The mission of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is to increase homeownership, support community development and increase access to affordable housing free from discrimination. To fulfill this mission, HUD will embrace high standards of ethics, management and accountability and forge new partnerships--particularly with faith-based and community organizations--that leverage resources and improve HUD's ability to be effective on the community level.

FAQS

I am looking for an apartment for my family.  Where can I find affordable housing in Connecticut?

There are a number of resources at the state and federal levels to help you in finding affordable housing.  I encourage you to use the links listed below hosted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (ECDC), and the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA).  You may also consider contacting individual Public Housing Agencies (PHA) as they typically maintain lists of landlords with vacancies in your area.

Online Resources include:

Find low rent apartments on HUD's website : the government gives funds directly to apartment owners, who lower the rents they charge low-income tenants. You can find low-rent apartments for senior citizens and people with disabilities, as well as for families and individuals.  Search by City and State.

CTHousingSearch.org is an online service that lists available rental properties in the State and is updated regularly.

Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) has developed a directory of multifamily rental housing units in the State.  The directory is organized alphabetically by county.  Elderly, family, and supportive housing properties are listed.

What is Section 8? 

Section 8 is the former name for a federally-funded rent subsidy program that is now called the Housing Choice Voucher Program.  We continue to refer to it as Section 8, however, because that is the name by which most people know it.

The Section 8 program, which is generally administered by local housing authorities, provides rent vouchers to eligible households.

Voucher holders find their own apartments and negotiate their own rents and leases with landlords.

The landlord then signs an agreement with the housing authority that is administering the voucher. Each month voucher holders pay their share of the rent (usually 30% of income) to the landlord, and the housing authority pays the balance of the rent directly to the landlord.

How do I get on a Section 8 waiting list?

Section 8 vouchers are obtained by applying to housing authorities or the Department of Social Services.  All of these sources, however, have waiting lists, many of which are quite long.  Most of the time, the waiting lists are "closed," that is, they do not accept new applicants.  Occasionally, however, a housing authority will open its waiting list, usually for a fixed period of time, to accept new applications.  Such openings are usually for a month or less and sometimes for as little as a single day.  By state law, housing authorities must give at least two weeks' advance notice before a waiting list is opened.  It is important to be alert to these notices and also to carefully follow each housing authority's directions for submitting an application.

Register to receive email notices of opening of waiting lists.

I have fallen behind on my mortgage payments, what programs or services are available?

This has become a national problem, but there are local, national, and federal resources available to you. Due to Adjustable Rate Mortgages, Subprime Mortgages, lost jobs, increased medical expenses, etc., families, seniors, and individuals are facing foreclosures all over the country.  I have gathered a list of different agencies and organizations that have the resources and information to try to assist you in keeping your home. 

RESOURCES TO HELP HOMEOWNERS AVOID FORECLOSURE