Low income housing program glossary

Short, plain-English definitions of the terms you'll meet when choosing a low income housing program provider in Texas.

What are income limits?: Income limits are maximum annual household earnings set by HUD that determine eligibility for federal and state low-income housing assistance programs, with thresholds that vary by area and family size.
What is a Community Development Block Grant?: A Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) is federal funding distributed by HUD to cities and counties for projects that benefit low-income residents, including affordable housing development, infrastructure improvements, and social services.
What is a Continuum of Care (CoC)?: A Continuum of Care (CoC) is a regional collaborative that brings together government agencies, nonprofits, and service providers to coordinate housing and support services for people experiencing homelessness and allocate federal HUD funding.
What is a coordinated entry system?: A coordinated entry system is a standardized intake and assessment process that evaluates people experiencing homelessness and prioritizes them for available housing and support services based on identified needs.
What is a Housing Choice Voucher waiting list?: A waitlist maintained by a Public Housing Authority (PHA) for applicants seeking Housing Choice Vouchers, filled either through first-come order or lottery when the list opens to the public.
What is a Housing Quality Standards inspection?: A Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspection is a mandatory habitability assessment that Public Housing Authorities conduct on rental units before a tenant moves in and periodically during their tenancy to qualify for the Housing Choice Voucher program.
What is a HUD-VASH voucher?: A HUD-VASH voucher is a rental assistance program jointly administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Veterans Affairs that pairs housing vouchers with supportive services for homeless veterans.
What is a payment standard?: A payment standard is the maximum monthly subsidy amount a Public Housing Authority sets for each bedroom size and geographic area to calculate Housing Choice Voucher rent assistance.
What is a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher?: A Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher is a federal rental subsidy issued by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that allows eligible low-income tenants to rent from private landlords, with the government paying a portion of the rent directly to the landlord.
What is a utility allowance?: A utility allowance is the dollar amount added to a Section 8 housing voucher to cover the household's cost of utilities such as gas, electricity, water, and sewer services.
What is adjusted gross income for housing eligibility?: Adjusted gross income for housing eligibility is a household's gross income reduced by HUD-approved deductions (dependent allowances, elderly or disabled status, medical expenses) to determine qualification and rent calculations in low-income housing programs.
What is Area Median Income (AMI)?: Area Median Income (AMI) is the midpoint household income for a specific metro area or county, calculated annually by HUD and used to set income eligibility caps for affordable housing assistance programs.
What is Fair market rent (FMR)?: Fair market rent is the maximum rent amount set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for each county or metropolitan area, used to establish payment standards for housing voucher programs.
What is permanent supportive housing?: Permanent supportive housing is long-term, affordable housing paired with voluntary supportive services such as case management, mental health care, and substance abuse treatment for people with chronic homelessness or disabilities.
What is project-based rental assistance?: Project-based rental assistance is a subsidy attached to a specific apartment building or unit, meaning a tenant's assistance ends if they move to a different property.
What is public housing?: Public housing consists of rental apartments and homes owned and operated by Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) as government-funded housing for low-income residents.
What is rapid re-housing?: Rapid re-housing is a program that provides short-term rental assistance and supportive services to help people exit homelessness and move directly into housing.
What is rental subsidy portability?: Rental subsidy portability is the ability of a household holding a Housing Choice Voucher to transfer that subsidy from one Public Housing Authority jurisdiction to another, including across state lines, allowing the family to move while keeping their rental assistance.
What is section 202 supportive housing for the elderly?: Section 202 is a federal HUD program that provides capital advances and operating support for affordable housing developments serving seniors aged 62 and older with incomes below 50 percent of area median income.
What is Section 811 supportive housing for persons with disabilities?: Section 811 is a federal HUD program that funds affordable housing combined with on-site or coordinated supportive services for very low-income individuals with disabilities.
What is tenant-based rental assistance (TBRA)?: Tenant-based rental assistance (TBRA) is a housing subsidy attached to a person rather than a specific property, allowing eligible renters to use the benefit toward rent at any participating landlord's unit.
What is the Housing First model?: Housing First is an approach to addressing homelessness that prioritizes providing stable housing immediately, without requiring individuals to meet preconditions such as sobriety, employment, or completion of treatment programs.
What is the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC)?: The LIHTC is a federal tax incentive that allows state housing agencies to distribute tax credits to private developers who build or renovate affordable rental housing for low-income households.
What is total tenant payment (TTP)?: Total tenant payment (TTP) is the monthly rent amount a household is required to pay for subsidized housing, calculated as a percentage of the household's adjusted income (usually 30%).