Use This Simple Email Template To Get Affordable Housing

When you think of getting affordable housing, applying for a Section 8 voucher probably pops into your mind. And while a voucher can be a huge financial help since you’ll only have to pay 30 percent of your income towards rent, here’s a major problem: Some vouchers can take years to get due to high demand and short supply. In other words, since so many low-income families apply for Section 8, but voucher numbers are so limited, the chances of you getting affordable housing quickly via this route are slim.

Does this mean you shouldn’t apply for Section 8 assistance? Not at all, as you should apply as soon as possible by contacting as many PHAs as you can. But after you apply for Section 8, you should contact affordable housing buildings directly to see if you can find something quicker.

Where To Look For Affordable Housing In Your Area

One of the fastest ways to lower your rent cost is to make a list of affordable housing buildings near you. Here are the different ways to find them:

1. Contact Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) and see if they have a list of such buildings in your city.
2. Look for Section 8 buildings near you by using this map from the HUD, as some may not require vouchers.
3. Do a Google search for “affordable housing” in your area.

Using those three methods, make a list of every affordable housing building possible. Be sure to look for the email addresses of the property managers, as you’ll need them for the next step.

Send This Email To Affordable Housing Managers

Since some people don’t like to call, you can send this email to the property manager or primary contact at each affordable housing building. The purpose is to see if they allow applicants without Section 8 vouchers, which can help you save a ton of time.

Dear (name of the property manager),

I see that you do a lot of work to help people in need find affordable housing. I consider myself one of those people, and I would like to learn more about getting into one of your units. Could you please answer these quick questions when you get a minute?

1. Is your waiting list open to new applicants?
2. Do you accept Section 8 vouchers? (include this line in the email if you have a voucher).
3. Do you have any units that charge 30 percent of income? (include this line in the email if you do not have a voucher)
4. Do you have an estimate of how long your waiting list is?

I appreciate you taking the time to answer these questions for me. I hope to speak to you soon.

Thank you,
(Your name)

It’s worth noting that only 20 to 50 percent of buildings will respond. For those who don’t, resend the email as many times as needed. When resending, put “Second Request” in the subject line and a sentence in the email that states, “I am writing to you for a second time since I did not receive a response to my first message.”

Beyond resending emails to non-responsive contacts, you can also call them until you get someone on the phone. The more persistent you are, the higher your chances of getting affordable housing without a voucher.