What is Affordable Housing?
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CommonBond's Housing Programs
We do have some other programs available. Please contact us if you have any questions about our housing programs.
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Affordable housing communities are townhomes and apartments that offer below market-rate rents to people earning 60% or less of the area median income. For example, if the middle income of an area is $40,000 per year, a household that earns $24,000 or less per year would be considered low income.
There are a number of factors in determining eligibility, and we offer a wide variety of housing programs and services. We can help you determine which housing program you are eligible for. We also have market rate apartments available for people who don't qualify for affordable housing.
Section 42 Housing
What is Section 42?
Section 42 was set in place in the 1980’s to assist median income households. Residents pay a set rent amount determined by the Area Median Income (AMI): income-qualifying residents who make 30-60% of AMI pay lower than the area's market rate. You can use efanniemae.com to look up Area Median Incomes.
How Do I Apply?
Fill out an application form and email it, mail it, or bring it to the property at which you want to live. To find Section 42 Housing, Contact, and Application forms, follow the link below:
Section 8 Housing
What is Section 8?
Section 8 was set in place to help low and very low-income households. Under Section 8, rent is 30%-40% of the household’s adjusted gross income or a low-fixed amount, depending on the type of housing and other factors. There are two types of Section 8 programs: Section 8 vouchers and project-based Section 8.
Project-based Section 8 is an affordable housing subsidy connected to the rental unit. The subsidy provides the difference between the market rate value of the home and 30% of the resident’s income. If the resident moves, the subsidy will go to the next qualified resident who moves into the Section 8 unit.
Section 8 Vouchers are given to individuals, not properties. CommonBond welcomes people with Section 8 vouchers. Once a person acquires a Section 8 Voucher from the government, their household can choose to live at many properties (market rate or affordable) and the government pays the difference between 30% of the renter’s income and the fair market rate of an apartment in that area.
How Do I Apply?
For more information about Voucher-based Section 8, click here. You may apply for Project-based Section 8 with us. Fill out an application form and email it, mail it, or bring it to the property at which you want to live. To find Section 8 Housing, Contact, and Application forms, follow the link below:
Section 202 Housing
What is Section 202?
The Section 202 program was set in place to help low-income seniors (age 62 and older) who require housing and services that provide some assistance with daily living. Rent is usually 30% of adjusted gross income.
How do I (or my Parents) Apply?
Fill out an application form and email it, mail it, or bring it to the property at which you want to live. To find Section 202 Housing, Contact, and Application forms, follow the link below:
Section 236 Housing
What is Section 236?
Section 238 was set in place to help low-income renters, including families, seniors, disabled people, and individuals. For income-qualifying residents, rent will fall between 30% of household income and market rate, depending on a number of factors.
How Do I Apply?
Fill out an application form and email it, mail it, or bring it to the property at which you want to live. To find Section 236 Housing, Contact, and Application forms, follow the link below:
Section 811 and 202/8 Housing
What is Section 811?
Section 811 was set in place to help low-income renters with disabilities. Rent is usually 30% of income
How Do I Apply?
Fill out an application form and email it, mail it, or bring it to the property at which you want to live. To find Section 811 Housing, Contact, and Application forms, follow the link below:
Rental terms
Wait List Open: Housing communities with immediate openings or a short wait list.
No Vacancies/Waiting list closed: If a wait list gets too long, it is closed until enough people on the list are placed in a home.
Service terms
Advantage Services: CommonBond services provided on-site at CommonBond housing communities to CommonBond residents. Advantage Services work to ensure that our housing serves as a steppingstone to success for the people who live there. The services at each housing community vary by that community’s needs, but often include computer labs, youth programming, career help and health services.
Advantage Centers: Advantage Services are provided through Advantage Centers. Advantage Centers are the physical, on-site resource centers. These offices, community rooms and computer labs are a point of access- access to technology, services, information and support.
Youth achievement: One of the goals of CommonBond Advantage Services for family communities. Through academic and social mentoring programs like Study Buddies and out of school programming like Summer Fun, services aim to help resident kids achieve academically and socially. We measure success by the number of participants who are able to move up a grade level.
Study Buddies: CommonBond’s one-on-one mentoring program that pairs resident youth with trained volunteers. Study Buddy pairs meet weekly during the academic year to work on homework, computer skills and enrichment activities.
Learning Circles: CommonBond’s mentoring program for youth in St. Paul. Learning Circles partners an AmeriCorps member, a volunteer and groups of resident youth. The groups meet twice weekly to work on academic and social learning.
Independent living: One of the goals of CommonBond Advantage Services for seniors and special needs. Services at senior and special need housing communities aim to keep seniors living independently in their own homes as long as possible. Success is measured by the number of residents these services were able to prevent from entering an institution.
Career Advantage: CommonBond’s comprehensive employment and professional development program offered at high need communities. Career Advantage works to help work-age adult residents find and keep jobs, develop career paths and achieve professional goals.
