The availability of affordable rental housing for low-income families is important. Outside of urban city areas, unfortunately, rental housing can be more challenging to secure as there may not be as many options available.

Fortunately, there are several organizations mentioned on the website of the Housing Assistance Council (HAC) that are dedicated to making the rental search and application process more manageable. Below, we’ll review how to find affordable rental housing in a rural area by utilizing the available programs.

LowIncomeHousing.Us - This service was established in the early 2000s, with an online version being made available in 2010. This program works with local affordable housing offices to compile lists of low-income and affordable housing options open to residents in each area. LowIncomeHousing.Us does not charge for their service or information provided, and the properties are updated daily by employees.

By utilizing their rental lists, potential renters can locate further information on rental properties, such as pictures, contact email and phone numbers, maps, and addresses. Prices are sometimes made available on listings; however, they are often not listed due to pricing being constructed based on a renters income level. The website does recommend contacting any potential listings you’re interested in via phone primarily as it is usually the easiest way to find current availability information and be placed on waiting lists if applicable.

USDA Rural Development Multi-Family Housing Rentals - This website is focused primarily on providing information on government rental projects. Throughout the entire United States, the USDA subsidizes over 15,000 section 515 apartment complexes.

Section 515 is a USDA loan program that enables funding to be provided to low-income residents and families so that they can afford housing in rural areas. All properties that fall under this program are managed by approved agencies who must provide a certification process for all of their tenants. The USDA also manages over 1,000 section 514 properties.

Section 514 allows loans and grants to be given to qualified on-farm and off-farm residences. These properties also require an annual tenant certification.

USDA also provides rental assistance through 250,000 apartments located in rural areas throughout the US. In these programs, qualified low-income tenants are guaranteed to pay no more than 30% of their income in rental costs. The qualifications will vary by each state and within different counties of the state as costs of living are different in each area.

Affordable Housing Online - This website was established 15 years ago and serves to provide waiting list information on affordable housing and subsidized housing to low-income renters. According to their site, they have over 6,229,000 apartment homes listed that are comprised of 77,500 apartment communities.

Those seeking affordable housing can quickly locate potential opportunities, complete applications for housing, and even apply for waiting lists all on the website. There is also an available blog to keep up to date on current events and news, an extensive FAQ section that addresses most related questions for renters, and up-to-date, affordable housing data and tools to advocate for housing issues that are important to you.

The website allows individual apartments and apartment communities that receive Federal funding to list their rentals for free, and all information is provided to potential renters free of charge as well. Employees update available listings and information daily.

Numerous informational guides are also available on the site, ranging in topic from low-income housing guidance to Section 8 guidance, to discrimination law and housing scams. There is also educational information available to potential landlords, such as on the Low-income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC).

The affordable housing market, and securing something that works for you and your family, can be a bit overwhelming at times; however, utilizing the above websites should make the process easier for you.