Affordable housing is the umbrella. Underneath it sit several separate Chicago programs with different income limits, waitlists, and application steps. Start here to find the one that fits your situation.
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If you searched for low-income apartments, income-based apartments, or simply affordable apartments in Chicago, you are in the right place — but those phrases cover several different programs. Knowing which one you are actually looking at changes where you apply, what documents you need, and how long you wait.
Here is the simplest way to think about it. Affordable housing is the broad category for any apartment where rent is limited or subsidized. Inside that category, Chicago renters usually encounter two families of programs: rent-restricted apartments, where the rent itself is capped based on area median income, and rental assistance, where a housing authority pays part of your rent so your share is tied to your income.
Income limits and eligibility requirements vary by program and property. Qualifications, rent calculations, waitlists, and application processes also vary — always confirm details with the property or the administering agency before you rely on them.
Below-market apartments inside newer market-rate buildings
Income-restricted apartments run by private owners and management companies
Rental assistance you take with you to a private apartment
Public housing and mixed-income developments owned or overseen by CHA
These show up often in Chicago listings. A building can fall under more than one of them at the same time, which is why two apartments described as "affordable" can have very different rules.
Rental assistance attached to a specific apartment instead of to a household. If you move out, the assistance stays with the unit. Applications usually run through the property or a CHA-managed list.
Read the Project-Based Voucher guidePrivately owned buildings financed with federal tax credits in exchange for capped rents. Limits are commonly set at 30%, 50%, 60%, or 80% of area median income, and each property screens applicants on its own terms.
Read the LIHTC guideAge-restricted income-limited buildings, typically 62+ (sometimes 55+). Some pair an age requirement with a voucher or LIHTC rent structure.
Units designed for mobility, hearing, or vision needs, plus supportive housing that pairs an apartment with services. Availability is limited and often prioritized by referral.
| Rent-restricted apartments (ARO, LIHTC, other income-restricted units) | Rental assistance (Housing Choice Vouchers, CHA programs) | |
|---|---|---|
| How rent is set | A fixed maximum rent tied to an area median income tier | Usually a percentage of your household income, with the agency paying the rest |
| Where you apply | Directly with the building or its lottery | With the Chicago Housing Authority when a waitlist opens |
| Typical wait | Days to months, depending on availability and lottery timing | Often years, and waitlists open only periodically |
| Can you move it? | No — the reduced rent belongs to the apartment | A tenant-based voucher can move with you; a Project-Based Voucher cannot |
General comparison for orientation only. Specific rules are set by each program administrator and property.
You work full time but downtown rents are out of reach. Look at Chicago ARO apartments and privately managed income-restricted buildings. These often serve households in the 50%–80% area median income range, and you apply building by building — start with our Chicago affordable apartment listings.
Your income is very low or unstable. Rental assistance is usually the better fit. Read the Housing Choice Voucher guide and CHA housing guide, and watch for waitlist openings.
You are not sure what you qualify for. Start with the 2026 Chicago income limits or run the Chicago AMI calculator to see which tiers your household size and income land in.
You found a building and want to apply now. Work through how to apply for affordable housing in Chicago and gather paperwork with the application checklist.
You want to target a specific area. Browse affordable housing by Chicago neighborhood or review how privately managed affordable apartments work.
No. Affordable housing is the broad category. The Affordable Requirements Ordinance (ARO) is one specific City of Chicago program that requires certain new developments to include below-market units. Housing Choice Vouchers, Chicago Housing Authority housing, Project-Based Vouchers, and Low-Income Housing Tax Credit buildings are separate programs with their own rules.
It is a common search phrase rather than an official program name. People usually mean one of two things: an apartment with a capped rent based on area median income limits (ARO, LIHTC, or other income-restricted units), or an apartment where your rent is calculated as a share of your household income (typical of Chicago Housing Authority programs and voucher assistance).
No. There is no single citywide application. ARO and privately managed affordable apartments are handled by each building. Housing Choice Vouchers and Chicago Housing Authority housing are handled by CHA waitlists. Chicago Affordable Housing Guide is an independent resource and does not process applications or manage any waitlist.
Often yes. Many households sit on a Chicago Housing Authority waitlist while also applying to income-restricted buildings. Qualifications, rent calculations, waitlist timing, and application processes vary by program and by property, so check the requirements for each one you pursue.
It depends on the program and the specific building. Income limits and eligibility requirements vary by program and property. Our income limits page shows the City of Chicago 2026 figures used for ARO and many income-restricted buildings, and links to the official source documents.
Always verify program rules with the agency that runs them:
The Affordable Requirements Ordinance, AMI tiers, and how units are offered.
Applying building by building to income-restricted properties.
Housing Choice Voucher basics, landlord questions, and the CHA waitlist.
Public housing, vouchers, and how CHA applications work.
Assistance tied to a specific unit, and how it differs from a portable voucher.
Low-Income Housing Tax Credit basics, income tiers, and how rents are set.