With the rising cost of living and uncertainty in the job market, many people feel that having their own home is out of reach. This financial strain can make it incredibly difficult for individuals and families to secure stable, affordable housing—let alone consider long-term homeownership. Fortunately, there are a number of government programs that are designed to help find affordable apartments.
What Are Government Housing Programs and Why Are They Important?
Government housing programs are initiatives funded and administered by federal, state, and local agencies to help individuals and families access safe and affordable housing. These programs are designed to address the growing gap between housing costs and household incomes, especially for low- to moderate-income renters.
Section 8
The Section 8 Program involves receiving a voucher that can help you to pay the rent on a private let apartment or home. The vouchers are provided by HUD or the Department of Housing and Urban Development and provide assistance to help afford private, safe housing.
Families with a low income, people with disabilities and seniors may qualify for Section 8 vouchers. You can then choose any home that meets the program requirements including apartments and single family homes. The vouchers can be used to pay all or part of the rent. In most cases, the landlord receives the voucher amount and then as the tenant, you are responsible to pay the difference.
Eligibility for this program is based on your total income, the size of your family and whether you are a citizen or non citizen with eligible immigration status. You can explore your eligibility and apply by contacting your local public housing agency or local HUD office.
Unfortunately, HUD and the local PHAs do have limited resources, so there are waiting lists and long waiting periods for Section 8 vouchers. When a PHA has more families on its list that it can possibly help, it may temporarily close the waiting list, so you would need to check back to see when the waiting list will reopen.
Subsidized Housing
Subsidized rental housing involves the government paying apartment owners to reduce the rents for low income tenants. Each county and city has its own rule for eligibility for this program. You would need to contact your local public housing agency to check your eligibility and apply. You can check for participating housing communities with this HUD map.
You can search for your city or area on the map to explore the available affordable apartments. If you find a home of interest, you can reach out to find out how to apply. Remember that some properties do have waiting lists and each property tends to have its own system for accepting applicants.
Public Housing
Public housing is designed to provide affordable apartments and homes to those with a low income, seniors or people with disabilities. There is a wide variety of rentals in the public housing program from high rise apartments to single family homes.
The public housing properties are managed by public housing agencies. To determine if you qualify, you would need to contact your local PHA, who will review your case. Your eligibility will depend on your income, U.S citizenship or immigration status and whether you qualify as a family, a person with a disability or as a senior.
The application process differs from state to state. So, you would need to check the application procedure in your state, but your local PHA can walk you through it. You may need to apply in person and provide documentation when you come to your appointment.
Rental Assistance for Veterans
If you’re a veteran, the SSVF or Supportive Services for Veteran Families may be able to assist you with an affordable rental. This organization may be able to help you to find suitable housing, avoid eviction to stay in your current home or get rapidly rehoused if you experience homelessness.
This option is only available to veterans of the U.S Armed Forces or if the family is headed by a veteran or their spouse. You also need to meet the low income standards and be at imminent risk of homelessness.
NED- Non Elderly Disabled
If you have a disability and are under the age of 62, you could qualify for a NED voucher which can help you to pay for an affordable private rental home.
There are several eligibility requirements for NED vouchers including having a disability, aged under 62, meeting the income requirements and being the head, spouse or co-head of a family. Your local PHA can help you to learn about the specific eligibility requirements and assist you with your housing requirements.
Government Programs at a Glance
| Program Name | Description | Who Qualifies | Type of Assistance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program | Provides rental assistance vouchers that cover a portion of monthly rent for eligible renters. | Low-income individuals and families, seniors, and people with disabilities. | Rent subsidies paid directly to landlords. |
| Public Housing | Government-owned rental housing units managed by local housing authorities. | Low-income individuals and families. | Affordable rental units with income-based rent. |
| Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) | Offers tax credits to developers who build or rehabilitate affordable housing. | Tenants typically earn 30%-60% of area median income. | Reduced rent apartments in LIHTC properties. |
| HUD’s Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA) | Provides rental assistance tied to specific housing developments. | Low-income households. | Rent is capped at 30% of household income. |
| USDA Rural Development Rental Assistance | Helps low-income renters in rural areas find affordable housing. | Low-income renters in eligible rural areas. | Rental assistance for USDA-financed housing. |
| Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) | Joint HUD-VA program offering housing vouchers and support services. | Homeless veterans or those at risk of homelessness. | Vouchers + case management and clinical services. |
| State and Local Housing Programs | Vary by region; often supplement federal programs or offer additional aid. | Depends on the specific state/city program. | May include vouchers, grants, or rental units. |
Saving Money On Rent
If you’re not eligible for any of the government schemes, there are other ways that can help you find affordable apartments.
Roommates
The most obvious way to make an apartment more affordable is to get a roommate. In 2024, the average cost of a one bedroom apartment was $1,591, while a two bed was an average of $1,892. This means that you could end up paying $946 in rent if you split the cost with a roommate. This represents savings of $645 per month or $7,740 over a full year.
These savings don’t even include other shared savings on expenses such as utilities, toiletries, kitchen supplies, so there is the potential to save even more.
Rent Out a Spare Room
If you don’t like the idea of a full time roommate, you could save some money on your rent by renting out a spare room for a short term rental. Sites such as VRBO or AirBnB allow people to advertise short term rentals of open rooms. These can be anywhere from a few days to several weeks.
You would need to check with your landlord to ensure that your lease permits this type of rental arrangement, but it can be a nice way to meet new people and save some money on your monthly rent.
Consider a Private Rental
Private rentals are owned by a family or individual rather than a corporation. While most large apartment complexes are owned by a corporation, you can still find apartments, houses and other properties as a private rental.
Private landlords tend to be more flexible with deposits and application fees, since they don’t have to adhere to strict corporate guidelines. This means that they may be willing to negotiate on the rent or overlook any blemishes on your track record that may make it difficult to rent elsewhere. However, each landlord is different. Some may require a complete background check and be super strict on who they will rent to. It is worth being upfront about yourself and your expectations to avoid any inconveniences later.
Negotiate Your Lease Renewal
There are significant expenses for landlords to find new tenants, as they need to advertise the property, review applicants and perform property inspections. So, there is some leverage if you’re a good tenant and want to remain in the property. As you’re approaching your lease renewal, research the similar apartments in your area for rental prices and discuss this with your landlord. If you’re a good tenant, they should want to keep you, but if they are not willing to negotiate, you may need to threaten to look elsewhere.
This strategy can be more effective with independent landlords rather than property management companies, since companies may have guidelines to adhere to and be unable to make concessions. If you are dealing with a property management company and you’re DIY savvy, you could offer to do work around the property if they can lower the rent.
Take on an Extended Lease
As we just covered, it can be costly to have tenants moving in and out of a property, so most landlords want stability. You can offer this by signing an extended lease, so they can be assured of your rental payments for 18 months or two years, rather than just six months. The longer your new lease, the lower your landlord should be prepared to go on the rent.
Pay Upfront
You can also sweeten your rental deal by offering to pay upfront for a few months or the entire lease if the landlord will give you a discount. You will need to have sufficient savings to cover this payment, but the landlord may be willing to cut a deal.
Don’t be tempted to wipe out your entire savings fund, as if you need to put an emergency expense on your credit card, you could negate any savings on your rent payments in credit card interest charges.
Additionally, if you do agree to an upfront deal, make sure that you put the money back each month into your savings account.
Relinquish Your Parking Space
If you don’t have a vehicle, you won’t need a parking space. You could offer to relinquish the space associated with your apartment in exchange for a discounted rent. The landlord may be able to rent or sell the space to another person who may need extra parking.
Referral Fees
Approach your landlord and ask if they will offer fees for tenant referrals. Some landlords may offer money for referring new tenants. This is more appropriate with larger apartment companies who are more likely to have an excessive number of vacancies, as private landlords with just a couple of properties are not likely to offer anything for a referral.
This can be a win-win situation for everyone involved. Your landlord can fill a vacant apartment, your friend, family member or co-worker finds a nice place to live and you can get some money off your rent.
Apartment Hunt in Winter
It can be tough for landlords to find new tenants in winter. When it’s cold outside, most people don’t like the idea of packing up and moving home. This means that landlords can have apartments vacant for several months or longer, losing money each month.
Rents tend to increase in the summer months, when the weather is better and college graduates flood the rental market. The school schedule can also affect the rental market since families with children may wait until the end of the school year to move. This increases demand in summer, which means higher rental prices.
If you can apartment hunt in winter and sign an extended lease that ends in summer, your landlord will get immediate stability and hit the market at a good time when you move out. This may make them willing to work with you on the rent.
Relocate
If you’re not tied to a specific area for your school or job, you could save a lot of money on rent by changing area. Big cities are both attractive and expensive. As of March 2025, the average cost of a one bedroom rental apartment in New York city is a whopping $3,922 per month. However, if you’re willing to relocate to Brooklyn, you could reduce this to an average rent of $2,870 for a similar one bed apartment.
If you have the flexibility to work in a different state or you remote work, you could find apartments in other areas of the country that can significantly reduce your rental costs.
Tips for Saving Money While You’re Renting
If you are struggling to find affordable apartments, there are some effective strategies that can help you to save money on your monthly expenses to reduce your financial stress.
Assess Your Utilities
While many of us like to think that we live a green lifestyle, there are likely to still be things that you can do to trim the cost of your utility bills each month. Approximately half of utility costs relate to heating and cooling our homes, so adjusting the thermostat can have a significant impact on your expenses. The optimum thermostat settings are 78º in summer and 68º in winter, but if you can bear to have it a degree or two hotter in summer and cooler in winter, you could save even more.
You can also save money by upgrading inefficient appliances, sealing drafty windows and strategies such as only running a dishwasher or washing machine with a full load, and turning off electrical items not in use. Just be sure to speak to your landlord before you make any major changes to the apartment.
Negotiate with Providers
Another way that you can save money is by negotiating with your cable, insurance, internet utility providers. There are often deals to switch providers, but if you don’t want the hassle, you can approach your current provider and ask them to price match. You may need to threaten to ditch their services, but most companies are open to negotiation, just don’t settle for an initial offer or assume your current plan is the most cost efficient. It can be well worth shopping around to see what new deals are on the market.
Trim Your Bills
It can also be a good time to look at whether you’re paying for unnecessary expenses. Cutting your cable and switching to a streaming service has the potential to save significant money each month. Many streaming platforms have introductory deals and special offers, so you can enjoy a reduced rate, switching between them to find your new favorite. You can also find bundle deals if you want to access multiple platforms.
Take some time to go through your bank statements and see where you can trim your expenses. You may even find that you’re paying for a gym membership or subscription each month that you never use.
Cook at Home
This is a tried and tested way to save serious money, particularly if you tend to constantly eat out. While you don’t need to cook three meals a day, seven days a week, if you’re used to eating out, you could save yourself hundreds of dollars each month.
You don’t even need to be a gourmet chef. Buying a frozen pizza at the grocery store is going to cost a fraction of a delivered pizza or eating out in a pizza restaurant. However, as you become more comfortable cooking, you can develop some simple recipes that you enjoy. You could even try batch cooking, doubling the recipe and freezing portions to defrost and reheat when you’re tired or busy.
Avoid Using Credit Cards, Particularly for Rent
If you’re struggling to afford rent, it can be tempting to rely on credit cards, but this can be a costly mistake. While some cards may offer rewards for spending, you need to be very disciplined in how you use your card and make sure that you clear the balance quickly to minimize interest charges.
Additionally, if you’re using your credit card to pay your rent, you could get hit with a service charge or other additional expense that increases your credit card balance further. This can end up hurting your credit score and forcing you into a debt spiral as it becomes more and more difficult to afford your monthly expenses.
Whether you’re currently in a property that is a little too costly or you’re struggling to find affordable apartments, you’re not alone. Many people are finding the current economic climate challenging, but there is help and support available. Even if you are unable to qualify for government programs, there are debt counselors and other resources that can help you to implement a budget, so you can afford all of your basic bills and work towards achieving your financial goals.
