New Jersey Low Income Housing Requirements
- Income eligibility is determined by the state or federal government.Low Cost image by Marco from Fotolia.com
Affordable housing for low income residents in New Jersey is provided through the N.J. Department of Community Affairs. Each county has at least one affordable housing development listed in a guide available through this state department, and there are others that are unlisted. Federal or state housing and development programs fund most low income housing, and applicants must meet a variety of requirements, set by either the state or federal agency, to qualify. - All low income or affordable housing in New Jersey is granted on the basis of two factors: income and family size. The amount of income is not static and varies typically on a yearly basis based on federal and state standards. Also, each county may have income standards that vary slightly. Each individual housing unit may have additional requirements, but these are the standard regulations that are applicable for affordable housing.
- Public housing is the largest type of affordable housing available in New Jersey with the state having 100 housing authorities. Public housing is available to those who earn less than 80 percent of median family income, and federal guidelines require that a certain percentage of public housing is reserved for individuals with very low income. Very low income is for families earning 50 percent to 30 percent or less of the median family income. The median income level is determined by federal income levels and varies by each state and county. The federal poverty and income levels typically change on a yearly basis, but may not change in times of economic downturn. Waiting lists for housing in these units may be long.
- Section 8 is rental assistance provided through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Individuals who qualify for section 8 housing pay no more than 30 percent of their adjusted income on rent and utilities and the state pays or subsidizes the remaining balance. Federal income standards are also used to determine eligibility. While there are some housing units or landowners who advertise they accept section 8 housing vouchers, there are many rental units or housing units that may accept section 8 housing residents but do not advertise or specifically state so.
