How to Find Low Income Housing Help in 2025

It’s been a rough year for anyone relying on public support programs. Cuts to SNAP, Medicaid, and housing assistance are hitting hard. We’re seeing a lot of chaos in the Section 8 program, and a lot of people are talking about how this may end housing support altogether.

Just this week, Vermont’s largest housing agency had to stop issuing new Section 8 vouchers, reclaim 500 existing ones, and cut off referrals for veterans, foster youth, and families trying to keep custody of their children—all because of a sudden $1 million shortfall when federal rent assistance was slashed without warning.

And Vermont isn’t the only one. Quiet budget cuts, shrinking programs, and growing waitlists are becoming the norm across the country.

But there’s something most people haven’t heard: while the most popular housing programs are getting hit the hardest, other smaller programs are quietly receiving new funding. These programs are real, fully funded, and often easier to access if you qualify.

New Housing Programs You May Not Know About

While Section 8 gets all the headlines, HUD is investing in more targeted programs that help specific groups in need. Here’s what’s been funded so far in 2025:

Family Unification Program (FUP)

• $10 million in new funding
• Designed for families who risk losing custody due to housing issues, and for youth aging out of foster care
• Includes rental help, job training, financial coaching, and other support services

Foster Youth to Independence (FYI)

• $1.8 billion in dedicated funds
• Supports young adults transitioning out of the foster system
• Offers rent assistance along with case management, employment prep, and more

Native American and Alaskan Native Housing Assistance

• Over $1.1 billion committed to housing in tribal communities
• Funds can be used for new home construction, repairs, or rental aid
• Distributed across 35 states, including areas in Alaska, Arizona, and North Carolina

Tribal HUD-VASH for Native Veterans

• $2.2 million in new funding this month
• Helps Native American veterans with housing and access to VA case management
• Administered by tribal housing authorities

To find out if your area received any of this funding, visit the HUD website and search for the names of local agencies that received grants. They can tell you how the funds are being used and how to apply.

How to Be Strategic About Finding Help

With so many changes happening at once, finding housing help in 2025 requires a new approach. Start with your local housing authority, but don’t stop there. Look for programs that are tailored to your life circumstances.

• Seniors: Call the Elder Care Locator at 1-800-677-1116 for help finding senior-specific housing programs in your area.
• Veterans: Contact your local VA office. Programs like HUD-VASH may be easier to access and offer additional support services.
• Families at risk: Talk to your local Department of Social Services or the Administration for Children and Families. They may offer emergency or transitional housing programs that aren’t widely advertised.
• Workers: Ask your Department of Workforce Services about job openings that include housing. Positions in national parks, caregiving, or hospitality sometimes come with a place to live.
• Households with medical needs: In some cases, Medicaid may cover housing in group homes or hospice facilities when medically necessary.
• People facing medical or financial hardship: Certain nonprofits tied to specific illnesses offer temporary grants to help cover housing costs.

Relief Recap

This is a hard season, especially if you’re searching for affordable housing. But even as big programs struggle, new opportunities are opening up in quieter corners. These targeted programs don’t make national headlines, but they are out there, and they’re already helping people in real, meaningful ways.

The key is to look beyond the big programs and focus on the details of your own situation—your age, background, community, or health. The more specific the program, the less competition you’re likely to face. And even though the system is changing, help hasn’t disappeared—it’s just harder to find. But you’re not alone in this. With the right information and a smart strategy, there’s still a path forward.