About This Program
Case managers and housing navigators lack a single statewide resource to refer clients across Texas. Income Restricted Apartments fills that gap: submit one referral, and our licensed team pre-screens the client against available inventory, contacts them directly with permission, and sends you status updates. We cover all five metros, handle bulk referrals for organizations, and the service is always free to your clients.
Why Case Managers Need a Statewide Referral Partner
Income Restricted Apartments is a licensed Texas real estate team (TREC #679806) based in Austin that operates a free statewide referral service for housing navigators, case managers, social workers, and PHA staff. With 20+ years of combined experience across Austin, San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, and Fort Worth, the team tracks open inventory at LIHTC communities, public housing developments, and voucher-friendly properties - then pre-screens your clients and reports back.
Without a single statewide partner, you end up cold-calling leasing offices, checking waitlist status at HACA, SAHA, Houston Housing Authority, DHA, and FWHA separately, and chasing updates. That costs you hours and delays placement for the client.
Refer once through Income Restricted Apartments, and we handle the rest across all five Texas metros.
How the Housing Navigator Referral Works
- You submit the intake with the client’s info (metro, household size, income, voucher status, screening notes). We accept referrals through the contact form or through a repeatable partnership pathway for organizations with volume.
- We pre-screen against current inventory for the client’s metro. This includes LIHTC, public housing, voucher-friendly private communities, senior-designated units, and TDHCA bond properties.
- We contact the client directly with your (and their) consent. First contact confirms consent, walks through options, and answers questions in English or Spanish.
- We match and coordinate applications, applying pre-screening logic against tenant selection plans and application fee context. Where possible, we rebate the client’s application fee on approval.
- We report status back to you with the client’s ongoing consent, so you know when the client has been contacted, when they’ve applied, and when they’ve placed.
Programs and Metros We Cover in Texas
- All five metros: Austin, San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth
- All major programs: LIHTC, Housing Choice Vouchers, project-based Section 8, public housing, USDA rural (where applicable), TDHCA bond, Section 202 senior, Section 811 disability
- Fair-housing safe screening: we screen only against community-published rules, never against protected class
- Bilingual service: English and Spanish intake for clients
How We Compare
| Feature | Typical DIY Approach | Income Restricted Apartments |
|---|---|---|
| Texas metros covered | One PHA at a time | All five metros through one referral |
| Client pre-screening | You verify eligibility manually | Licensed team pre-screens against community criteria |
| Status updates | Chase each leasing office | Automatic updates with client consent |
| Programs searched | Whatever you find individually | LIHTC, Section 8, public housing, USDA, TDHCA bond, senior, and disability housing |
| Cost to your client | Varies by property | Always free - communities pay referral fees |
Bulk Referral Options for Organizations
If you’re a PHA, a Coordinated Entry lead, a non-profit with volume, or a case management team serving multiple clients, we can set up a repeatable intake pathway: shared spreadsheet, secure form, or direct integration where appropriate. We work with organizations using HMIS and VI-SPDAT assessments to streamline the referral process. Reach out through the contact form and mention you’re a professional partner.
Consent and Fair Housing
We never contact a client without you confirming they’ve agreed. We never share information back to you without the client’s ongoing consent. We follow the federal Fair Housing Act and Texas fair-housing rules. We do not screen on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, disability, or any other protected class.
Intake Tools and AMI References
- Client intake checklist (email request)
- Quick-reference AMI tables by metro (2026 HUD limits, updated annually)
- Document-list handout for clients (ID, income proof, asset declaration, household composition)
- Program comparison one-pager (LIHTC vs Housing Choice Voucher vs public housing)
Related Programs
- LIHTC Apartments: the fastest placement path in most Texas metros
- Section 8 Voucher Apartments: if your client has a Housing Choice Voucher in hand
- Public Housing: for PHA-owned inventory across Texas
- Senior Housing: for age-qualified clients on fixed income
Ready to send a referral to Income Restricted Apartments? Use the contact form or reach out to set up an ongoing partnership pathway for your organization.
