ARIZONA AFFORDABLE RENTALS

ARIZONA AFFORDABLE RENTALS

PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU CONTACT US:

DISCLAIMER

Homeless To Independence Inc. is a 501©3 non-profit organization. We are self supporting and we do NOT receive any government grant funding what-so-ever to pay bills for anyone in any situation. We do not give away money. We do not give out loans against any money.

This ministry is supported with generous financial donations that are used to help keep us functioning. Our purpose is to help supply individuals and families with personal needs such as food, toiletries, clothing, household items, furniture and baby/adult diapers/wipes both locally and to areas effected by disasters . At this time, we do not offer any shelter or transitional housing services. Again, we DO NOT pay any bills. We DO NOT pay any rents or mortgages.

If you are actually homeless, or about to be homeless or need emergency assistance of any kind, DIAL “211” from a land-line telephone. This will not work from a cell telephone. Tell the receiver your situation and what you need. They will give you information specific for the location you are currently in plus any referrals you may need. They have the most up to the minute information for your specific area. Dialing “211” will get you help and much more info than this office can provide. Homeless to Independence wants you to have all the information you need to get through the situation you are in.

Don’t have a land-line telephone??? Go to your local police department, library, or house of worship and ask to use their land-line telephone. They may even make the call on your behalf.

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For those of you looking for employment through-out the United States, District of Columbia or Puerto Rico, simply;

1. GO TO: https://www.homelesstoindependence.org/employmenthousing/

2. CHOOSE YOUR STATE/COMMONWEALTH/TERRITORY;

3. CHOOSE THAT STATE/COMMONWEALTH/TERRITORY’S EMPLOYMENT PAGE.

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Homeless To Independence Inc. is not responsible for misprints or cancellations of events by the event holders, landlord and/or their agent, or ourselves. Homeless to Independence Inc. also reserves the right to “NOT” offer services to people and/or persons that are rude, unpleasant, and untruthful in any way shape or form, belligerent and the like.

OCCASIONALLY, THERE WILL BE ARTICLES BY OTHER WRITERS. HOMELESS TO INDEPENDENCE MAY NOT NECESSARILY AGREE WITH THEIR VIEWPOINTS, BUT WE DO RESPECT THEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION!

OFFICE CONTACT INFO:

HOMELESS TO INDEPENDENCE INC., 201 STATION ROAD #258, QUAKERTOWN, PA 18951

THE VERY BEST WAY TO CONTACT ME IS TO SEND ME AN EMAIL: ANN@HOMELESSTOINDEPENDENCE.ORG

OFFICE NUMBER IS: 1-908-454-1500 LISTEN TO THE RECORDING

Please note that our office does have very limited volunteer staff and if we are one telephone line we cannot answer the other line. There is simply not enough time in the day to answer and/or return each and every telephone call.

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HUD EXCHANGE – HOMELESSNESS ASSISTANCE

https://www.hudexchange.info/homelessness-assistance/

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03-08-24 –

How to Become a Section 8 Landlord

There are many benefits for landlords who rent to Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher tenants. If you are a landlord interested in leasing to tenants with rental assistance, this guide will help you navigate the process step-by-step.

Before diving into everything, if you want to know more about how the Section 8 HCV program works, we recommend starting with our What is the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program? Guide.

While this program is aimed to help renters, it was also designed to benefit landlords as well. Most importantly for landlords, rent payments are split between tenants and the housing agency that manages the voucher. So, you can expect to receive timely payments from the local housing department every month for their share of rent.

Other key benefits include:

• The ability to request reasonable annual rent increases from the local housing agency.
• Free inspections that can identify maintenance needs before they become too severe.
• Gratification from providing affordable housing to renters with low incomes, who are in great need of this assistance.

Many landlords are aware of these benefits, but are still hesitant to rent to Section 8 tenants because of widespread myths about the program. Let’s spend some time addressing the facts:

• Section 8 tenants are no more likely to damage units or fail to pay rent than tenants without rental assistance. In fact, Section 8 tenants are typically steady, long-term residents who often live in their unit for several years.
• Your Section 8 tenants can be evicted for lease violations just the same as tenants without vouchers. Section 8 tenants are bound by the terms of their lease, just like any other tenant.
• Landlords are not required to rent to someone just because they have a Section 8 voucher. You may screen all tenants with your own background check, and deny them if they fail to meet your requirements. (Just be aware that in many areas of the country, you cannot deny a Section 8 tenant only because they have a voucher.)

If you are looking for an opportunity to rent to Section 8 tenants, start by reaching out to your local housing authority.

Contact the local housing authority.
First, contact the local HUD Public Housing Agency (commonly called a housing authority), and let them know of your interest in renting to Section 8 tenants. The housing authority can provide details about the local process and what Housing Quality Standards (HQS) need to be met.

Housing authorities are not allowed to recommend a particular landlord or property to voucher holders. However, many housing authorities maintain a list of landlords who accept vouchers, and share this with their voucher households. The housing authority may also share access to websites or platforms used to advertise available units.

Many housing authorities have an office in the local area, but there are also many communities that are not served by a locally-based agency. This is often the case in rural areas. Depending on your area, you may have to reach out to a regional or state housing authority that serves your community.

You can use the Housing Authority Directory on Affordable Housing Online to find the agency that serves your area.
Set rent that falls within area Fair Market Rents.
Now, it is up to you to set the monthly rent amount.

The Section 8 program does not dictate what rents landlords must charge. However, rents must fall at or below local Fair Market Rents (FMRs). This is the cost to rent a moderately priced dwelling in each housing market.

HUD updates FMRs for each state and metropolitan area annually. FMRs are set for different apartment sizes, ranging from efficiencies to four-bedroom units.

The local housing authority will have the FMRs for its service area. You can also look up the current FMRs for your housing market using HUD’s FMR Documentation System.
Make sure the unit meets Housing Quality Standards.
Housing authorities need to make sure that HCV tenants will be living in homes that are safe, sanitary, and in good condition. HUD has Housing Quality Standards (HQS) that must be met before an HCV tenant can rent an apartment.

You can get details about meeting HQS from the local housing authority. HQS inspections will assess the following items:

• Sanitary facilities
• Food preparation and refuse disposal
• Space and security
• Thermal environment
• Illumination and electricity
• Structure and materials
• Interior air quality
• Water supply
• Lead-based paint
• Access
• Site and neighborhood
• Sanitary conditions
• Smoke detectors

The housing authority will inspect the unit before completing a rental assistance agreement with the landlord. Once the Section 8 tenant moves in, HQS inspections will be done annually.
Review applications from Section 8 tenants.
You would screen Section 8 tenants the same as you would an applicant without a voucher. This includes common things like checking rental or criminal histories. You should use the same criteria for all applicants to avoid renting to problem tenants.

Once a Section 8 tenant’s rental application is approved, you will need to fill out their Request for Tenancy Approval form.

The housing authority will confirm the rent falls within area FMRs. The housing authority will also make sure the rent charged is not higher than rent for any comparable unassisted units at the property.
Sign the HAP contract and start receiving rent payments!
Once a lease is signed with the Section 8 tenant and is submitted to the housing authority, you will receive a Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) contract to sign.

When the HAP contract with the housing authority is executed, you will start receiving housing assistance payments from the housing authority. Section 8 tenants will separately pay you their own portion of the rent.

PAGE LINK: https://affordablehousingonline.com/what-is-section-8/become-a-landlord

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03-06-24 –

Low-Income Housing Without A Waiting List

Due to the high demand and low supply of affordable housing, it’s extremely rare to find affordable housing with no waiting list. But it’s possible to find housing assistance quickly if you know what to look for.

Tips to receive housing assistance quickly:

Apply to multiple waiting lists for different low-income rental assistance programs.
Take advantage of the mobility feature of the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program and apply for waiting lists anywhere in the United States.
Target waiting lists with preferences you qualify for. Qualifying for preferences will give you priority placement on waiting lists.
Use Affordable Housing Online for Housing Choice Voucher and Low-Income Apartment Waiting Lists
Sign up for the Affordable Housing Online Newsletter to get waiting list opening notifications sent directly to your email

Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV)

Waiting lists to apply for this program open infrequently, and usually for a short time. If a household is able to get their application placed on the waiting list, the time it takes to get to the top of the waiting list could be months or years. The HCV program is in extremely high demand, and Affordable Housing Online has never discovered an area with a HCV program that has no waiting list.

Consider applying to HCV programs operated by Public Housing Agencies (PHAs, or housing authorities) in rural or small towns. Many of those areas will have shorter waiting lists, if it is open for applicants.

Be aware: You must be willing to move into their rural or small town jurisdictions for the first year of using your Housing Choice Voucher, and be in good standing at the end of the first year in order to move somewhere else with the voucher.

Note: Some PHAs set aside a small number of special Housing Choice Vouchers that are given to certain populations (like victims of domestic violence and homeless persons) without entering a waiting list.

And in other instances, a housing authority give some vouchers to persons living in toxic units (which contain lead paint, asbestos, radon, etc…); or in unhealthy units.

These special vouchers are not available to the general public, and may require a referral from a participating organization.

Section 8 Project-Based Vouchers (PBV)

A Section 8 Project-Based Voucher (PBV) is different from the HCV program, in that the voucher is tied to a specific apartment complex. A Project-Based Voucher cannot be transferred to a different property.

Waiting lists for Project-Based Vouchers are usually administered by the local HUD housing authority. Some PBV waiting lists might be administered by a property management company working with the housing authority.

Almost all Project-Based Voucher properties have a waiting list. Some properties in low-populated areas may have immediate availability, but that is rare.

Public Housing

Public Housing properties also offer rental assistance that’s tied to a specific apartment complex. Like Project-Based Vouchers, Public Housing assistance cannot be transferred to another property.

Waiting lists are either administered by a HUD housing authority, or a partnering property management company. As with PBVs, almost all Public Housing properties have a waiting list. On rare occasions, some properties in some rural areas may have no waiting list.

Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD)

RAD properties are Public Housing developments that were renovated with Section 8 program funding. Anyone on the property’s original Public Housing waiting list stays on the list, and current residents get first dibs for a RAD unit.

HUD housing authorities are actively converting our Public Housing stock to RAD housing nationwide. To find RAD housing without a waiting list right now might be difficult and not worth the time and effort.

Project Based Rental Assistance (PBRA)

The PBRA program is directly administered by HUD’s Office of Multifamily Housing. The PBRA program is tied to specific units in a property, usually owned and managed by private owners. Some PBRA properties are operated by the local housing authority.

On rare occasions, you may find a PBRA property with no waiting list, but generally only in rural areas.

Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC)

The LIHTC program is currently financing 90% of all new low-income housing developments. Private management companies and individual owners usually manage these communities; and some are managed by a housing authority.

There may be some LIHTC properties in areas with low populations that have no waiting list.

Rural Development (RD) Housing

Unlike most HUD programs, many apartments funded through Rural Development rental assistance programs may have a very short waiting list; or none at all.

These communities usually have a private owner or management company; but some are associated with housing authorities.

Households with the lowest incomes are given priority, so that means if you have very low or no income, you will get a chance to move into an apartment before other applicants.

Senior Housing and Housing for Persons with Disabilities

Many affordable housing developments are built for senior and/or disabled residents. In most cases, the head of household (or spouse) must be 62 and over, or have a certifiable disability. There are also “Near-Elderly” properties, which are usually for tenants at least 55 years old.

You may find Senior/Disabled properties with no waiting list in some low populated areas. And even if there is a wait, it may be shorter than other low-income rental assistance waiting lists.

PAGE LINK: https://affordablehousingonline.com/low-income-housing-without-a-waiting-list

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03-04-24

New Guide: What is Public Housing?

When applying for a Public Housing apartment, knowing what to expect can help reduce the stress of the application process. Follow our step-by-step guide to learn how to qualify and apply for Public Housing:

https://affordablehousingonline.com/what-is-public-housing

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11-15-23

How To Prevent Eviction

Our housing experts not only put a spotlight on finding housing opportunities, but also detail the options renters have when facing an eviction notice. This easy-to-read guide can help you keep a roof over your head:

https://affordablehousingonline.com/guide/eviction

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10-26-23

How To Get Affordable Housing For Renters With Disabilities

Many affordable housing programs have accessibility accommodations for renters with disabilities. Learn how to qualify, get applications, and more in our easy-to-read guide!

https://affordablehousingonline.com/guide/disability-housing

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10-19-23

How To Get Affordable Housing For Seniors

There are many types of low-income housing programs for seniors who are age 55 or 62, and above. Learn how to get applications, accessibility accommodations, and more in our easy to read guide!

https://affordablehousingonline.com/guide/senior-housing

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10-16-23 How Do I Buy An Affordable Home?

There are many important steps to becoming a homeowner, and these details are important to know before starting to look for affordable homes that are for sale. Many services are also available for future homeowners — including mortgages, loans, and counseling — which provide great help for renters buying an affordable home.

https://affordablehousingonline.com/guide/homeownership

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10-16-23 How To Get Housing For Renters With A Criminal Record Guide

https://affordablehousingonline.com/guide/criminal-records-housing

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09-24-23 How To Qualify For Project-Based Voucher Apartments

The Project-Based Voucher (PBV) rental assistance program has some basic requirements for admission. These rules are set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and enforced by the agency’s locally-based offices, known as housing authorities.

Before applying for the PBV program, it’s important to start by reviewing the qualifications. If an applicant does not meet the federal requirements, they will not get a voucher.

To qualify for a PBV unit, the household must meet the following conditions:

Be at least 18 years old.
The minimum age requirement to apply for housing with a Project-Based Voucher is 18 years old. Minors cannot apply for the program, but can live in PBV housing as a member of the household.
There is no cut off age for eligibility. In fact, some waiting lists may have a preference for ‘Elderly’ (62+) or ‘Near-Elderly’ (55+) applicants. This can shorten a household’s time on a waiting list.
Live in the U.S. as a citizen, or an eligible immigrant.
Project-Based Voucher housing is available for citizens of the United States, and those with an eligible immigration status.
Eligible immigrants include those who are a:
• Lawful permanent resident
• Registry immigrant
• Refugee or asylee
• Conditional entrant
• Parolee
• Withholding grantee
• Person granted 1986 amnesty status
• Resident of the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, or Guam
• Victim, or relative of a victim of trafficking
Do not exceed the income limit.
The Project-Based Voucher program is for “Very-Low Income” households. This means they must make less than 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI) where the voucher is issued. HUD calls this the income limit.
Also, housing authorities must provide 75% of their vouchers to applicants with incomes no greater than 30% of AMI by law.
To know if your household meets the income limit, add the gross income of all household members, except those under 18 years old.
The maximum income limits for an area’s waiting list can usually be found on a public notice, on the housing authority’s website, or by contacting the office.
HUD’s income limits for an area can also be found on Affordable Housing Online. Search for your area, then scroll down on the results page to find the section titled ‘‘Income Qualifications for HUD Rental Assistance.”
Pass a basic background check.
Every member of the household will go through a background check about their criminal and housing history.
If someone has a criminal record, that alone will not disqualify the household. However, more serious and recent offenses may make it difficult to get approved.
Regardless of any conditions, a household will be immediately disqualified if anyone:
• Is on a state lifetime sex offender registry.
• Has been evicted from HUD housing in the last five years.
• Had assistance terminated by a housing authority for any reason.
• Owes money to a housing authority.

Common Misconceptions

Through the use of the internet, incorrect information about qualifying for the Section 8 program can spread fast.

There is no requirement to have a family. Single persons are eligible for a voucher.
There is no requirement to have children. Adult-only households may apply.
There is no minimum income requirement. A household can qualify with no income.

What’s Next?

Now that the basic requirements have been checked, it’s time to apply for a PBV apartment.

link: https://affordablehousingonline.com/guide/project-based-vouchers/how-to-qualify

LINK: https://affordablehousingonline.com/housing-authority/Arizona/Winslow-Public-Housing-Authority/AZ008

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05-22-23

New Guide: Overcoming the challenges of finding open waitlists

Applying for affordable housing waitlists can be difficult for renters in any part of the country.

Read the first part of our new guide to find out what to do when facing common difficulties of finding open waiting lists.

Read The New Guide

page link: https://affordablehousingonline.com/blog/overcoming-the-challenges-of-finding-open-waitlists/?trackcmp_email=connecticut%40homelesstoindependence.org&utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=%F0%9F%93%99+New+Guide%3A+Overcoming+the+challenges+of+finding+open+waitlists&utm_campaign=Thursday+Broadcast+%28Info%29+05%2F18%2F23

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05-15-23 New Guide: Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Guide

The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program allows low and moderate-income renters to pay rent at an affordable rate.

The new edition of our LIHTC Guide has been completely re-written to be short and easy to follow for all renters.

page link: https://affordablehousingonline.com/guide/lihtc?trackcmp_email=connecticut%40homelesstoindependence.org&utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=%F0%9F%93%99+New+Guide%3A+Low-Income+Housing+Tax+Credit+Apartment+Guide&utm_campaign=Thursday+Broadcast+%28Info%29+05%2F11%2F23

03-22-23

How To Find A Section 8 Apartment

Updated March, 2023

After getting approved for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher rental assistance, it’s important to start searching for a new home as soon as possible.

There is a time limit to sign a lease with the voucher, and knowing which types of rentals accept Section 8 vouchers will help save time and frustration during your housing search.

To start the search for a Section 8 apartment or house, first make sure that you’re looking for the right types of rental housing.

Find a home or apartment that is either privately owned, or a flat rent affordable housing residence.

A Section 8 voucher can be used to rent homes and apartments that are owned by a private landlord or property manager.

The search for a privately owned home can be difficult in some parts of the country. In many areas, private landlords and property managers can refuse tenants who have a Section 8 voucher.

In response, many states and local governments passed laws to protect renters with a Housing Choice Voucher. However, a large part of the country does not have these protections.

Vouchers are also accepted at certain affordable housing residences.

There are some housing programs that do not have income-based rent like a Section 8 voucher. Instead, tenants are charged a flat, affordable monthly rent.

These flat rent affordable housing programs must accept vouchers:

• Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC)

• HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME)

• Section 515 Rural Rental Housing

Note: Some of these rentals may have another housing program stacked onto it that makes the monthly rent to income-based. These types of affordable housing are not eligible, because they already provide income-based rent.

Restrictions

Residences where a Section 8 Voucher cannot be used in any circumstance include:

• College or other school dormitories.

• Penal, reformatory, medical, mental, or similar rooms in a public or private institution.

• Any home occupied by tenants who are not part of the Section 8 household.

• Affordable housing properties that already provide income-based rent, including:

• Public or Indian Housing

• Section Project-Based Rental Assistance

• Section 8 Project-Based Voucher

• USDA Section 521 Rural Rental Assistance

• Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly

• Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities

• Any other federal, state or local housing program that offers income-based rent.

With an idea in mind for a type of home, there are a few different ways to find an available rental.

Ask the housing authority for a list of landlords.

Before searching local advertisements, first check if the housing authority has a list of participating landlords.

Not every agency has a list like this, but it it can help to greatly reduce the time it takes to find a unit.

If the housing authority doesn’t have a list of landlords available, you must find an available rental on your own time.

Search for available rental advertisements online or locally.

Rentals can be found online, and through local means like newspapers or organizations that help low-income households.

While looking for available rentals, keep the search within the housing authority’s service area. Commonly known as the jurisdiction, this is the only area where the agency can provide rental assistance. Any rental located outside of the housing authority’s jurisdiction will be denied.

After finding an advertisement for a suitable home, an application must be submitted and approved by the landlord.

Submit an application for tenancy.

Once an available rental has been found, submit an application to the landlord or property manager.

The amount of household information required in the application will vary by each landlord. An application fee may be required as well. Landlords, and even housing authorities are allowed to charge their own application fee to become a tenant.

In many cases, the landlord will also do a credit and criminal background check.

When a landlord approves your application for tenancy, there’s just one more requirement before moving in.

Have the housing authority inspect the home.

After getting approved by a landlord, report this back to the housing authority as soon as possible to get it inspected.

Any apartment or house that accepts Housing Choice Vouchers must pass HUD’s health and safety inspection. The inspection checks for standards like heat, water, and structural damage.

Following the housing authority’s approval of the unit, the household can now move in.

Move in.

Now that everything is approved, it’s time to finally move into your new home!

During the move-in process, households have to cover their own moving expenses. However, some local organizations may have programs that assist renters in need. Keep this in mind, especially when looking for housing away from your current residence.

Now, the household will have to pay only a portion of their monthly income for rent.

What’s Next?

About once a year, the housing authority will re-examine the household’s income for continued eligibility. The voucher will stay with the household as long as everyone is still qualified.

Continue Reading – Low Income Housing Guide

Applying for affordable housing can be involved and complicated. Affordable Housing Online has written a guide to make it easier for renters to get the housing assistance they need.

LINK: https://affordablehousingonline.com/guide/section-8-vouchers/find-apartment?trackcmp_email=connecticut%40homelesstoindependence.org&utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=%E2%9D%93+How+To+Find+A+Section+8+Apartment+-+Read+The+Updated+Guide&utm_campaign=Thursday+Broadcast+%28Info%29+03+09+23

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HUD launches online help for domestic violence survivors

February 8, 2023 Chris Holden

Top Story: HUD launches online help for domestic violence survivors

HUD has recently launched a new webpage with resources for domestic violence survivors, under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).

The site has resources explaining VAWA’s housing protections for survivors of domestic violence. In addition, the site has resources for organizations that operate shelters and provide services for domestic violence survivors.

The VAWA site also has information to assist survivors immediately. It provides national hotlines and a list of organizations that can help survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking. The national hotlines and organizations can direct survivors to local organizations and services.

link to article and more: https://affordablehousingonline.com/blog/hud-launches-online-help-for-domestic-violence-survivors/?trackcmp_email=arkansas%40homelesstoindependence.org&utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=%F0%9F%93%B0+News%3A+HUD+launches+online+help+for+domestic+violence+survivors&utm_campaign=Wednesday+Broadcast+%28News%29+02+08+23&vgo_ee=lXABPYmBYuHi5wfm1psG2KZZzlLYDq6LjFLZ38twxQrDx7HCR22zp8cjrz5ZyNpB

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Renting Section 8 Houses: A Step-By-Step Guide

There’s a range of different types of homes that can be rented with a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher. Having some options makes it easier to find a place to live with a voucher, but some renters are only looking for the comfort and privacy of a house.

Living in a standalone house has many benefits when compared to being in an apartment, duplex, or a similar multi-family property. Many of these benefits are a result of the improved privacy of renting a single-family home.

Having no immediate neighbors means that the space is your own to enjoy without having to share with others. This brings extra security, and also adds comfort for those living in the home. There’s less of a worry about noisy neighbors since there’s no shared walls or floors. Many houses also have more living and storage space than an apartment.

To find Section 8 houses, find an available rental on the private market that will accept the voucher and pass HUD’s inspection.

read the full article here: https://affordablehousingonline.com/rent-section-8-houses?trackcmp_email=arkansas%40homelesstoindependence.org&utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=%F0%9F%93%94+New+Guide%3A+Renting+Section+8+Houses&utm_campaign=Thursday+Broadcast+%28Info%29+01+09+23&vgo_ee=lXABPYmBYuHi5wfm1psG2KZZzlLYDq6LjFLZ38twxQrDx7HCR22zp8cjrz5ZyNpB

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How to Find Housesitting Jobs and Get Paid to Sleep in Someone Else’s House

by Kent McDill

Contributor

UPDATED AUGUST 30, 2022

Getty Images

Instead of forking over a small fortune every month for rent, what if you could get someone to pay you to live in their house?

Housesitting is a gig that could provide you with weeks or even months of free housing. In some cases, the free housing is the “pay” you receive (think of it as the money you are not paying toward rent). But, there are also paying housesitting gigs, and there are numerous websites specifically created to match available housesitters with housesitting jobs both within the U.S. and internationally.

Often, housesitting jobs include more than just sitting around someone else’s house. Most often, additional duties include caring for pets and plants, although they can include maintenance and cleaning, too.

Before you start packing your bags, here’s what you need to know about housesitting jobs.

How to Become a Housesitter

You know the old saying: you can’t get a job without experience, and you can’t get experience without a job.

While it is possible to get a first-time housesitting job, the competition for such positions is fierce. There are a lot of people who like the idea of living for free in someone else’s home. So, it would behoove you to get some experience.

Consider your social network. Let friends, family and coworkers know you are thinking about becoming a housesittter, and ask them to give you an opportunity to prove yourself, along with a recommendation that will help you get your next position.

Since you are just starting out, you are not likely to be offered money for a housesitting job right away, but this is a good opportunity to get referrals and experience.

If no one you know speaks up, you can get a first-time job on a housesitter website (we’ll give you some options later), but you had best be ready to answer key questions and provide significant skills to get selected.

Can I Get Paid to Be a Housesitter?

You are already getting paid in kind. You have free housing. But, some jobs are extensive enough in terms of care that you will be offered a stipend. It is also possible to be rewarded for doing a good job with a tip at the end of the stay.

How Much Money Can You Make With Housesitting Jobs?

The Economic Research Institute says the average housesitter salary in paid gigs is $15 an hour, although care.com says most paid rates are negotiated between homeowner and housesitter, and can be up to $100 a day or more. Homeowners looking for more than just a human watchdog are likely to offer a salary for the period they will be gone from home.

Can You Have Another Job When You’re a Housesitter?

As a housesitter, you are effectively replacing the homeowner as a presence in the home. The homeowner likely has a job, or some responsibility that takes them away from the home from time to time. You can, too. It might work best if you have a part-time job to ensure your availability However, circumstances might allow you to have a full-time job and housesit as well.

PRO TIPIf there’s a reliable internet connection, working remotely is one way to earn extra money while you’re housesitting. Check out our work-from-home jobs portal for opportunities.

How to Find Housesitting Jobs

If you’re going to make the leap to housesitting on a regular basis, you’ll likely need to rely on more than word of mouth. There are numerous websites offering housesitting jobs, although you can also go it alone.

Most of the sites require a subscription, since you are likely going to need to move from job to job over time and will reuse the site. Many also require a background check. Here are some options to consider when looking for housesitting jobs.

Advertise Yourself

You may be able to get a housesitting job without paying for a website subscription, but it will require substantially more work on your part, including advertising, setting up payments and vetting clients. If you do go the solo route, consider starting on sites where homeowners may use to seek out someone who is local, like Craigslist and Nextdoor.

Use Housesitting Subscription Sites

The value of subscription services is that homeowners and pet owners are on these sites actively seeking someone to care for their home or loved one. Housesitters can find job offerings and contact the homeowners who have a listing that works for them. They can choose between homeowners looking for free housesitting services and those who are willing to pay.

House Sitters America ($49 per year) Job seekers can provide their services free or for a fee on this site. You can search for jobs on the site, or create a profile that will attract homeowners to you.
Housecarers.com ($50 per year) Your profile can include up to 14 photos of yourself, effectively creating a 15-page personal website for your housesitting services. You can preselect areas or types of jobs you are looking for before receiving matching job opportunities.

If You Want to Take Your Housesitting Abroad

What if you could use your housesitting gig to see the world?

Other than travel restrictions placed by the country you are visiting, there are no restrictions for being a housesitter in international settings. But it makes sense to also research the country you’ll be staying to ensure you can adhere to local customs and restrictions. Some sites to use if you want an international gig:

Mind My House ($20 per year) More than one-third of the listings on Mind My House are for the United Kingdom and Europe, while 30% are American listings.
Luxury House Sitting ($25 per year) This is a worldwide service, with listings in the U.S., Europe, parts of South America, Australia, and a few countries in Africa and Asia. The newest housesitting gigs pop up as you sign into your account.
Trusted House Sitters ($129 per year). This is another service that offers worldwide opportunities. Job seekers get to list the dates they need housing and the locations they are willing to travel to.

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What to Include in Your Housesitter Profile

Homeowners are looking for a trustworthy person to take care of their home, possessions and potentially their animal babies. A few of the top traits you should be able to demonstrate in your profile when looking for a housesitting job:

Reliability. Homeowners are not going to give their house keys to just anyone. They need to know they can count on you to stay in the house, keep it clean, not throw any parties and pay attention to detail. Recommendations from previous housesitting clients or current employers can speak to your reliability. Multiple references and reviews can help you stand out.
Availability. One of your main jobs as a housesitter is to make sure the home looks occupied to help prevent burglary or vandalism. That means you will be a constant presence on the property. You don’t have to stay there 24/7, but you have to occupy the home the way the homeowner would. Be clear about how your availability, including whether housesitting will be your sole job or if you’ll work outside the home.
Home care skills. Can you unclog a toilet? Adjust a thermostat? Water plants regularly? In some cases, you will be asked to be a temporary caretaker rather than just a body occupying a space.
Cleanliness. Part of your job may be to keep the house clean. If there isn’t a separate cleaning service, you may need to wash dishes (or use a dishwasher), clean toilets, sweep, vacuum and dust.
Love of animals. Many homeowners want a housesitter just to take care of their dog, cat, rabbit, fish or bearded dragon. Duties can include taking the animal for a walk, feeding on a regular schedule and cleaning up after them. Photos of you with your own pet (or a friend’s pet) will help in your job profile.
Specialty skills. Do you have any training to set you apart (and demand a higher rate), such as being certified in pet CPR?

Learn From Every Housesitting Job

Once you get a few housesitting jobs under your belt, you will get an idea of what gigs are available. This may cause you to reconsider, or it may cause you to expand your parameters for housesitting.

There are people who travel all over the world, moving from one housesitting assignment to another. Why shouldn’t it be you?

Kent McDill is a veteran journalist who has specialized in personal finance topics since 2013. He is a contributor to The Penny Hoarder.

https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/make-money/side-gigs/house-sitting-jobs/?aff_id=86&aff_sub3=20220902&aff_unique2=ITR-f927b424-f922-a53e-3d2b-d726f4009065&utm_medium=email&utm_source=daily&utm_campaign=20220905&utm_content=make-money

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What Is the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Program?

The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program helps create affordable apartment communities with lower than market rate rents by offering tax incentives to the property owners.
It does not offer tax credits to the tenant renting the unit.
LIHTC properties may contain market rate units that are not financially assisted, in addition to reduced rent LIHTC units under a tiered rent structure.
A tiered rent structure means that the same unit may have different rent amounts for tenants with different incomes.
Private management companies and individual owners manage these low-income housing apartment communities. LIHTC units may also have a rental subsidy program attached to them, such as the Project-Based Section 8 program.

Start the guide at Part 1: Who Qualifies for the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program? or choose a topic from the list below.

start here:

https://affordablehousingonline.com/guide/low-income-housing-tax-credit

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SECTION 8 HOUSING

Waiting List Last Updated On

Eloy Housing Authority August 3rd, 2017

Yuma, Arizona December 17th, 2019

Yuma County, Arizona March 23rd, 2021

ALL ADDITIONAL HOUSING LISTS ARE CLOSED AS OF THIS DATE

https://affordablehousingonline.com/open-section-8-waiting-lists/Arizona

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PUBLIC and PROJECT BASED SECTION 8 HOUSING LISTS

Waiting List Type Status

1-Bedroom Senior and Disabled Public Housing Waiting List Open Until Application Limit

City of Phoenix Housing Department Public Housing Waiting List Open Until Further Notice

Escobedo at Verde Vista and La Mesita Apartments LP Project-Based Voucher Waiting List Open Until Further Notice

Flagstaff Housing Authority Public Housing Waiting List Open Until Further Notice

Winslow Public Housing Authority Public Housing Waiting List Open Until Further Notice

2, 3 and 4-Bedroom Public Housing Waiting List Open Until Further Notice

Eloy Housing Authority Public Housing Waiting List Open Until Further Notice

Nogales Housing Authority Public Housing Waiting List Open Until Further Notice

Williams Housing Authority Public Housing Waiting List Open Until Further Notice

ALL ADDITIONAL HOUSING LISTS ARE CLOSED AS OF THIS DATE

https://affordablehousingonline.com/public-housing-waiting-lists/Arizona

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HOUSING RESOURCES:

Housing Opportunities

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HUD.GOV HAS A FULL LIST OF SUBSIDIZED APARTMENTS IN ARIZONA,

provide one or more of the following pieces of information here:

https://www.hud.gov/states/arizona

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NATIONWIDE SITE WITH SECTION 8 RENTALS AND MORE AND IT IS KEPT UP TO DATE

https://www.gosection8.com/

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THE LETGO MOBILE APP HAS A HOUSING…

SELECT “BROWSING”;

SELECT “HOUSING”;

CLICK THE “FILTERS” IN THE TOP RIGHT HAND CORNER;

SELECT “FOR RENT”, “NO. OF BEDROOMS”, “NO. OF BATHROOMS”,

“LOCATION” AND “DISTANCE” AND “SAVE”;

AND SEE WHAT IS AVAILABLE.

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ZILLOW.COM

ALSO HAS A RENTALS SECTION!

https://www.zillow.com/rent/

AND ZILLOW JUST STARTED THIS PROGRAM…

Fast. Easy. Free. And best of all – compliant with all local, state and federal screening laws. Within Zillow Rental Manager you can accept applications and screen prospective tenants in seconds.

https://www.zillow.com/user/acct/login/?url=%2Frental-manager%2Fproperties%2F%3FmktPath%3Dapplications%26utm_source%3Demail%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_campaign%3Demm_zrm_0718_applicationsnationalwa%26utm_content%3Dbutton

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REALTOR.COM HAS A RENTALS PAGE

https://www.realtor.com/rentals

From that page you can enter the specific area you are looking for.

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If you are looking for a room to rent, to share an apartment or sublet an apartment,

GO TO: http://www.roomster.com/

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WEICHERT.COM

CLICK ON “FIND A RENTAL”

ENTER IN THE SEARCH BOX THE AREA YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A RENTAL

AND CLICK THE “SEARCH” BUTTON

https://www.weichert.com/?GCID=S10566x055&src=goog&keyword=%2Bweichert&Matchtype=search&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3InYBRCLARIsAG6bfMS-1IjecjenC25wkIPwZjyGS22FEU9dq4tm4DSM2F4wQe9Q_mgqbKAaApBHEALw_wcB

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AFFORDABLE RENTALS…

FACEBOOK MARKETPLACE!!

FROM YOUR HOMEPAGE…

HAS A HOUSING PAGE FOR PROPERTY RENTALS…

ACCESS THEIR MARKETPLACE OFF YOUR FACEBOOK HOMPAGE,

– CLINK HOUSING – CLICK RENTALS AND THE LISTINGS WILL COME UP LOCAL TO YOUR

PHYSICAL LOCATION…

Updated 10-05-22

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Affordable & Accessible Housing in Arizona

Socialserve.com is a free, online, searchable database for tenants, landlords and housing agencies to list and find affordable places for rent or sale. You can search for housing based on price, Section 8, distance to public transportation and accessibility features like ramps, accessible parking and automatic door entry. Choose the city you want and then the accessible tab for accessible housing.

This information was recently added to Disability.gov. For more information visit https://www.disability.gov/state/arizona/housing.

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As I search for rentals throughout our state, I look for certain criteria:

1. I have decided to not list so many houses for rent, as apartments, in most cases do include heat. Please keep in mind that winter is at our door-step and the cost of heating is on the rise. The monthly rental may seem a bit higher priced, however, it will be worth it in the long-run.

2. I will not list housing that requires a fee for their service, nor a fee per call. I do agree with a fee, however for the back-ground and/or credit check, THE FEE IS APPROPRIATE, since those companies providing the background check and credit check do charge a fee for their services.

3. I will do my best to keep the maximum rental amount within the cost of living to your area, however, if Section 8 or TRA is accepted the rental amount may be more because there are times when the utilities are included.

4. I will not list without the rental amount included

5. I try not to list rental opportunities that offer “Option to Buy” – I have found that in most of these situations it does not work out properly for either party involved. I am working on a “First Time Home Purchaser” list of programs from throughout the State, that operates in an official capacity to help those that are working so diligently to raise their families and deserve to show something for their hard, hard work.

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WE LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED WHEN IT COMES TO HELPING OTHERS!!

Today's Date

Tuesday, December 3, 2024