HUD Facts

"All we know are the facts ma'am. 

Joe Friday, "Dragnet" 1967

Can a low-income person find decent housing, or live in Lake Oswego without rental assistance?

The basics of the Housing and Urban Development's Public Housing Program.
HUD establishes eligibility requirements for housing subsidies that are tied to the Area Median Income (AMI) for each state and metropolitan area.

HUD's Public Housing Program
HAs (Housing Agencies) use income limits developed by HUD. HUD sets the lower income limits at 80% and very low income limits at 50% of the median income for the county or metropolitan area in which you choose to live. Income limits vary from area to area so you may be eligible at one HA but not at another. The HA serving your community can provide you with the income levels for your area and family size, or you can also find the income limits here on the internet.

The formula used in determining the TTP is the highest of the following, rounded to the nearest dollar:
(1) 30 percent of the monthly adjusted income. (Monthly Adjusted Income is annual income less deductions allowed by the regulations);
(2) 10 percent of monthly income;
(3) welfare rent, if applicable; or
(4) a $25 minimum rent or higher amount (up to $50) set by an HA.


Median family income for the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro area is $69,400.  

Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA MSA FY 2014 MFI:    69400  PROGRAM                       1 PERSON     2 PERSON     3 PERSON     4 PERSON     5 PERSON     6 PERSON     7 PERSON     8 PERSON EXTR LOW INCOME      14600             16650              19790             23850             27910              31970             36030             40090

VERY LOW INCOME 24300             27800              31250             34700             37500              40300             43050             45850                       LOW-INCOME 38850             44400               49950            55500             59950              64400              68850            73300 Extra-Low Income = 30% of adjusted gross income  Very Low Income   = 50% of adjusted gross income Low Income            = 80% of adjusted gross income* *80% of Median Family Income is sometimes defined as "workforce housing."   Compare income eligibility to metro area salary for Architect 1:  low end salaries are $36,159 (salary.com).  After a deduction of $400 for each person in household from annual income, the adjusted gross income is $35,759 for a household of 1.  This is low enough to qualify for low-income, workforce housing.  Median income is $55,256 less $400 per person for a 4-person household equals $53,656, low enough to qualify for workforce housing for a family of 4.   Minimum wage in Oregon for 2014 is $9.10 - about $26,645 per year.  After the personal deduction of $400, the adjusted gross income is $26,245.  A single person working full-time at minimum wage is eligible for workforce housing, but not Very Low or Extra Low Income levels. Using the 30% rule, using the gross income (adjusted), the architect could afford to rent an apartment for $819/ month, and the minimum-wage worker could rent a unit for $656/ month.  The average rent in the metro area is $880 for a 800 sf unit.  Note: Using the unadjusted gross income, rent allowance would be slightly higher.   $800 / 1br - 958ft -  Darling cottage apartment exhibits all of the and comfort (Alameda, Portland) $725 Updated Studio in the Up and Coming West End Area of Downtown (Sw Portland) $650 / 500ft - STUDIO APARTMENT IN FIRST ADDITION (9th and E Street) $625 / 1br - Rare find in Multnomah Village/Hillsdale (Multnomah Village/Hillsdale) Craigslist ads as of 8/25/2014 Portland is considered "less affordable" because housing prices are higher than 30% of the average wage.  Even so, except for perhaps the very poor.,with some effort and a willingness to move to an area that may not be one's first choice, securing good housing without government subsidies is quite doable.   Should the government (taxpayers), with limited resources, be offering housing assistance to people making 80% of AMI considering the vast need for those with even less income?   Even if there were very few families with very low incomes, and meeting those needs was not difficult?