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There are 6,099 low-income apartments in Polk County that offer reduced rents to eligible households. Low-income rents in Polk County, Iowa can range from $553 to $1,317 depending on the number of bedrooms.
Rental assistance programs support 3,174 low-income homes in Polk County where households pay rent based on how much they earn. For 2024, elgible households participating in federally assisted housing pay an average of $344 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 Polk County, Iowa
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 |
|---|---|
| Des Moines Municipal Housing Agency | Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV); Public Housing; Family Self-Sufficiency; Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) |
Polk County, Iowa Affordable Housing Data
Income Based Apartments in Polk County, Iowa
Polk County features 3,174 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 Polk County, Iowa
There are 6,099 rent subsidized apartments that do not provide direct rental assistance but remain affordable to low income households in Polk County.
Housing Choice Vouchers in Polk County, Iowa
On average, Section 8 Housing Choice vouchers pay Polk County landlords $500 per month towards rent. The average voucher holder contributes $300 towards rent in Polk County.
The maximum amount a voucher would pay on behalf of a low-income tenant in Polk County, Iowa for a two-bedroom apartment is between $972 and $1,188.
2024 Polk County, Iowa 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polk County, Iowa Fair Market Rent | $833 | $899 | $1,080 | $1,477 | $1,481 |
| Polk County, Iowa Payment Standard Range | $750 to $916 | $809 to $989 | $972 to $1,188 | $1,329 to $1,625 | $1,333 to $1,629 |
Sourced from federal housing data and AffordableHousingOnline.com research.
Polk County, IA Affordable Housing Snapshot
| Total Affordable Apartment Properties | 225 |
|---|---|
| Total Low Income Apartments | 9,558 |
| Total Housing Units with Rental Assistance | 3,174 |
| Percentage of Housing Units Occupied By Renters | 32.42% |
| Average Renter Household Size | 2.23 |
| Average Household Size | 2.50 |
| Median Household Income | $60,061 ±$876 |
| Median Rent | $799 ±$10 |
| Percentage Of Renters Overburdened | 43.1% ± 1.9pp |
| Total Population | 452,369 |
Population and Household Demographics
Polk County is a county in Iowa with a population of 452,369. There are 177,049 households in the county with an average household size of 2.50 persons. 32.42% of households in Polk County are renters.
Income and Rent Overburden in Polk County
The median gross income for households in Polk County is $60,061 a year, or $5,005 a month. The median rent for the county is $799 a month.
Households who pay more than thirty percent of their gross income are considered to be Rent Overburdened. In Polk County, a household making less than $2,663 a month would be considered overburdened when renting an apartment at or above the median rent. 43.1% of households who rent are overburdened in Polk County.
Area Median Income In Polk 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 Polk County, HUD calculates the Area Median Income for a family of four as $105,600
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 Polk 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 Polk 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 Polk County AMI may qualify for rental assistance programs that target Extremely Low Income households. |
$21,950 | $25,050 | $28,200 | $31,300 | $35,140 | $40,280 | $45,420 | $50,560 |
| 50% AMI Income Limits Renters earning up to 50% of the Polk County AMI may qualify for rental assistance programs that target Very Low Income households. |
$36,550 | $41,750 | $46,950 | $52,150 | $56,350 | $60,500 | $64,700 | $68,850 |
| 80% AMI Income Limits Renters earning up to 80% of the Polk County AMI may qualify for rental assistance programs that target Low Income households. |
$58,450 | $66,800 | $75,150 | $83,450 | $90,150 | $96,850 | $103,500 | $110,200 |
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