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There are 1,715 low-income apartments in Merced County that offer reduced rents to eligible households. Low-income rents in Merced County, California can range from $583 to $878 depending on the number of bedrooms.
Rental assistance programs support 1,422 low-income homes in Merced County where households pay rent based on how much they earn. For 2024, elgible households participating in federally assisted housing pay an average of $393 towards rent each month.
Affordable rent data for some communities last confirmed on July 2nd, 2024. Subdsidized rents typically change once a year based on federal guidance.
Public Housing Agencies Serving Merced County, California
Public Housing Agencies operate federally assisted affordable housing programs at local levels on behalf of HUD. Notably, housing agencies are responsible for managing Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher, Public Housing, and Project-Based Voucher waiting lists within their jurisdiction.
| Housing Authority | Programs |
|---|---|
| Housing Authority of the County of Merced | Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV); Public Housing; Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH); Section 8 Project-Based Voucher (PBV) |
Merced County, California Affordable Housing Data
Income Based Apartments in Merced County, California
Merced County features 1,422 income based apartments. Tenants of income based apartments typically pay no more than 30% of their income towards rent and utilities.
Low Rent Apartments in Merced County, California
There are 1,715 rent subsidized apartments that do not provide direct rental assistance but remain affordable to low income households in Merced County.
Housing Choice Vouchers in Merced County, California
On average, Section 8 Housing Choice vouchers pay Merced County landlords $700 per month towards rent. The average voucher holder contributes $400 towards rent in Merced County.
The maximum amount a voucher would pay on behalf of a low-income tenant in Merced County, California for a two-bedroom apartment is between $1,278 and $1,562.
2024 Merced County, California Fair Market Rents and Housing Choice Voucher Payment Standards
Fair Market Rents can be used to better understand the average housing costs of an area. Fair Market Rents are used by HUD to establish payment and rent standards for federal rental assistance programs like the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program.
| Studio | One BR | Two BR | Three BR | Four BR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced County, California Fair Market Rent | $994 | $1,159 | $1,420 | $1,995 | $2,410 |
| Merced County, California Payment Standard Range | $895 to $1,093 | $1,043 to $1,275 | $1,278 to $1,562 | $1,796 to $2,195 | $2,169 to $2,651 |
Sourced from federal housing data and AffordableHousingOnline.com research.
Merced County, CA Affordable Housing Snapshot
| Total Affordable Apartment Properties | 97 |
|---|---|
| Total Low Income Apartments | 3,292 |
| Total Housing Units with Rental Assistance | 1,422 |
| Percentage of Housing Units Occupied By Renters | 48.36% |
| Average Renter Household Size | 3.47 |
| Average Household Size | 3.32 |
| Median Household Income | $42,462 ±$1,214 |
| Median Rent | $873 ±$16 |
| Percentage Of Renters Overburdened | 51.33% ± 2.62pp |
| Total Population | 263,885 |
Population and Household Demographics
Merced County is a county in California with a population of 263,885. There are 77,692 households in the county with an average household size of 3.32 persons. 48.36% of households in Merced County are renters.
Income and Rent Overburden in Merced County
The median gross income for households in Merced County is $42,462 a year, or $3,539 a month. The median rent for the county is $873 a month.
Households who pay more than thirty percent of their gross income are considered to be Rent Overburdened. In Merced County, a household making less than $2,910 a month would be considered overburdened when renting an apartment at or above the median rent. 51.33% of households who rent are overburdened in Merced County.
Area Median Income In Merced County
Affordable housing program eligibility is always determined by one's income. Each household's income is compared to the incomes of all other households in the area. This is accomplished through a statistic established by the government called the Area Median Income, most often referred to as AMI. The AMI is calculated and published each year by HUD.
In Merced County, HUD calculates the Area Median Income for a family of four as $67,400
Most affordable housing programs determine eligibility based on the percent of AMI a given household's income is. Among the programs that determine eligibility based on the AMI are Section 8, HOME, LIHTC, Section 515, 202 and 811.
Rental Assistance in Merced County
Rental assistance is a type of housing subsidy that pays for a portion of a renter’s monthly housing costs, including rent and tenant paid utilities. This housing assistance can come in the form of Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, project-based Section 8 contracts, public housing, USDA Rental Assistance (in Section 515 properties) as well as HUD Section 202 and 811 properties for elderly and disabled households.
Income Qualifications for HUD Rental Assistance in Merced County
| 1 Person | 2 Person | 3 Person | 4 Person | 5 Person | 6 Person | 7 Person | 8 Person | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30% AMI Income Limits Renters earning up to 30% of the Merced County AMI may qualify for rental assistance programs that target Extremely Low Income households. |
$17,350 | $19,800 | $24,860 | $30,000 | $35,140 | $40,280 | $45,420 | $50,560 |
| 50% AMI Income Limits Renters earning up to 50% of the Merced County AMI may qualify for rental assistance programs that target Very Low Income households. |
$28,900 | $33,000 | $37,150 | $41,250 | $44,550 | $47,850 | $51,150 | $54,450 |
| 80% AMI Income Limits Renters earning up to 80% of the Merced County AMI may qualify for rental assistance programs that target Low Income households. |
$46,200 | $52,800 | $59,400 | $65,950 | $71,250 | $76,550 | $81,800 | $87,100 |
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