Low income housing programs in South Side, Houston: ranked picks
South Side residents looking for low income housing help have a mix of options: nonprofit housing providers, senior living complexes, apartment communities that accept assistance, and the government agencies that administer vouchers and aid. We ranked them using our methodology, which weighs review volume, recency, sentiment, and verification alongside star ratings. None of these come out spotless, waitlists, maintenance backlogs, and slow callbacks are common complaints across the board, so read the specifics below before you decide where to start.
This area includes a range of housing types, from senior-only complexes to family apartments that accept Section 8, plus the county and city offices that process applications for the wider Houston area. Expect to deal with more than one of these organizations if you're applying for rental assistance, since intake, verification, and property management are often handled by separate agencies.
12 businesses, scored on rating, review volume, recency, sentiment and listing completeness. How we score › · View on map ›
At a glance
| # | Business | Score | Rating | From | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magnificat Houses, Inc. (Admissions for Housing and Supportive Services) Our thrift store is permanently closed. | 64 | 4 (85) | — | Emergency housing plus job support |
| 2 | Harris County Housing Authority | 59 | 3.1 (235) | — | Section 8 disputes and verification |
| 3 | Law Harrington Senior Living Center | 58 | 4.3 (14) | — | Affordable senior apartments |
| 4 | New Hope Housing Brays Crossing | 54 | 3.6 (33) | — | Community-oriented low income housing |
| 5 | Royal Palms Apartments | 52 | 3.9 (17) | — | Section 8 apartments in South Houston |
| 6 | Harris County Housing & Community Development | 51 | 2.8 (54) | — | Emergency aid applications |
| 7 | U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development | 46 | 2.8 (9) | — | Fair housing complaints (last resort) |
| 8 | City of Houston Housing and Community Development Department | 45 | 2.3 (9) | — | Homebuyer and rental assistance programs |
| 9 | Housing & Recovery Inc | 30 | 3.5 (4) | — | homeless transitional shelter |
| 10 | Housing100 | 26 | — | — | low income housing program |
| 11 | Harris County Housing & Community Development | 30 | — | — | low income housing program |
| 12 | 811 housing | 22 | — | — | public housing authority |
Ranked picks
Magnificat Houses, Inc. (Admissions for Housing and Supportive Services) Our thrift store is permanently closed.
score 64/100Residents cite meals, job training, and bus passes, though intake rules like curfews and kitchen limits frustrate some.
Harris County Housing Authority
score 59/100Named caseworkers like Sylvia Williams get praised for real advocacy, but the waitlist has been closed since 2016 and callbacks are unreliable.
Law Harrington Senior Living Center
score 58/100Small but positive review base points to clean, spacious units and friendly staff despite occasional elevator and trash issues.
New Hope Housing Brays Crossing
score 54/100Offers social events and welcoming staff, but pest infestations and mold reports pull the score down.
Royal Palms Apartments
score 52/100Accepts Rental Assistance and has staff some residents like, but sewage backups and slow maintenance are recurring complaints.
Harris County Housing & Community Development
score 51/100A caseworker or two stands out for going the extra mile, but long waits and inconsistent eligibility decisions dominate feedback.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
score 46/100Reviewers report investigations that favor landlords and dismissive staff, so expect a fight to get a fair hearing.
City of Houston Housing and Community Development Department
score 45/100Handles homebuyer training and rental help citywide, but reviewers describe months-long waits and unanswered phones.
Housing & Recovery Inc
score 30/100Four reviews span strong disagreement about Housing & Recovery Inc.
Harris County Housing & Community Development
score 30/100Limited review evidence is available.
