US Housing Assistance (as of 2026; subject to change)

US housing is highly market-driven. Some cities have meaningful public housing (notably NYCHA in New York), but nationally the share is small and waitlists often run for years. Most government support comes in the form of rent subsidies (vouchers) for low-income households.

The big picture

| Type | Run by | Form | Who qualifies | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) | HUD + local PHA | Rental subsidy voucher | Low-income; citizen/eligible status | | Public Housing | HUD + local PHA | Public rental housing | Low-income; citizen/eligible status | | LIHTC properties | Private + tax credits | Below-market rents | Lower- and middle-income | | FHA mortgage | HUD-backed | Home purchase loan | Lower-credit, lower-cash households | | VA mortgage | Veterans Affairs | Zero-down loan | Service members and families |

Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher) — most common

• Household income must be at or below 50% of Area Median Income (AMI), with priority typically below 30%.
• Tenant pays about 30% of income, government pays the landlord directly for the rest.
• Waitlists of several years are common, and some areas close applications entirely at times.
• Status: citizens, permanent residents, or certain non-immigrant categories (refugees, asylees, some visas). F-1 and H-1B are not eligible.
• Apply at your local Public Housing Authority (PHA).

Public Housing

• Owned and operated directly by local PHAs.
• Rent is typically 30% of household income.
• Separate system from Section 8, with its own waitlist.
• Concentrated in big cities (NYC, Chicago, LA). Aging stock and safety issues are common.

LIHTC (Low-Income Housing Tax Credit) properties

• Developers receive tax credits in exchange for renting some units to lower-income tenants.
• Rents below market (typically pegged to 60% AMI).
• Status rules are more lenient than Section 8 — immigration status is often irrelevant (varies by property).
• Search the LIHTC database at huduser.gov.

Home purchase support

FHA mortgage

• Down payment as low as 3.5% (vs. typical 5–20% conventional).
• Credit score 580+ (10% down for 500–579).
• Mortgage insurance (MIP) required.
• Limits vary by county (about USD 524,000 average in 2026; up to about USD 1,209,000 in high-cost areas; subject to change).

Conventional mortgage

• Typical down payment 5–20% (PMI required below 20%).
• Credit score 620+ recommended.
• Above limit becomes a jumbo loan.

First-time homebuyer programs

• Vary by state (e.g. CalHFA, SONYMA).
• Down payment assistance, lower rates, closing-cost help.

What Koreans often ask

Q1. Can F-1 or H-1B buy a home?

Yes.

• You'll need credit history (typically 2+ years).
• Some banks offer ITIN mortgages (higher rates, larger down payment).
• H-1B holders qualify for normal mortgages (stable income and sufficient visa runway).
• But Section 8 / public housing are not available.

Q2. What if a landlord refuses because I have no SSN?

• A legitimate landlord can verify you with an ITIN.
• Without credit history, expect to be asked for 6–12 months of rent prepaid, or a co-signer.
• F-1 students often benefit from a school letter of guarantee.

Q3. Will I get my security deposit back?

• Rules vary by state. Typically capped at 1–2 months, returnable within 14–30 days after lease end.
• Photos of damage and a move-in inspection record are essential.

Q4. Rent is expensive — compared with Korea?

City matters a lot. Roughly (2026, 1-bedroom; subject to change):

• San Francisco / Manhattan: USD 3,500–5,000
• LA / Chicago: USD 2,000–3,500
• Texas / smaller Midwest cities: USD 1,000–1,800

The 30%-of-income guideline is widely quoted, but big cities frequently cross 40%.

Homelessness prevention and emergency help

• ERA (Emergency Rental Assistance): scaled up during COVID; now state residual programs only.
• 211 (211.org): local emergency housing and food resources by phone.
• HUD counseling: free housing counseling (hud.gov/counseling).

Useful links

• hud.gov — federal housing department
• hud.gov/topics/rental_assistance — Section 8 info
• huduser.gov — data and LIHTC search
• consumerfinance.gov/owning-a-home — homebuyer guide
• 211.org — emergency resources