Affordable & Low Income Housing
There are several options available to you in northeast Indiana, including Public Housing, Housing Choice Vouchers (also known as Subsidized or Section 8 Housing), and Tax Credit or Section 42 Housing. Each program has different requirements, so we have listed some basic information below. Apartment Association member properties that participate in each program are included in these downloadable lists for Section 42-applicable and subsidized housing. For additional details or specific questions, you would need to call the participating apartment community directly.
- Privately owned subsidized housing - HUD helps apartment owners offer reduced rents to low-income renters at their property. For more information and to apply, contact the management office. Click here to see a list of subsidized housing communities in Fort Wayne.
- Public Housing - Affordable apartments for low-income families, the elderly and persons with disabilities managed by the local housing agency.
- Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) - Find your own place and use the voucher to pay for all or part of the rent. To apply for a voucher, contact your local public housing agency.
- Privately owned tax credit or Section 42 housing – Developers use tax credits to build apartment communities and agree to offer affordable rents for a period of 15 to 30 years depending on the property. For more information and to apply, contact the management office.
See downloadable lists:
What is Public Housing?
Public housing was established to provide decent and safe rental housing for eligible low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. Public housing comes in all sizes and types, from scattered single family houses to highrise apartments for elderly families. Local housing agencies (HAs) manage the housing for low-income residents at rents they can afford. HUD furnishes technical and professional assistance in planning, developing and managing these communities. Your rent, which is referred to as the Total Tenant Payment (TTP) in this program, would be based on your family's anticipated gross annual income less deductions, if any. Annual income is the anticipated total income from all sources received from the family head and spouse, and each additional member of the family 18 years of age or older.
What are Housing Choice Vouchers?
The housing choice voucher program is the federal government's major program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Since housing assistance is provided on behalf of the family or individual, participants are able to find their own housing, including single-family homes, townhouses and apartments. Housing choice vouchers are administered locally by public housing agencies (PHAs). Those issued a housing voucher are responsible for finding a suitable housing unit of their choice where the owner agrees to rent under the program. Rental units must meet minimum standards of health and safety, as determined by the PHA. A housing subsidy is paid to the landlord directly by the PHA on behalf of the participant family. The participant then pays the difference between the actual rent charged by the landlord and the amount subsidized by the program.
What are Section 42 ~ Tax Credit Properties?
The Rental Housing Tax Credit (RHTC) is a tax incentive program established under Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code to provide an incentive to developers to provide affordable rental housing. These federal income tax credits offset the building acquisition, new construction, and/or substantial rehabilitation costs for rental housing developments. Rental Housing Tax Credits (RHTCs) are allocated to for-profit and not-for-profit developers of affordable rental housing. In exchange for the financing provided through the tax credit, developers agree to keep rents affordable for a period between 15 and 30 years. Units financed with RHTCs must be rented to persons at or below 60% of the area median income. RHTC rental properties are privately owned and managed. For specific information on the tax credit program and eligibility requirements to live at a property that has tax credits, you must call the specific property that you are interested in.
~ Information above on each program was digested from the HUD.gov website
~ The local housing authority for Fort Wayne that administers the Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher program is the Fort Wayne Housing Authority. For eligibility requirements go to HUD.gov or contact your local housing authority.
Fort Wayne Housing Authority
7315 Hanna St., PO Box 13489, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46869-3489
(260) 267-9300
For all housing authorities in Indiana.
Apartment owner/managers can request FREE Fair Housing Posters to hang in their offices by calling HUD at (800) 767-7468 or call the AAFW Office at (260) 482-2916.