Access to affordable housing (which in government language means you are not paying more than 30% of your gross income on your mortgage or rent) is important. There are a number of different government programs that may be able to help you if you have a low income. The most common one is a Housing Voucher or Section 8. Application for these vouchers is made through the local areas Public Housing Authority (PHA). Many PHAs have waiting lists and some are not taking applications for these vouchers due to lack of availability.

If you need to find some other type of shelter separate from your home, it is important to understand that many shelters have different entry rules. Since there are so many different programs that provide housing of some type, only programs funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) are covered. You can contact the shelter you want or you can access services through one of many hotlines available. If you are homeless you can call 1-800-654-8595.