Housing assistance can help eligible households afford rent, locate subsidized housing, avoid homelessness, or reduce home-energy costs.
There is no single nationwide application for all housing or utility programs. Availability, waiting lists, eligibility rules, and application procedures vary by location.
Rental Assistance and Housing Choice Vouchers
The Housing Choice Voucher Program, often called Section 8, helps eligible low-income households afford privately owned rental housing. Local Public Housing Agencies administer the program, and many areas have long waiting lists.
Find Rental Assistance:
Use HUD’s Public Housing Agency directory to find the housing agency serving your area and ask about Housing Choice Vouchers, public housing, and other local rental-assistance programs.
Affordable and Public Housing
Local housing agencies may operate public housing or connect residents with other subsidized or affordable-housing options.
Because demand can be high, some programs maintain waiting lists or open applications only during certain periods. HUD recommends contacting the local housing agency and checking available rental-assistance resources in your area.
If You Are at Risk of Homelessness
If you are homeless or concerned that you may lose your housing soon, seek help immediately rather than waiting for a long-term housing application.
HUD’s Find Shelter tool can help locate shelters, homelessness-service providers, food resources, health clinics, and other community assistance.
Find Emergency Housing Help:
Use HUD’s Find Shelter service or contact 211 for local housing and emergency-assistance resources.
Help With Heating and Cooling Bills
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program — LIHEAP helps eligible households with home-energy costs.
Depending on the state or tribal program, assistance may include:
- Heating or cooling bills
- Energy-crisis assistance
- Weatherization
- Certain minor energy-related repairs
LIHEAP is administered by states, territories, and tribes, so eligibility and services vary by location.
Find LIHEAP Energy Assistance:
Contact your state, territorial, or tribal LIHEAP program and ask about current energy-assistance options.
Weatherization Assistance
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program helps qualifying lower-income households improve home energy efficiency and reduce energy costs.
Services are administered through state and local agencies and may include energy-efficiency improvements designed to reduce household energy expenses and improve health and safety.
Find Weatherization Assistance:
Find your state Weatherization Assistance Program and ask how to apply.
Housing Counseling
HUD-approved housing counselors can help people understand housing options and problems involving renting, homeownership, foreclosure, and other housing concerns.
A housing counselor can help explain choices but does not guarantee financial assistance or housing placement.
Before You Apply
Housing and utility programs may request information about:
- Household members
- Income
- Rent or mortgage costs
- Utility bills
- Residency
- Current housing situation
- Other benefits or financial resources
Only submit sensitive records through an official agency or secure application system.
Do not send Social Security numbers, bank information, immigration documents, leases, utility-account credentials, or other confidential records to Open Door Peace through ordinary website messages or email.
Important
Open Door Peace provides general information and navigation to housing and utility resources.
We do not determine eligibility, place people in housing, issue vouchers, pay utility bills, or guarantee assistance.
Housing availability, waiting lists, funding, eligibility rules, and application periods can change. Always confirm current information directly with the housing agency, utility-assistance program, or other organization administering the service.