24 C.F.R. § 960.201
§ 960.201 Eligibility. (24 CFR Part 960)
Operative Text
(a) Who is eligible? (1) Basic eligibility. An applicant must meet all eligibility requirements in order to receive housing assistance. At a minimum, the applicant must be a family, as defined in § 5.403 of this title, must be income-eligible, as described in this section, and must meet the net asset and property ownership restriction requirements in § 5.618 of this title. Such eligible applicants include single persons. (2) Low income limit. No family other than a low income family is eligible for admission to a PHA's public housing program. (b) Income used for eligibility and targeting. Family annual income (see § 5.609) is used both for determination of income eligibility under paragraph (a) and for PHA income targeting under § 960.202 (c) Reporting. The PHA must comply with HUD-prescribed reporting requirements that will permit HUD to maintain the data, as determined by HUD, necessary to monitor compliance with income eligibility and targeting requirement.
Under 24 CFR Part 960 § 960.201, admission to a public housing authority (PHA) program is limited to applicants who qualify as a "family" under federal definitions, fall within the low-income threshold, and satisfy net asset and property ownership restrictions. A family's annual income is the key figure used both to determine whether an applicant is eligible and to guide how the PHA prioritizes admissions. PHAs are also required to report data to HUD so the agency can monitor whether income eligibility and targeting rules are being followed.
Plain English — not legal advice.
PHAs and property managers administering public housing under 24 CFR Part 960 § 960.201 generally verify that each applicant meets the family definition, falls at or below the low-income limit, and clears the net asset and property ownership restrictions before extending an offer of housing. Annual income, calculated under § 5.609, is the standard measure used for both eligibility screening and income-targeting decisions. Compliant operators also maintain and submit the reporting data HUD requires to demonstrate ongoing adherence to these admissions standards.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under 24 CFR Part 960 § 960.201, applicants for public housing have a right to be evaluated against clearly defined federal eligibility criteria, including income limits and asset restrictions, rather than arbitrary standards. If an applicant believes a PHA has incorrectly calculated their annual income or misapplied the eligibility rules, they may raise that concern through the PHA's formal grievance process or file a complaint with HUD. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with public housing admissions can help applicants understand how these criteria apply and what options exist for challenging a denial.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 4, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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