What is "Subsidized Housing?"
There are different kinds of subsidized housing. Some are public housing, and some aren't. If your rent goes by your income, your housing is “subsidized.” This is true even if your house or apartment is owned by a person or company, and not the government.
Extra Protections for Renters in Subsidized Housing
Lease Protections
If you live in "subsidized housing," you probably have a standard lease. This lease gives you more protections than most non-subsidized tenants have. For example, your lease may have a "grievance procedure" which gives you the right to an informal, out-of-court hearing on a complaint you have against your landlord. Your lease probably gives you more protections against eviction than the ones we discuss in our other guides for renters. It may say that your landlord cannot evict you unless they have "good cause" or unless they can prove you broke the lease.
If you have a Section 8 voucher or a BRAP or Shelter-Plus voucher, you should have signed a lease with the landlord when you moved in. If you can’t find it the agency that gave you the voucher should have a copy.
Survivors of domestic or dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking
If you are in subsidized housing, you cannot be evicted because you were the victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking. You may have other rights under federal law that are not explained in your lease.
Learn More
If you live in public housing, read more about your rights in Public Housing: Some Frequently Asked Questions. If you are not sure about your rights under your lease, or if you are being evicted from subsidized housing, contact your local PTLA office.
Apply for Subsidized Housing
If you need to find out where to apply for subsidized housing in your area, contact:
Maine State Housing Authority
26 Edison Drive
Augusta, Maine 04330
toll free phone: 1-800-452-4668
TTY: Maine Relay 711
Maine Subsidized Housing Listings
Maine Housing Authority posts a listing, by county, of all subsidized housing in the state (but does not include Rural Development subsidized rentals). This listing does include elderly and disabled rental housing. Scroll down the page to get to the county-by-county listings.
Section 8 Voucher
Maine Housing and 20 local public housing authorities operate a centralized waiting list for section 8 vouchers. People can apply online to be put on the Section 8 waiting list.
July, 2022
PTLA #649