For example , the national annual median income of households served by Public Housing is $ 10,524 . On a state-by-state basis , those households served by the program have annual median incomes ranging from a low of $ 8,796 in Ohio to a high of $ 19,243 in Alaska . Similarly , the national annual median income of households served by the Housing Choice Voucher program is $ 11,057 with annual median incomes ranging from a low of $ 9,036 in West Virginia to a high of $ 16,236 in Alaska ( See Figure K ).
The demand for assistance under these programs far exceeds available resources , with fewer than one out of every four eligible households actually receiving help . In some communities , assistance is allocated through waitlists that can span many years or by lottery .
The most significant “ tax expenditure ” for rental housing , the Low-Income Housing
Tax Credit , also serves some of our nation ’ s poorest citizens . According to a recent study by HUD ’ s Office of Policy Development and Research , nearly 48 percent of the households living in Housing Credit units had incomes that were 30 percent or less of the area median gross income . An additional 46 percent of Housing Credit households reported incomes between 31 and 60 percent of the area median . 14
The study also found that the national annual median income of households living in Housing Credit properties was $ 17,000 , ranging from a low of $ 9,327 in Kentucky to a high of $ 22,452 in Florida . Despite living in Housing Credit properties that are subject to “ affordability requirements ,” approximately 38 percent of the tenants surveyed reported rent burdens that exceeded 30 percent of their incomes , while nearly 10 percent reported rent burdens in excess of 50 percent of their incomes . 15
In some communities , federal rental assistance is allocated through waitlists that can span many years or by lottery .
Money is Policy : How Federal Housing Dollars Are Spent 15