To be eligible, A family must have a “low income” — defined as less than 80 percent of the local median income — in order to move into public housing. At least 40 percent of the new families that a housing agency admits each year must have “extremely low incomes” that are no greater than 30 percent of the local median or the poverty line, whichever is higher; on average, agencies exceed this requirement by a large margin.

​

Families with an immigrant whose status makes them ineligible for public housing can receive prorated assistance based on the number of household members who are eligible.

​

In 2020, 56 percent of public housing households were headed by older adults or people with disabilities. Among other households, a great majority included a working adult or an adult who worked recently. The majority of people living in public housing are Black or Latino. More than one-third of all residents are children under age 18.