There are 47,756 low-income apartments in Harris County that offer reduced rents to eligible households. Low-income rents in Harris County, Texas can range from $351 to $1,225 depending on the number of bedrooms.
Rental assistance programs support 16,179 low-income homes in Harris 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 7th, 2024. Subdsidized rents typically change once a year based on federal guidance.
Public Housing Agencies Serving Harris County, Texas
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 |
|---|---|
| Harris County Housing Authority | Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) |
| Harris County-Other Dhap Only | Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) |
Harris County, Texas Affordable Housing Data
Income Based Apartments in Harris County, Texas
Harris County features 16,179 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 Harris County, Texas
There are 47,756 rent subsidized apartments that do not provide direct rental assistance but remain affordable to low income households in Harris County.
Housing Choice Vouchers in Harris County, Texas
On average, Section 8 Housing Choice vouchers pay Harris County landlords $800 per month towards rent. The average voucher holder contributes $300 towards rent in Harris County.
The maximum amount a voucher would pay on behalf of a low-income tenant in Harris County, Texas for a two-bedroom apartment is between $1,221 and $1,493.
2024 Harris County, Texas 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harris County, Texas Fair Market Rent | $1,073 | $1,135 | $1,357 | $1,792 | $2,303 |
| Harris County, Texas Payment Standard Range | $966 to $1,180 | $1,022 to $1,249 | $1,221 to $1,493 | $1,613 to $1,971 | $2,073 to $2,533 |
Sourced from federal housing data and AffordableHousingOnline.com research.
Harris County, TX Affordable Housing Snapshot
| Total Affordable Apartment Properties | 461 |
|---|---|
| Total Low Income Apartments | 65,102 |
| Total Housing Units with Rental Assistance | 16,179 |
| Percentage of Housing Units Occupied By Renters | 45.07% |
| Average Renter Household Size | 2.66 |
| Average Household Size | 2.88 |
| Median Household Income | $54,457 ±$400 |
| Median Rent | $906 ±$5 |
| Percentage Of Renters Overburdened | 46.64% ± 0.56pp |
| Total Population | 4,356,362 |
Population and Household Demographics
Harris County is a county in Texas with a population of 4,356,362. There are 1,499,528 households in the county with an average household size of 2.88 persons. 45.07% of households in Harris County are renters.
Income and Rent Overburden in Harris County
The median gross income for households in Harris County is $54,457 a year, or $4,538 a month. The median rent for the county is $906 a month.
Households who pay more than thirty percent of their gross income are considered to be Rent Overburdened. In Harris County, a household making less than $3,020 a month would be considered overburdened when renting an apartment at or above the median rent. 46.64% of households who rent are overburdened in Harris County.
Area Median Income In Harris 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 Harris County, HUD calculates the Area Median Income for a family of four as $93,200
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 Harris 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 Harris 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 Harris County AMI may qualify for rental assistance programs that target Extremely Low Income households. |
$19,600 | $22,400 | $25,200 | $30,000 | $35,140 | $40,280 | $45,420 | $50,560 |
| 50% AMI Income Limits Renters earning up to 50% of the Harris County AMI may qualify for rental assistance programs that target Very Low Income households. |
$32,650 | $37,300 | $41,950 | $46,600 | $50,350 | $54,100 | $57,800 | $61,550 |
| 80% AMI Income Limits Renters earning up to 80% of the Harris County AMI may qualify for rental assistance programs that target Low Income households. |
$52,200 | $59,650 | $67,100 | $74,550 | $80,550 | $86,500 | $92,450 | $98,450 |
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