Low-income housing assists individuals and families that do not have a home. Homelessness is a rising issue, and it is often that those that need help immediately don’t get help fast enough or at all.
Keep reading to learn how you can get housing fast when you are struggling.
What Programs Are Available To Help Find A Home?
There are two different programs you can look to when you need housing.
First is the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); this program provides safe and quality housing for low-income, elderly, and those with a disability.
Second, Continuum of Care (CoC) is a program that provides funding to quickly house those that are homeless or in transition because of a disaster.
When you think of housing, we often refer to Section 8, now named Housing Choice Voucher, but this is only a fraction of what is available.
HUD Programs
- Housing Choice Voucher – You can find a home of your choice from a private landlord at a subsidized rate.
- Public Housing – Government-owned apartments and homes at a subsidized rate.
CoC Programs – Run through non-profit organizations but are funded by HUD
- Rapid Rehousing – Like the Housing Choice Voucher, but they have homes readily available to you faster than Section 8 (HUD).
- Permanent Supportive Housing Once you’re approved, it is permanently available to you and completely paid for you. This program is available for more complex situations like those with drug addictions or mental illnesses.
Which Housing Program Can Help Me Fast?
Rapid Re-Housing:
Of the programs between both HUD and CoC, getting help from a Rapid Re-Housing Program should benefit you faster than going through traditional Section 8 HCV or Public Housing.
Rapid Re-Housing is a housing intervention strategy that connects homeless families and individuals to permanent homes through a customized package of resources, including short-term financial aid and other services suited to the applicants needs.
The purpose of the program is to shorten the period of time a person is homeless and to assist them in achieving long-term housing stability.
Rapid Re-Housing is a low-cost approach to ending homelessness that focuses on removing the housing issues that caused homelessness in the first place.
The method is based on the assumption that most homeless families can return home and remain housed without long-term supportive services.
Short-term support has shown enormous potential in relieving many families’ acute homelessness crises and preventing future homelessness.
Of the programs between both HUD and CoC, getting help from a Rapid Re-housing Program aims to benefit you faster than going through traditional Section 8 HCV or Public Housing.
HUD exchange states that after you apply and are approved for Rapid Re-Housing, the program hopes to get you in a home as soon as possible, HUD states within 30-60 days, while Section 8 HCV’s could possibly years due to long waiting lists.
Please be aware that not all areas have the same resources and housing available. We have communicated with many areas that are behind the 30 day mark in placing people in homes.
However we are confident if you qualify and are approved for a type of Rapid Re-Housing that it typically is a much faster solution to housing assistance than many other subsidized rental assistance program like Section 8 HCV’s and Pubic Housing.
Please note that your area may refer to their homelessness and emergency housing in other terms. Please contact the COC in your area and ask for information about rapid rehousing or resources for emergency housing. Steps and links to on how to contact your COC and PHA are at the bottom of the page.
Rapid Rehousing Programs are usually a faster option for emergency housing because it is easier to meet requirements. This program is readily available for those that are homeless or nearly homeless. Homelessness, by definition, is when you don’t have a home.
Meaning, you don’t have title to a home, or your name isn’t on a lease. You can be considered Homelessness even if you’re temporarily staying in an extra room of family or a friend’s home.
HUD’s definition of Homelessness is: “A homeless individual or family that lacks a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence.“
There is no where to apply for directly for Rapid Re-Housing online. To our understanding, you will need to ask your local Public Housing Agency (PHA) office about their CoC sponsored programs for homelessness and rapid rehousing.
For a list a Public Housing Authorities in your area go here and follow the instructions in the article. Or go to HUD’s PHA database here.
Enter your state and then contact the PHA nearest to where you will live. Ideally you should seek housing assistance where you have work, family or living history connecting you to the area. PHA offices will verify information on your application. Most PHA offices will have an online applications to the housing services they provide.
How Can The CoC Help Beyond Housing?
With any assistance program, they want to see an improvement in your situation. Additionally, due to funding, the program can’t help forever.
The CoC’s ultimate goal is for you to be independent. But they will give you all of the assistance you need to get there. Here are a few alternative methods that the CoC Rapid Rehousing program will use to help you regain independence.
- Wean you off of their housing assistance. As you start becoming more financially stable, they will wean you off their assistance to keep you from becoming dependant. However, if you’re unable to be independent, then their program, Permanent Supportive Housing, is a better option for you.
- Get you in touch with affordable and necessary medical or mental health assistance. While they can’t directly help you, they can assist you in applying for assistance through other programs.
- Transportation Assistance. Get you to and from appointments or place of employment.
- Utility Assistance. Help pay all or some of utilities such as water and electricity. Help pay for all or some of your deposit on utilities.
- Child Care. For families with small children, you can rest assured that your children are in a safe environment while you are working for free or at an affordable rate.
Conclusion
If you find yourself facing homelessness, there are housing assistance programs that can get you into a home within 30-60 days, typically much faster than Section 8 (HCV) or Public Housing. Below are some options that might help:
- You will need to ask your PHA about their CoC sponsored programs for homelessness and rapid rehousing. There is no where to apply directly for Rapid Re-Housing (as far as we know). You need to speak to your local Public Housing Agency or authorities about your situation to qualify.
- For a list a Public Housing Authorities in your area go here and select your state. You can then find the nearest office to your location.
- Be sure to contact your PHA about: Public Housing,
Supportive Housing, low income, Elderly, and Special Needs Housing
- Ask about all Housing resources!
- Visit this article and follow the instructions to locate all housing resources in your area online!
I think reading This truly inspired me, however I am a single struggling mother of 6 I live with family and I am trying to keep my family together with only 2 bedrooms to work with one bed and a couch it’s been very hard , no vehicle and I would absolutely love to be able to apply to this program as soon as possible i am unaware of resources that are available to me I hope I can find my way to help after reading this , a weight was lifted off my shoulders as I read through this article in hope that things can change for me and my children I hope that someone will reach out to me and guide me into the right direction stability is the goal for me it is the most important thing That I as a mother needs for my children I am struggling as a single mother and I had my children so close together life and reality hit me hard and I had no clue how hard this was going to be I am hoping to get information on how to apply to this Continuum of Care (CoC) Program, Rapid Rehousing. thanks so much
Hi Whitney,
There are housing benefits you may qualify for as a single mother. To apply, contact a public housing agency (PHA) in your state.
Good morning, my name is Paula S.. I am struggling to keep my families heads above water. Please provide me with the information 'Continuum of Care (CoC) Program, Rapid Rehousing. The landlord where we are renting is a very horrible person. We moved into this house on March 1, 2019. The rent was $1,795.00 a month. March 27, 2020, she raised the rent again to 1,995.00. The following year, March 27, 2021, she raised the rent rent again to $2,75.00. She raised the late fee to $100.00, and a three day notice fee $100.00. My daughter asked the landlord will you be raising the rent for March 27, 2022 ? The landlord replied and said, "No". On January 6, 2022, we received a a letter written by the landlord Cheng Tong, stating that they are raising the rent up to $2,280. The late fee will be $150.00, three day notice fee $100.00. This lady is very impossible. Before moving into this house I explained to this lady that I will be late on my rent due to I have a medical disability and my STD checks are not always on time and they may become late. I asked her do she understand? Cheng replied by saying, 'Yes'. I continue to repeat this over and over again. Me and my daughter paid the late fee with no exception. Me and my daughter continued to keep open communication with her. We had a verbal agreement. Not only did we pay the late fee when we are late, we also paid extra money to her when we paid the rent on time to add to our rent for the following months to come. Cheng Tong took the extra money which we had sent for our rent and put it in her pocket instead of applying it to our next month rent. I feel that we are being taking advantage of. We asked her what happen to the extra money we sent with the rent? She has yet to respond. I have been asking her the replace the garbage disposal since October 2021. She asked me to send her a video of the garbage disposal, and I did as she requested. She replied, "It seems to be working to me". I replied the motor is going out because it is humming. She replied, " If you all broke it, I'm going to charge you for it, plus the service fee, for the person to come out to fix ". I responded to her remarks by saying, "We didn't brake the garbage disposal, it just stopped working". Please help, Paula. Email address:*******@mail.chapman.edu
Hello Paula,
For more information about this program go to the HUD Exchange site. For additional resources for homeless persons or persons at risk of becoming homeless go to the Housing and Homeless Assistance page. Also, you may choose to visit the HUD office in your state.
Yes I'm going to I'm on the verge of being homeless while I am homeless but you know I'm still making it I'm still going to drive to make it cuz that's all I can do I'm just need to South Carolina and I just got to let go of my job it will seasonal but you know everything works out for a reason and I just need to find a home to be stable in I said my brother but I'm also being pushed out
Hi Darrius,
Please visit the Public Housing Authority in your state to check check for housing benefits you qualify for.