent Amounts
The program calculates rental amount using the greatest of:
  • 30% of monthly adjusted income
  • 10% of monthly income
  • The welfare rent in as-paid states
  • Or the PHA minimum rent ($25 or up to $50).
PHAs pay the property owner directly and the residents pay the difference to the property owner.

​The Housing Choice Landlord Guarantee Program provides financial assistance to landlords. These funds mitigate damages caused by tenants as a result of their occupancy. This applies after July 1, 2014, under the HUD Housing Choice Voucher Program, also known as Section 8.

Learn more and apply for assistance here.​

Some apartment buildings offer low-income individuals to rent at cheaper-than-normal rates. This is sometimes known as subsidized housing or affordable housing. Subsidized housing usually targets households earning about 50% of the area’s medium income. This can vary significantly from location to location.

Qualifying for income-restricted housing depends on the area and federal, state, and local programs. Tenants must meet limited-income requirements to rent such apartments. Always check the building’s website to figure out what the requirements are.

Qualifying requirements often vary among apartment buildings and areas of the state. It depends on specific federal or local programs. Some rentals might have a maximum $20,000 annual salary, while others might be $40,000 or higher. Rental buildings also have a minimum income requirement. Potential tenants with extremely low income can use other sources of income. Students, for instance, might have income from parents or college grants and scholarships.

Finding income-restricted units can be tricky since they are not listed in a group in any one place. They are frequently embedded in mixed-income housing with market rate units. Some income-restricted apartment buildings are located near or next to no-restriction buildings. They often appear just as attractive. 

You can also find low-income units online through apartment search guides. Use terms like “income-restricted,” “affordable,” and “subsidized” to filter through. If you see nice-looking apartments with various amenities at lower rates than normal for the area, they might be income restricted.

Below are just some of the apartment locations listed throughout Oregon. These apartments offer income-restricted units. A quick search on these sites can go a long way to find units opening up near you:
  • Apartments.com
  • Craigslist
  • Apartment Finder
Use search terms like “low income,” “income restricted,” “affordable” and “subsidized” to find units available near you.

​Some apartment buildings that offer income-restricted units are:

Ashland
Ashley Garden Apartments
Ashley Senior Center Apts (Senior-focused)
Stratford Apartments

Beaverton
Quatama Crossing
BriarCreek Apartment

Eugene
Sorgenfri & Hawthorne Park Retirement Community (Senior-focused)
Willamette Gardens
Mary Skinner Apts
Walnut Park Duplexes
Oak Leaf Village

Portland
The Sitka Apartments (Downtown Portland)
The Yards at Union Station Apartments (Downtown Portland)
38 Davis (Downtown Portland)
Rockwood Station Apartments (East Portland/Gresham)
Uptown Tower Apartments (Senior-focused, SW Portland)
Collins Circle Apartments (Downtown Portland)​
Pearl Court Apartments (NW Portland)
Pier Park Apartments (North Portland)
Hamilton West Apartments (Downtown Portland)
Kaskela Manor Apartments (NE Portland)

Medford
Conifer Gardens
Spring Streets Apartments

There are a number of small and medium-sized buildings where everyone in the building pays about a third of their income for rent. You apply for housing directly with the apartment landlord office.​

Are you on a mobile device? You can get a list of the buildings in your area by visiting their searchable website. (Turn location services ON.)

Public housing is rental housing for low-income families, the elderly and those with disabilities. HUD administers funding to local Public Housing Agencies that manage the housing. Over 1 million families live in public housing.

Who is Eligible?
Low-income families (80% of median) and individuals including the elderly and those with a disability. Income limits will vary based on area. Your local PHA can provide those limits.

Once you are accepted in public housing, you must live in the community where you are accepted.

Type of Housing
Public housing can include everything from single-family homes, to duplexes to high-rise apartments.

Rent Amount
Rent is referred to as Total Tenant Payment (TTP) and calculated using the greatest of:
  • 30% of monthly adjusted income
  • 10% of monthly income
  • The welfare rent in as-paid states
  • Or the PHA minimum rent ($25 or up to $50)
You may stay in the property as long as you comply with the lease.

How Do I Apply?
Contact your local public housing agency to apply. You will need to provide proof of income with:
  • tax returns
  • bank statements
  • Social Security award letters, etc. 
​Preferences are usually given to the elderly and disabled.​

Senior Housing

Source: https://www.seniorliving.org/hud-senior-housing-programs/

More aging Americans find it difficult to find affordable housing. Subsidized housing assistance programs are experiencing longer waiting lists. In recent years, the demand has grown greater than the number of housing units available. Elderly individuals living on limited incomes find it tougher to stretch household budgets. 

How to Apply?

Generally, applicants for senior housing must be at least 62 years of age to qualify. In order to qualify for low-income housing a senior must meet certain eligibility requirements. Income eligibility requirements vary depending on state and county of residence. Seniors must verify their household income each year. And report any changes in income that may occur throughout the year.

Low-income public housing are managed by local public housing agencies (PHAs).

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development offers assistance to qualified individuals who need help paying rent. To qualify for HUD housing assistance, annual household income must be below 50 percent of the median income for that area. Under most HUD programs, seniors pay 30 percent of their annual adjusted income for rent. The federal government then pays the difference.

Calculate your monthly household income and total assets before applying. In many cases, applicants must have a criminal background check and credit check. You also may need to provide the names and contact information for current and previous landlords as references.

Other Housing Options

Look into personal care homes that accept seniors over the age of 65 with little or no other source of income other than SSI (Supplemental Security Income). Seniors who have only limited income and assets qualify for this program. The program applies income from the SSI check directly to the cost of residing in the personal care home. A small allowance from the check is returned to the resident to pay for personal expenses.

Contact your state Medicaid office or county assistance office for more information. Eligibility requirements vary from state to state. Individuals or couples who own a home may qualify for some custodial care services. This may be in the home or in an assisted living facility. Individuals who have spent savings and other assets to pay medical bills often need housing subsidies.​

See also, on this webpage:​
Housing Choice Voucher Program (formerly Section 8) for Seniors​
Public Housing for Seniors
Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly

The Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) provides rent vouchers for housing in the private market for low income individuals, families, the elderly and the disabled. It is the largest assisted housing program administered by HUD.

How to Apply?
Apply at your local PHA​. They will collect information on family income (tax returns, bank statements, Social Security, etc.) assets, and family composition. Medical expenses, health insurance payments, prescriptions and future medical expenses are taken into consideration.

Once you apply, you are placed on a waiting list. Because of the demand, waiting lists are often several years long. Ask that your application to be pre-qualified for income—that way you know ahead of time if you qualify. And ask about local preferences (e.g. you are involuntarily displaced, paying more than 50% rent, etc.).


About the Program
These vouchers are linked to specific properties run by local Public Housing Agencies (PHAs). 

There are two kinds of vouchers: tenant-based and project-based.

Tenant-based vouchers (TBVs) move with the renter. Project-based vouchers (PBVs) are assigned to particular units and buildings and are not transferable.

Who is Eligible?
There is no age requirement. Families or individuals who meet the extremely low-income requirements (30% of the area's median), and very-low-income (50% of area median) based on total gross income. In some cases, those with low income (80% of area median) are eligible.

Income such as pensions, retirement accounts, IRAs, insurance annuities, and assets such as real estate, cars, etc. ARE counted when assessing eligibility.

Housing
Depending on your location, housing options can include single-family homes, townhouses and even apartments. Individuals can pick anywhere they want to live as long as the owner agrees to rent using the program's guidelines.

On a mobile device? 
Find project based properties near you (turn location services ON).

Rent Amounts
Rental amount is calculated by using the greatest of:

- 30% of monthly adjusted income
- 10% of monthly income
- The welfare rent in as-paid states
- Or the PHA minimum rent ($25 or up to $50).

PHAs pay the property owner directly and the residents pay the difference to the property owner.

HUD helps more than 900,000 seniors with affordable housing through its programs. 

There are three types of affordable HUD rent programs for the elderly: public housing, Section 202 Supportive Housing​, and voucher housing programs.
  • Public Housing
  • Section 202 Supportive Housing 
  • Housing Vouchers 
​*Several important things to keep in mind with HUD programs:

The waiting lists are often long (from two to five years), especially in metro areas.

For those in need of assisted care, HUD offers limited options. HUD designs programs primarily for independent seniors. One Public Housing Agency (PHA) may not have the housing you're looking for. Yet, other PHAs might have available housing.

Who is Eligible?
Low-income families (80% of median) and individuals including the elderly and those with a disability. Income limits will vary based on area. Your local PHA can provide those limits.

Once you are accepted in public housing, you must live in the community where you are accepted.

Type of Housing
Public housing can include:
  • Single-family homes
  • Duplexes
  • High-rise apartments.
​Rent Amount
Rent is referred to as Total Tenant Payment (TTP) and calculated using the greatest of:
  • 30% of monthly adjusted income
  • 10% of monthly income
  • The welfare rent in as-paid states
  • Or the PHA minimum rent ($25 or up to $50)​
You may stay in the property as long as you comply with the lease agreement.

How Do I Apply?
Contact your local public housing agency to apply. You will need to provide proof of income including:
  • Tax returns
  • Bank statements
  • Social Security award letters, etc. 
Preferences are usually given to the elderly and disabled.

See also:
- Housing Choice Voucher Program (formerly Section 8) for Seniors
- Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly​

This rental assistance housing program is for seniors and people with disabilities. It helps them live as independently as possible. And it offers some who may need assistance with activities of daily living. This can include activities like dressing and bathing.
Common features of these communities include housekeeping, transportation, referral services, and counseling. The types of services and amenities will vary by senior housing community.

HUD established the Section 202 program in 1959. It is the only program within HUD to provide housing exclusively to seniors. HUD provides loans to private, nonprofit organizations to construct supportive housing. This housing is for very low-income seniors and provides rent subsidies.

Who is Eligible?
Those 62 and older with very low household income (50% of area median). The average resident age is 79. The average yearly income is $10,018.

Type of Housing for Seniors
Typically, housing for seniors consists of:

  • ​One-bedroom apartments with kitchen and bath. 
  • Special features such as: 
    • grab bars, ramps
    • nonskid flooring
    • housekeeping
    • transportation to health care
    • home-delivered meals.​
​Rent Amount
Rental amount is calculated by using the greatest of:
  • 30% of monthly adjusted income
  • 10% of monthly income
  • The welfare rent in as-paid states
  • Or the PHA minimum rent ($25 or up to $50).
How Do I Apply?
Contact the individual housing community you are interested in. Obtain a list of properties from your local PHA.

Wait lists are usually at least a year. Preferences for admission include:
  • Those currently paying 50% of their income in rent
  • The involuntarily displaced
  • Those living in substandard housing.
Congregate Housing Services Program (CHSP)
This program, started in 1978, provides funds to Section 202 housing communities. The program “helps frail and persons with disabilities avoid premature or unnecessary institutionalization.” This valuable program provides funding to 51 public housing agencies.  It also serves private assisted housing owners.

These communities provide residents at least one hot meal per day in a group setting, 7 days per week. Other non-medical services provided include housekeeping, personal assistance, transportation and social services.

Contact your local PHA to see if the program is available at area elderly housing locations.

External Link Disclaimer: This page contains links that take you off OHCS's website. We strive to ensure related content is accurate to the best of our knowledge. However, OHCS is not responsible for the content of the linked websites.

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More Resources:

HUD Rents and Incomes

Income Limits FAQs

Acronyms
AMI - Area median income

BMI - Below-Median Income 
MFI - Median family income