A plain-language guide

How affordable housing actually works in Seattle.

It's confusing — there's no single phone number to call or office to visit. But that's also good news: there are several different programs, each designed for different situations. This guide walks you through them in plain English so you can figure out which ones apply to you.

Reading time: about 6 minutes.

The three main paths

Almost every affordable apartment in Seattle falls into one of these three categories. They overlap sometimes — a single building can be both a tax-credit property and accept your voucher.

1. Project-Based Subsidized

Apply at the building

The government pays part of your rent — but the subsidy stays with the building. If you move out, the help stays put.

  • Rent is capped at about 30% of your monthly income.
  • Funded by HUD or USDA. The owner has a contract to keep rents affordable.
  • Apply directly at the property's leasing office.
  • Income limits apply — usually under 50% of Area Median Income (AMI).
  • HUD 202 Section 8 (seniors 62+) and HUD 811 (people with disabilities) buildings are project-based subsidies reserved for those populations. Apply the same way — at the building.
Example: a 1-bedroom that rents at market for $2,200 might cost you $450/mo if you earn $1,500/mo.

2. Tax Credit / Bond Apartments (LIHTC)

Apply at the building

Privately-owned apartments with rents kept below market because the owner gets state tax breaks in exchange.

  • No personal subsidy — but rent is set well below market.
  • Income limits apply (usually 30%, 50%, 60%, or 80% of AMI tiers).
  • Apply directly at the property.
  • Must accept Housing Choice Vouchers — Washington law (RCW 59.18.255) prohibits source-of-income discrimination.
Example: a 60% AMI 1-bedroom might be $1,400/mo when the open market would charge $2,200, no income subsidy needed.

3. Public Housing & Vouchers (Section 8)

Apply with Seattle Housing Authority

Two separate SHA programs that work very differently. Public housing is a waitlist for SHA-owned buildings. The Housing Choice Voucher is a portable rent subsidy you win by lottery.

  • Public housing is a waitlist. Apply for up to two SHA-owned buildings; typical wait is 2+ years and you must check in monthly to stay active.
  • Vouchers are a lottery. The application is open continuously, but SHA randomly selects names from the list whenever vouchers become available — when you apply doesn't change your odds.
  • Both programs cap rent at ~30% of your income. Public housing rent goes to SHA; with a voucher, the subsidy pays the gap between your share and the apartment's rent.
  • Vouchers are portable — they go with you when you move. Public housing stays with the building.
Example: with a voucher, you find a $2,000/mo apartment that accepts vouchers. If you earn $1,500/mo, you pay $450 (30%) and the voucher covers the rest.

Other paths to know about

Beyond the three big categories, there are specialized programs designed for specific situations.

Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH)

Long-term apartments paired with on-site case management, designed for people exiting homelessness or with disabilities.

Usually no time limit. Wraparound services (case manager, mental health, addiction treatment) are part of the deal. Referral typically goes through the King County Regional Homelessness Authority — you don't apply directly.

Rapid Re-Housing

Short-term help (3–24 months) with rent and move-in costs to bridge a crisis back to stability.

Aimed at households who became homeless recently and just need a runway. Your case manager finds the apartment and the program pays a declining share of rent until you can take over.

Emergency Shelter & Transitional Housing

Immediate beds, day-to-day or 30–90 days at a time, often as a step toward permanent housing.

Connect through the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (kcrha.org/find-services). Some programs are family-specific; others serve youth, veterans, or domestic-violence survivors.

Where do I start?

Pick the situation closest to yours.

If…

I'm currently unhoused or in shelter

Start with PSH and rapid re-housing — these programs prioritize unhoused households. Connect through the King County Regional Homelessness Authority for an assessment and referral.

Read about PSH and Rapid Re-Housing

If…

My income is low but I'm currently housed and stable

Apply at multiple project-based and tax-credit buildings simultaneously. Also apply to both SHA programs — public housing (a multi-year waitlist) and the Housing Choice Voucher (an open lottery). There's no penalty for waiting on either.

Start with the SHA application launchpad

If…

I'm a senior (62+) or have a disability

Look for project-based buildings reserved for your population — HUD 202 Section 8 (seniors 62+) or HUD 811 (people with disabilities). Many other affordable buildings also have set-aside units. Use our accessibility filter on listings to find buildings with ADA units.

Browse accessible listings

Compare programs at a glance

Quick comparison of the most-asked questions across each housing type.

Project-Based (HUD/USDA)

Apply
At the building
Rent
≈30% of income
Portable
No
Waitlist
Varies; often years

Tax Credit / Bond (LIHTC)

Apply
At the building
Rent
Below market, fixed by AMI tier
Portable
No
Waitlist
Varies; some have openings

Public Housing (SHA)

Apply
Seattle Housing Authority
Rent
≈30% of income
Portable
No
Waitlist
2+ years typical

Housing Choice Voucher

Apply
Seattle Housing Authority
Rent
≈30% of income
Portable
Yes
Waitlist
Lottery — random selection from the open list

Permanent Supportive Housing

Apply
Through case manager / KCRHA referral
Rent
≈30% of income
Portable
No
Waitlist
Coordinated entry; needs-based

Rapid Re-Housing

Apply
Through case manager / KCRHA referral
Rent
Tapering subsidy
Portable
Limited
Waitlist
Needs-based

Plain-English glossary

The acronyms and jargon you'll keep running into.

AMI (Area Median Income)
The middle income for a household of your size in your county. HUD updates the numbers every April. Income-restricted apartments are usually labeled by AMI tier (30%, 50%, 60%, 80%). A “50% AMI” apartment is open to a household earning up to the 50% line for their household size.
Show 2026 income limits for King County

Max annual household income at each AMI tier. Source: HUD 2026 — Seattle-Bellevue, WA HUD Metro FMR Area.

Household size30% AMI50% AMI60% AMI80% AMI
1$34,550$57,550$69,060$81,700
2$39,450$65,800$78,960$93,350
3$44,400$74,000$88,800$105,000
4$49,300$82,200$98,640$116,650
5$53,250$88,800$106,560$126,000
6$57,200$95,400$114,480$135,350
7$61,150$101,950$122,340$144,650
8$65,100$108,550$130,260$154,000

60% values are derived as 50% × 1.2 (LIHTC convention). 80% can move down year-over-year because HUD caps it at the U.S. national median.

30% of income (rule of thumb)
Many subsidies cap your rent at 30% of your gross monthly income. Below that line, housing is considered affordable.
If you earn $1,500/month, your rent in a subsidized building would be capped at about $450/month.
Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8)
A portable subsidy you take to any apartment whose owner accepts vouchers. The voucher pays the difference between fair-market rent and 30% of your income.
You find a $2,000/mo apartment. You earn $1,500/mo. You pay $450 (30%); the voucher covers $1,550.
Project-Based vs. Tenant-Based
Project-based subsidies stay with the building when you move out. Tenant-based subsidies (vouchers) go with you.
Waitlist
A queue of households waiting for a unit to open up. Some lists are years long; some are closed entirely. Many use random selection rather than first-come-first-served.
PHA (Public Housing Agency)
The local agency that runs public housing and vouchers. In Seattle, that's the Seattle Housing Authority (SHA). Outside Seattle in King County, it's the King County Housing Authority (KCHA).
LIHTC (Low-Income Housing Tax Credit)
A federal tax credit for property owners who keep rents below market for low-income households. Most 'affordable apartments' you see in Seattle are LIHTC properties.

Ready to start?

Find the buildings you actually qualify for.

The fastest path is two minutes of intake — we compute your income tier and rank listings by how well they match your situation. You can also browse all listings or start a Seattle Housing Authority application.

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Apply with Seattle Housing Authority

Information here is for general guidance. Eligibility rules change and program details vary by building. Always verify with the property or agency before relying on what you see here.