# Public Housing Explained (Texas) | Income Restricted Apartments > Public housing is owned by your local housing authority with rent based on income. How it works, how to apply, and how it differs from LIHTC. URL: https://incomerestrictedapartments.com/guide/public-housing-explained/ Last-Modified: 2026-06-22 ![Public housing community exterior with mature trees at midday](/images/misc/public-housing-community-exterior-texas-mature-tre.webp) ## What Public Housing Actually Is Public housing means apartments owned and managed by your local Public Housing Authority (PHA). The PHA is a local government body funded partly by HUD. In Texas each metro has its own PHA, and each PHA has its own inventory of public housing communities. Public housing is not: - LIHTC (privately owned, rent capped by tier) - Section 8 vouchers (subsidy you use at a private property) - Project-based Section 8 (subsidy at a specific unit at a private property) ## How Rent Works For most public housing units, your monthly rent is approximately 30% of your adjusted gross income. Deductions (medical for elderly/disabled, childcare, dependents) reduce the countable income first. Some PHAs offer a **flat rent** option, a fixed dollar amount. It’s usually a good deal for households whose income share would exceed the flat rent. There’s typically a **minimum rent** (often small) and a **ceiling rent** (the property’s operating cost cap). ## Who Owns and Runs It Owned by the PHA. Managed by the PHA or a contracted management company. Funded by HUD subsidies plus tenant rent. Some Texas public housing has gone through the **Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD)** program, which converts older public housing to project-based Section 8 or LIHTC financing to fund rehab. It still functions as affordable housing; the legal structure just changes. ![Comparison chart of public housing versus LIHTC ownership and rent](/images/misc/public-housing-versus-lihtc-ownership-and-rent-com.webp) ## How to Apply Apply through the PHA for your metro: - **Austin**: HACA and HATC - **San Antonio**: Opportunity Home - **Houston**: HHA - **Dallas**: DHA - **Fort Worth**: FWHS Waitlists can be long (months to years) or closed. Preferences (veteran, disability, homelessness, elderly, working, local resident) can move you up. We recommend applying to a LIHTC community in parallel so you have a faster path. ## Public Housing vs LIHTC vs Voucher **Public housing**: government-owned, rent = share of income, apply to PHA, long waits. **LIHTC**: privately owned, rent capped by AMI tier, apply to property, often faster. **Voucher (HCV)**: portable subsidy, apply to PHA for the voucher, then apply at accepting private properties. Many households benefit from applying to more than one. We help coordinate. ## Related Reading - Public Housing Hub [/public-housing/ →](/public-housing/) - How Public Housing Differs from LIHTC and Vouchers [/guide/how-public-housing-differs-from-lihtc-and-vouchers/ →](/guide/how-public-housing-differs-from-lihtc-and-vouchers/) - Applying to a Texas PHA Public Housing Waitlist [/guide/applying-to-a-texas-pha-public-housing-waitlist/ →](/guide/applying-to-a-texas-pha-public-housing-waitlist/) Start the free intake [/contact/ →](/contact/) . ## Frequently Asked Questions Who owns public housing? + The local Public Housing Authority (PHA). In Texas, that's HACA in Austin, DHA in Dallas, HHA in Houston, Opportunity Home in San Antonio, and FWHS in Fort Worth. Is public housing the same as Section 8? + No. Public housing is government-owned housing where you rent directly from the PHA. Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher) is a rent subsidy you use at a private property. Both are administered by the PHA. How is rent set? + Rent is typically 30% of your adjusted gross income. Some PHAs offer a flat-rent option. There may be a minimum rent and a ceiling rent based on the unit's operating cost. ## Related Guides ### 2026 Income Limits & AMI Tables by Texas Metro and Household Size 2026 AMI income limits (30/50/60/80%) for affordable apartments by Texas metro and household size. Updated annually from HUD/TDHCA. [2026 Income Limits & AMI Tables by Texas Metro and Household Size →](/guide/2026-income-limits-ami-tables-by-metro-household-size/) ### Accessible & Disability Income Restricted Housing Need an ADA-accessible affordable unit? Accessible set-asides, reasonable accommodations, and how we match you to disability-friendly communities. [Accessible & Disability Income Restricted Housing →](/guide/accessible-disability-income-restricted-housing/) ### Family (2-3 Bedroom) Income Restricted Apartments Need a larger income restricted unit? Occupancy rules, how bedroom count affects AMI, and waitlist realities for 2-3 bedroom units. [Family (2-3 Bedroom) Income Restricted Apartments →](/guide/family-2-3-bedroom-income-restricted-apartments/) ### Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) Explained A Housing Choice Voucher helps pay rent at accepting properties. What HCV is, how to get one from your PHA, portability, and how we help. [Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) Explained →](/guide/housing-choice-vouchers-hcv-explained/) ![](/images/misc/texas-income-restricted-apartment-community-family.webp) Free · No Application Fees Wasted ## Want a Match, Not Just Info? Start the free 5-minute intake. Licensed Texas team, matches within 24-48 hours, application fee rebate on approval. See If I Qualify [/contact/ →](/contact/) Read More Guides [/guide/ →](/guide/)