Low-income apartments in Detroit: how to find and apply

Most low-income apartments in Detroit, Michigan come from the Detroit Housing Commission (DHC) and from owners of income-restricted buildings. DHC runs public housing and Section 8 vouchers. As of October 5, 2026, its public housing and voucher waitlists were closed. Its waitlists for project-based vouchers, which are rent help tied to one building, were open at 42 listings.

What we track in Detroit. As of October 7, 2026, we list one open Detroit listing: DHC's project-based voucher waitlists. Income-restricted buildings take applications at the property, so this guide also points you to the official lists. See our Michigan page and our subsidized housing guide for the basics.

What are the lists in Detroit, and are they open?

Which project-based voucher lists were open?

The commission's page marked 42 property listings "Waitlist: Open." They are in Detroit and nearby cities. Many are for ages 55 and older or for supportive housing.

DHC's applicant FAQ says applications go through its online portal. You can't apply in person, by mail or by email. A few listings send you to the property or a partner agency. Most listings show a phone number or point to a property website. Examples include:

• Melrose Square, scattered sites, three- and four-bedroom homes.
• Preston Townhomes, 7225 Preston Street, two and three bedrooms.
• Canfield Parks Apartments, 4401 Rosa Parks, one bedroom.
• North Corktown, 2607 14th Street, two bedrooms.
• Henry Street Apartments, 439 Henry Street, studios and one bedrooms.

DHC says you may apply to more than one list. It also says applying does not mean you qualify for help or will be allowed to live there.

Rent help here stays with the apartments. You can't carry it to another home. Our guide to the Housing Choice Voucher program explains regular vouchers.

The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) also lists project-based lists, including Lee Plaza I and II in Wayne County, which opened August 5, 2026. It says you cannot apply for those online and must go through the property's lead agency.

Who runs what in the Detroit area?

• Detroit Housing Commission. Runs 3,403 public housing and scattered-site units, according to its page, and the Section 8 voucher program. It says it offers income-based housing. For vouchers, it says income generally can't be over 50% of the area median income, which is the middle income in the area. It also says it looks at criminal history when it reviews whether you qualify.
• Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA). The state's housing agency runs the largest statewide voucher program, serving 83 counties. Its page said no voucher lists were open on October 5, 2026. It points to an Affordable Rental Housing Directory as a search tool for finding rental housing. For local help, it also points to Michigan 2-1-1.
• Other local housing offices. Suburban counties and cities have their own. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has a contact list that names each one.

How is rent set on a voucher?

HUD says your local housing office works out your family rent portion, which is the minimum you pay. It is usually 30% of your adjusted monthly income, meaning income after certain deductions. On a voucher, HUD says your rent may be as high as 40% of your adjusted monthly income.

A payment standard limits how much the housing office pays toward rent and utilities for a unit. It varies by unit size. DHC says it offers income-based housing, so ask each property how its rent is figured and when it is rechecked.

What are the 2026 income limits for Detroit?

HUD publishes limits for the Detroit-Warren-Livonia area, which includes Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Lapeer and St. Clair counties. The 2026 median family income is $104,800. The limits took effect May 1, 2026. All figures are yearly household income.

HUD sets each limit as a share of the area median income. That is the middle income in the area: half of households earn more and half earn less. It names the extremely low, very low and low limits after 30%, 50% and 80% of that figure for a four-person household. Then it scales them for other household sizes. It raises some limits where rents are high compared with incomes. It never sets the extremely low limit below the federal poverty guideline, so a figure can differ from that share of the median.

This table is HUD's. Tax-credit and mixed-income buildings often use their own lines, so read each building's chart. See what area median income means, try our qualify check or read how to qualify for affordable housing.

How do you apply?

1. Check which list is open. Look at DHC's pages before you apply, since public housing and regular vouchers are closed. For project-based lists, apply through the online portal or as the listing directs.
2. Be ready for documents. For public housing, which was closed on October 5, 2026, DHC says all household members need birth certifications, Social Security cards and valid photo identification. Income and asset information is required at application. DHC's voucher FAQ says it asks for more after your name is selected.
3. Mark preferences carefully. A preference gives some applicants a better place on the list. For public housing, DHC says preferences can include a Violence Against Women Act preference, elderly or disabled, displaced by a federal disaster, and veterans. Mark only those that apply, because wrong choices delay screening.
4. Keep your contact details current. DHC says changes go through its portal, and households may be removed if it cannot reach them by email or phone.

Our guide to how to apply for affordable housing lists more documents to gather.

How do you spot a scam?

• Never pay anyone to be added to a waitlist. HUD's inspector general warns of fake waitlist announcements on social media.
• Use only DHC's own website or phone numbers to confirm that a list is open.
• The Federal Trade Commission warns that fake rental ads ask for wire transfers or gift cards and rush you. It advises searching the owner's or rental company's name with words like "complaint," "review" or "scam," and seeing the property, if you can, before you pay.

What do we list in Michigan today?

As of October 7, 2026, we list three open Michigan listings: DHC's project-based voucher waitlists in Detroit and two sets of land trust homes for sale in Grand Rapids. If you want to buy, see our Michigan first-time home buyer guide. See all listings.