Frequently Asked Questions

"Affordable housing" is housing where the occupant pays no more than 30% of their gross income for housing cost which includes utilities. Keeping the cost of housing below 30% allows for the occupants to pay for any other cost and lets them not feel housing cost burdened. 

Affordable housing gives more financial breathing room, allowing for more focus on other expenses. It also allows workers like teachers to live closer to their workplace, allowing for shorter commute times. Since affordable housing cost no more than 30% of a household gross income, it allows families to save more for the future.

People may think that section 8 housing and affordable housing are the same thing, but in reality they are different programs. With affordable housing, units are always affordable no matter who lives in them, eligibility is based on income requirements, and LIHTC (Low-Income Housing Tax credit) properties is commonly included. With section 8 housing, the government pays a portion of the rent, occupants receive housing vouchers and can move with their vouchers, and rental assistance is tied to the occupant.

According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) the U.S. is facing a shortage of 7.2 million rental homes that are affordable with only 35 available affordable homes per 100 extremely low-income renter households.

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