Find housing you can afford
A step-by-step guide for searching, applying, and following up — built for your phone.
Step 1 of 3
What can you afford?
The general rule: don't spend more than 30% of your gross (before-tax) income on rent, including utilities.
Aim to keep rent + utilities under
$0
This is a starting point, not a hard limit — your advocate can help you think it through.
Step 2 of 3
Know the terms
Rental listings use specific language. Tap any term for a plain-English explanation.
Affordable / subsidized housing
Housing priced so rent doesn't cost more than 30% of the average income for that area.
Eligibility for tenants
Income limits that determine who can apply for income-based rental. Set by the federal government, but standards differ property to property.
LIHTC (tax credit properties)
A set number of units are reserved for lower-income households, who must earn under 50–60% of the area's median income depending on the property. Rent is capped at 30% of that income figure. Rules vary by region and property.
HUD
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development — the federal agency that supports the housing market and homeownership.
AMI (Area Median Income)
A statistic HUD uses to figure out who's eligible for certain federal housing programs in your area.
Step 3 of 3
Track your applications
Add every place you apply to. When you meet with your advocate, copy this list to share what you've tried.