Houston area housing assistance from HHA
Houston and Harris County Texas offer a number of low income housing programs as well as income based apartments for qualified families in the region. There are housing units for the disabled, people with special needs, and emergency government grant/voucher programs. Many of the programs referenced are organized by the Houston Housing Authority (HHA), using government funds and get more details below.
Homeowner programs for the low-income in Houston
The Houston Housing Authority, in partnership with the city and Housing and Community Development Department (HCDD) try to help low-income people and those with limited or low credit scores buy a place. There are a variety of Homeowner Assistance Programs (HAP) that are offered from time to time over the years.
Low income homebuyers with disabilities, veterans and even single moms in Harris County and the city of Houston may receive funds to buy a new home, or get assistance with modifying an existing home. The HHA will also help people rebuild or improve their FICO scores, navigate the various government home buying loans such as from FHA and get other support. The money can be used for closing cost assistance or homebuyer down payments too.
As noted, there are a number of different Homeowner Assistance Programs that may be available depending on the year and government funding levels. They include the applicant must meet low-income levels as defined by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. In addition, applicants need to complete a homebuyer’s class and receive credit counseling from a non-profit in Houston before receiving assistance from Housing Opportunities of Houston.
To learn more, call Houston Area Urban League at (713) 393-8700, as they run the program in cooperation with the Houston Housing Authority as well as HCDD. The City of Houston’s Housing and Community Development Department also participates in the program. Call (832) 394-6200.
HHA housing assistance for low-income renters in Houston
The HHA Housing Choice Voucher Program as well as other Low-Rent Public Housing Programs are available in Harris County Texas as well. Both are federal funded from HUD and they help very low-income families in Houston TX find, and pay the rent, on a home. The Houston Housing Authority manages the programs in partnership with public housing authorities in Texas and local non-profits.
If you meet program requirements and are enrolled, families who receive housing vouchers generally pay 30% of their total household annual income for rent and housing expenses. The balance is paid from the section 8 program (federal government and HUD). The total monthly rent owed for the home or apartment must be reasonably compared with similar unassisted units in the Harris County area. Also the property that the family is renting must also meet HUD's Section 8 Housing Quality Standards. At any time tens of thousands of individuals across Houston benefit from this voucher program.
The Houston Family Self-Sufficiency Program is for people on section 8. This is more of a case management and self-sufficiency program. Counselors from the agency offer job advice and will in general try to help people find employment and other case-managed services, all of which are designed to promote economic self-sufficiency for low income families that are currently participating in the Housing Choice Voucher program.
Tenants that get a section 8 voucher from HHA will work with a counselor who is part of FSS to develop specific economic goals, via their Individual Training and Services Plan. Some of the services provided include Transportation, Job Training and Employment Counseling, Household skill training, Child Care, Education, Homeownership Counseling, and substance/alcohol abuse treatment if applicable..
Special Needs Housing from the HHA government housing authority coordinates with Houston and Harris County area shelters, non-profits, and charities in both preventing homelessness and doing what they can to break the cycle of homelessness. They also work with local shelters to get people off the streets,
The Houston Housing Authority works with numerous homeless assistance and prevention agencies to bring coordinated approaches to address the problem of evictions and homelessness. Some Houston Housing Authority programs are pro-active, like emergency rental assistance. Others are more reactive, like finding new low income housing units.
A program is offered for residents who have AIDs or HIV as well. The Houston area Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDs (HOPWA) provides multifamily housing, case management and related supportive services to Harris County and Houston Texas individuals. The HHA works with the Texas Department of State Health Services on this service.
A number of grant programs and financial assistance is offered to local non-profits and charities in the region. These non-profits accept applications and provide funding to those who need help and are impacted by HIV or AIDs. Various supportive services are covered by HOPWA, and the expenses paid for must be tied to housing and rent expenses, mortgage and utility assistance, and other costs. Houston HOPWA supportive services may provide assistance with housing counseling, case management, housekeeping, transportation, and more.
A federal government funded program known as the Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG) Program provides funds to Houston Housing Authority (HHA) and other agencies for running and the expansion of emergency shelters. The ESG program also offers the provision of essential supportive services to homeless individuals, and may offer limited amounts of emergency rental assistance to people in Houston who are faced with an eviction.
Houston Housing Authority Transitional Housing is part of the public housing. The city provides funding to non-profits and charities across the city as well as HHA. These groups operate shelters and transitional housing units for those faced with poverty, homeless, and others who need help.
HHA contact information for assistance
As indicated above, either the federal government HUD Department, the State of Texas or other organizations fund these various housing assistance programs. The Houston Housing Authority (phone number is (713) 260-0500) administrates many of them from 2640 Fountain View Dr, Houston, TX 77057. The location can be a good resource to use to learn more about the different options that are available.
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