Headline:
Prospective homeowners can take advantage of state-run programs that include financial counseling, low mortgage rates, and energy efficiency grants.
Last-reviewed: 10am, Dec. 5, 2023
Key Resource:
- Rent Increases: Rent has increased by an average of 10% nationally. For state-specific data, view the HUD’s 2023 Data. Care teams can refer people struggling to afford rising costs to a HUD-certified housing counselor or provide resources from the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau.
- Shelter: Care teams can use HUD’s Find Shelter tool to find housing, shelter, health care, and clothing resources in communities across the country.
- Evictions: Tenants living in federally subsidized housing or in a property financed by a federal loan must receive a 30-day eviction notice for non-payment of rent. Even if a state law allows these landlords to give less notice, they must follow the federal law. Tenants can use this property search tool to see if this rule applies to them. Care teams can share this information about how to navigate an eviction.
- Conditions: HUD sets quality standards for all public housing, HUD-funded properties and Section 8 voucher residences. Care teams can help residents request an inspection.
- Home Ownership: Each state provides services for new homeowners like financial counseling, low mortgage rates, and energy efficiency grants. Care teams can share information on state-specific programs.
- IPV Survivors: VAWA offers protections to survivors of domestic and sexual violence who live in federally assisted housing. Care teams can share information about these rights and how to assert them.
Spotlight on non-discrimination:
Landlords cannot discriminate based on national origin or race, color, national origin, sex, disability, familial status, religion, or age. This includes all aspects of housing, including the application process, rental tours, and mortgage applications.
- Familial Status: They cannot charge a family a higher rent or require a larger security deposit because the family has young children.
- Durable Medical Equipment: They cannot evict someone with COPD because their home oxygen concentrator makes too much noise at night.
If a person believes they have been discriminated against and they share that with your care team, direct them to the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity where they can file a complaint (available in multiple languages). The FHOC is a federal office that enforces fair housing protections.
The Bottom Line
- Care teams can help families by using every means necessary to keep them housed.
