Apartments that are eligible for reduced or subsidized low-income rentals are considered income-restricted apartments. These are apartments with income caps that determine eligibility, helping low-income families find affordable housing. Some income-restricted apartments are owned by the city, while others are privately owned but meet requirements for income-restricted tenants. The owners receive a subsidy payment from the state or a federal tax credit.

Finding Income-Restricted Apartments

Find potential rentals by starting with your local Public Housing Authority that maintains the local program overseen by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD sets the standards for low-income housing. The income standard is adjusted based on the median income for the area. The local PHA takes applications for housing assistance and maintains a list of eligible apartments and rentals. Speak with your PHA caseworker about the best options for you based on your income, family size and the urgency of your situation. Many income-restricted apartments have waitlists.

Who Qualifies

HUD structures most income-based programs for people whose income is 50 percent or less of the median income in the area, but this figure is adjusted based on family size. For example, the median income in San Francisco is $115,300. Eligibility for very low-income housing starts at $46,100 for a single person. This number increases to $52,650 for two people and to $65,800 for a family of four. There are also extremely low-income programs that prioritize the needs of those with a median income of $27,650 for an individual and up to $39,500 for a family of four. Because of the high cost of living in the area, San Francisco also offers subsidies for those meeting the low-income standard of $73,750 for an individual and $105,350 for a family of four, which is 80 percent of the median income.

Types of Apartments

The PHA has different housing options. Public housing is owned and operated by the city. The city is your landlord and you are in an apartment complex with others who meet the same low-income requirements you do. Subsidized complexes, on the other hand, have standard eligibility tenants mixed with a limited number of tenants who meet low-income guidelines. The management company is your landlord, not the city. The company receives a tax credit for opening up certain units as income-restricted rentals. There is also the Section 8 voucher, which allows private landlords to offer rentals in which the PHA pays up to 30 percent of the rent. The property owner is the landlord, and the PHA subsidizes the rent.