Delaware Housing Assistance

Delaware Housing Vouchers * Public Housing * Homeless * Making Home Affordable

Delaware housing assistance includes numerous federally and state-funded programs specifically designed to help its residents with various housing needs.

Rental Help for Delaware Residents

Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers

Section 8 Housing Program is a federally funded housing assistance designed to help extremely low and very low-income individuals, families, senior citizens, and people with disabilities. The Section 8 Housing provides qualifying low income population with affordable, decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market where the program is available.

Section 8 Housing in Delaware is administered by the Delaware State Housing Authority and local Public Housing Agencies (PHA). The program helps Delaware eligible individuals and families broaden their housing options in the private rental market. Learn more about Section 8 Housing Programs and Housing Choice Vouchers.

Delaware Section 8 Housing includes Housing Choice Voucher which provide Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) for low and very low income residents in all Delaware counties. This program provides TBRA vouchers for more then 5 thousand housing units across Delaware State. HUD sets Fair Market rent limits for each housing unit based on its size and community market conditions. The local Public Housing Agency issues a Housing Choice Vouchers to qualified applicants based on their family size and needs. The voucher recipients are required to pay a portion (in Newark up to 40%) of their household income towards the rent and are responsible for the full security deposit. The Housing Choice Voucher pays the difference between tenants portion and the contract rent. The PHA sends the voucher payment of the rent directly to the landlord.

Normally, there is a waiting list and the applications for the Section 8 Vouchers are taken periodically at a time determined by the local Public Housing Authority. The open period for taking Section 8 applications is usually advertised in the local newspaper two weeks prior to starting acceptance of applications, and all related social service agencies are notified.

When the waiting list is open, completed applications are accepted from all applicants. The Housing Authority will then verify the information in each application relevant to the applicant’s eligibility, admission and benefits level.

Approved Section 8 applicants can select housing within a neighborhood of their choice from a property owner willing to participate in Section 8 program. Tenant Based Rental Assistance contracts must have a minimum lease of one year and cannot exceed two years – but they can be renewed. Choices of housing units may include family’s present residence if it qualifies. Rental units must meet minimum standards of health and safety, as determined by the local Housing Authority. Housing Choice Vouchers are portable – beneficiaries can take them if they move and use them for the payment of the new housing. Local Housing Authority has to approve the new housing and the time of moving. The rents in TBRA assisted units must be affordable to low-income families and remain affordable for a designated amount of time.

As per the federal requirements, the Section 8 Program allows families to pay a predetermined share of their income toward the rent while issued Housing Choice Vouchers make up the difference. The program does not pay for security deposits and moving expenses. The tenant is responsible for paying for any utilities not included in the rent according to the lease.

Income eligibility limits and benefit levels are based on local median income and local housing costs but are set largely at the federal level with limited local discretion. Income requirements are set generally as less than 50% of Area Median Income (AMI), but can be up to 80% in some cases. By law, seventy five percent of the newly issued vouchers must go to families with incomes below 30% of the Area Median Income.

Current recipients maintain vouchers until their income reaches a level at which the value of their housing subsidy is reduced to $0.00 – all housing subsidies are calculated based on family income, housing costs, and other factors.

For specifics on eligibility for each Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher please, check with your local Delaware Public Housing Authority.

Project-Based Rental Assistance

The Delaware State Housing Authority also promotes affordable housing opportunities through Project Based Rental Assistance (a.k.a. Site-Based Section 8). The State Housing Authority is allowed to use up to 20 percent of its budget authority to subsidize specific units in designated buildings. Project Based Rental Assistance involves over 3,500 units throughout the state of Delaware. The rental assistance pays part of the rent to qualified tenants for a specific building designated as Section 8 and subsidized by the Federal Government funding with the main purpose to provide affordable housing for low-income families. Participants in the program pay 30% of their income for rent and utilities. The Project Based Vouchers are not portable – the subsidy remains with the housing unit. Applications this kind of rental subsidy are accepted and waiting lists are maintained at each housing site. Usually the population served are households that are low income with income up to 50% of the Area Median Income. HUD establishes and publishes the income parameters annually.

Public Housing – Subsidized and Low-Rent Apartments

Public Housing provides safe, decent and affordable rental housing to eligible low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides federal grants to local Public Housing Agencies (PHA) that manage the public housing developments for low-income residents at rents they can afford.

In general, housing developments owned, managed and maintained by the local PHA are referred to as Conventional Housing, or Low Rent Public Housing and units are offered to eligible low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities at rental rates established by the PHA authorities within the HUD income limits and guidelines. Local Delaware Public Housing Authorities manage more than 2,400 federally subsidized public housing units across the State.

Inquire about current availability of subsidized and low-rent apartments at you local Delaware Public Housing Authorities.

Search for affordable subsidized apartments in Delaware using the HUD database.

 Housing Counseling Services

Contact one of the HUD Approved Housing Counseling Agencies in Delaware State for the following education workshops or counseling services

  • Mortgage Delinquency and Default Resolution Counseling
  • Fair Housing Pre-Purchase Education Workshops
  • Financial Management/Budget Counseling
  • Financial, Budgeting and Credit Repair Workshops
  • Home Improvement and Rehabilitation Counseling
  • Non-Delinquency Post Purchase Workshops
  • Pre-purchase Counseling
  • Pre-purchase Homebuyer Education Workshops
  • Predatory Lending Education Workshops
  • Rental Housing Counseling
  • Services for Homeless Counseling
  • Home Improvement and Rehabilitation Counseling
  • Reverse Mortgage Counseling

Delaware – Making Home Affordable options

Making Home Affordable is a federal program designed to cover different homeowners’ hardships and financial situations. Under the program, there are various options that can help Delaware homeowners in hardship stay in their homes. Depending on the situation Delaware homeowners in hardship can apply to lower their monthly payments, lower the interest rate on their home loan or even get principal reduction in some cases.

There are foreclosure alternatives and temporarily help for unemployed homeowners as well.

Here are some of the most used options under the Making Home Affordable Program:

HUD (US Department of Housing and Urban Development) approved housing counselor can be reached at: 888-995-4673  (Hearing impaired: 877-304-9709 TTY) to help you understand your options, prepare your application, and work with your mortgage company.

 

Delaware Homeowners Assistance and Housing Programs

Delaware Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program

Delaware Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (DEMAP) is statewide foreclosure preventing assistance designed to help Delaware homeowners when in financial hardship. In such situations, even the most responsible homeowners can sometimes face the threat of foreclosure. DEMAP is a loan program and was created by the Delaware State Housing Authority to help homeowners avoid foreclosure that may result from circumstances and financial hardship that is beyond mortgage borrower’s control. DEMAP is restricted to owner-occupied primary residences. The program helps eligible homeowners by reinstating the delinquent mortgage loan (principal, interest, taxes, and insurance) and assisting with their monthly mortgage payments for up to 24 months.

General requirements to qualify for DEMAP are: 1) be resident of Delaware, 2) have 15% or greater reduction in income because of unemployment/underemployment due to the economy, or injury/illness of self or immediate family member for whom the wage earner is the primary caregiver, 3) be 90 days or more delinquent on the first mortgage payments and face foreclosure risk, 4) able to contribute 31% of their monthly income toward the mortgage payment during the assistance period 5) demonstrate ability to resume mortgage payments within the 24-month period.

To apply for the Delaware Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program call one of the following DEMAP Counseling Agencies in your area.

CCCS of MD & DE Inc.
Wilmington, DE…………………….(866) 731-8486
Dover, DE ……………………………(866) 731-8486

CLARIFY, Inc.
Wilmington, DE…………………….(800) 989-2227

First State Community Action Agency
New Castle, DE …………………… (302) 498-0454
Dover, DE ………………………….. (302) 674-1355
Georgetown, DE ………………….. (302) 856-7761

Hockessin Community Center
Hockessin, DE ……………………..(302) 239-2363

Housing Opportunities of Northern Delaware, Inc.
Wilmington, DE …………………..(302) 429-0794

Interfaith Community Housing of Delaware, Inc.
Wilmington, DE ………………….. (302) 652-3991
Dover, DE ………………………….. (302) 741-0142

NCALL Research Inc.
Newark, DE ……………………….. (302) 283-7505
Dover, DE ………………………….. (302) 678-9400
Georgetown, DE ………………….. (302) 855-1370

Neighborhood House, Inc.
Wilmington, DE ………………….. (302) 652-3928
Middletown, DE ……………………(302) 378-7217

YWCA Centers for Homeownership Education
Newark, DE ……………………….. (302) 224-4060

Delaware Homeless Service Organizations

Delaware has regional homeless service organizations that coordinate local resources and can provide assistance to the homeless. A number of Delaware Homeless Service Organizations are funded through Continuum of Care (CoC). Continuum of Care is a federal program that consolidates the following Homeless Assistance programs: the Shelter Plus Care Program, the Supportive Housing Program, and the Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation Single Room Occupancy Program. The CoC Program is designed to promote community-wide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness by providing grants to nonprofit providers, State, and local governments to quickly rehouse homeless individuals and families while minimizing the trauma and dislocation caused to homeless individuals, families, and communities.

Delaware Homeless Service Organizations assist individuals (including unaccompanied youth) and families experiencing homelessness.  With the main goal of long-term stability, those Delaware homeless service organizations provide the services that are needed to help such individuals move into transitional and permanent housing.

Here is a shortlist of some of Delaware Homeless Service Organizations by county with services offered. Emergency shelters provide immediate housing for up to 30 days unless otherwise specified. Transitional housing provides temporary housing and support services over an extended period of time. Contact the site directly for specific information.

If you are homeless in Delaware and need help – call the listed homeless service organization in your area.

NEW CASTLE COUNTY

American Red Cross
100 West 10th Street, Suite 501
Wilmington, DE 19801-1678
(302) 656-6620
Immediate emergency needs following natural or man-made disasters only

Andrew’s Place
8th and Orange Streets
Wilmington, DE 19801
(302) 652-8133
Elderly men over 55 years of age

Bayard House
300 Bayard Avenue
Wilmington, DE 19805
(302) 654-1184
Pregnant teens and women ages 13-35 in the first trimester

Belle View House
516 N. Harrison Street
Wilmington, DE 19805
(302) 691-3301
Women in recovery pay rent and share expenses in a group home

Bethany House
601 N. Jackson St.
Wilmington, DE 19805
(302) 594-9450
Women with special needs

Booth Social Services/Emergency Housing Residence
104 West 5th Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
(302) 472-0753
Homeless single women and women with children

Brandywine House
615 N. Harrison Street
Wilmington, DE 19805
(302) 256-0386
Men in recovery pay rent and share expenses in a group home

Browntown House
611 N. Jackson Street
Wilmington, DE 19805-3241
(302) 984-1191
Men in recovery pay rent and share expenses in a group home

Find more…

Delaware Low-Rent Apartments

Find more and search for Delaware subsidized and low-rent apartments here.

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