Guide to finding low-income apartments in Chicago
Finding the right apartment in a city as huge as Chicago can be tough. Moreso, struggling with finding low-income apartments in Chicago has become an everyday thing. Even when you try to reduce moving costs and use affordable movers Chicago, you will still want to spend as little money as possible. Luckily, there are a couple of government programs that help low-income families and individuals with rental housing. They are all different, and today, we will look at all of them.
There are three programs for finding low-income apartments in Chicago
Many people moving to Illinois wonder about which programs there are, and how they work. Luckily, the process is simple enough to grasp. Federal funds go to public housing agencies. These, in turn, run housing projects around Chicago, together with building owners. This is why you have three types of programs in the city:
- subsidized housing;
- public housing;
- housing choice voucher.
Subsidized housing
Subsidized housing works as follows – the government gives property owners money, which then they use to provide low-income apartments. You apply for these at the property’s rental office. Usually, there is an income limit that you need to be within, as well as the family size regulations. What’s more, there might be some other requirements that the property owner has set, which you can find at their rental office. Also, find out more at the Illinois state website.
Public housing
The second program works based on your gross annual income. You apply with the local public housing agency, which will then rent you housing if you are eligible. This can either be an apartment, a townhouse or a single-family home. The housing agency needs to make sure you will be a good tenant, though. So, they will contact your current and past landlords or visit you in your current home.
To be eligible for this type of low-income housing, you need to be either a family, a senior citizen or a person with a disability. You also need to be within the program’s limits, and the citizen of the United States – or an eligible non-citizen.
How housing check vouchers help with finding low-income apartments in Chicago
The vouchers work somewhat differently than the rest – although the eligibility conditions are the same as in public housing. Here, you find the housing, and the government will pay your landlord the amount allowed by your voucher. If there is any difference, you will have to cover it. Again, you can find an apartment, a townhouse or a single-family home, and each will need to meet health and safety standards. The voucher will be based on the income, your family structure and the costs of finding low-income apartments in Chicago.