How To Apply

How To Apply

Households wishing to apply for housing with AMHA can access the housing application online.

View Application

Once you have submitted the preliminary application, you will be provided with a confirmation number as proof of the date and time of your application. You must keep this confirmation number to check your status in the future. When your name is nearing the top of a waiting list, you will be contacted for an eligibility interview.

You will be able to check your application status at any time by calling our automated status line at 330-252-9284. This status line will inform you of the date of your application, the wait lists you applied for, and the current wait time for those lists.

To be eligible for subsidized housing, the head of household must be at least 18 years of age, and your income must be below the following guidelines:

Income Limits

Income Limits Table

Number of
Persons in Family

Low Income
(Public Housing)

Very Low Income
(HCVP – Section 8)

1

$44,900

$28,050

2

$51,300

$32,050

3

$57,700

$36,050

4

$64,100

$40,050

5

$69,250

$43,300

6

$74,400

$46,500

7

$79,500

$49,700

8

$84,650

$52,900

In Addition

  • If you have previously lived in AMHA housing or have received housing assistance through the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) and owe a balance, the balance must be paid in full before we can offer you housing.
  • All adult household members must pass a criminal history background check. Persons with disabilities who need assistance should contact the AMHA RA coordinator at 330-762-9631.

Housing Programs Offered by AMHA


AMHA does not provide emergency housing.

  • Estimated wait time is 6-18 months, depending upon family size.
  • Housing for families and singles that is managed and maintained by AMHA. Family public housing includes 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom units. The offer for housing will be based on family composition and bedroom size and may be anywhere in Summit County. When your name reaches the top of the wait list, you will be contacted by phone and given one offer. If you refuse the offer your refusal date will become your new application date for this program. The security deposit for all units is $50.00. You will be responsible for the following utilities: gas and electric.

  • Estimated wait time is 12-18 months.
  • Includes 1 and 2 bedrooms units for families/individuals where the head of household is 62 and older or disabled. The offer for housing will be based on family composition and bedroom size and may be anywhere in Summit County. When your name reaches the top of the wait list, you will be contacted by phone and given one offer. If you refuse the offer your refusal date will become your new application date for this program. The security deposit is $50.00. All utilities are included for these units.

  • Estimated wait time for this program depends on vacancies.
  • Housing for individuals that is managed and maintained by AMHA. Spicer Terrace is located near the University of Akron. Spicer Terrace consists of 1 bedroom units for youth ages 18 to 25 who are homeless and disabled. When your name reaches the top of the wait list, you will be contacted by phone and given one offer. If you refuse the offer your refusal date will become your new application date for this program. The security deposit is $50.00. All utilities are included for these units

  • Estimated wait time is 24-36 months.
  • This program consists of housing that is owned and operated by private owners/agents. The client will be contacted by the HCVP Department by mail when his/her application comes to the top of the wait list. Once contacted, you will be issued a voucher to search for housing. The voucher is active for 120 days. The voucher holder is responsible for finding housing during this time. Residents of Summit County are able to port (transfer) the voucher to another county or state. Security deposits are determined by the owner/agent and are usually equivalent to rent for one month. Utility responsibility is also determined by the owner/agent.

  • The client will be contacted by the owner/agent once their name reaches the top of the wait list.

AMHA’s Assisted Housing portfolio includes more than 800 rental homes across nine properties in Akron and Barberton. Housing options include multifamily apartments, single-family homes, and mid- and high-rise communities serving families, older adults, near-elderly residents, and people with disabilities.

These communities are designed to provide safe, quality and affordable housing for eligible Summit County residents with low to moderate incomes.

AMHA’s Assisted Housing properties are supported through several funding programs, including:

  • HUD Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA)
  • HOME Investment Partnerships Program funds
  • Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC)

Because each property may have different funding requirements, income limits, rents and eligibility guidelines vary. Many units offer property-based rental assistance, allowing eligible residents to pay a portion of their income toward rent and utilities. Other units offer an affordable fixed rent. Select properties may also accept Housing Choice Vouchers or offer market-rate units.

Eligibility is based on applicable HUD and IRS income guidelines.

Explore Your Housing Options

Local Preference Points

Local Preference Points are used to establish the order that applicants are placed on our wait
lists. Among applicants with equal preference status, the wait lists will be organized by date and
time.

Choose from the following:

Given to clients living, working, or attending school full time within Summit County.

Given to youth 18 years of age to 24, who are working with Summit County Children Services (SCCS) to overcome or prevent homelessness, or families working with SCCS for whom the lack of adequate housing is a primary factor in the imminent placement of the family’s children in out-of- home care or the delay in the discharge of the children from out-of-home care.

Given to applicants referred by the Full Term First Birthday Greater Akron program, which works to promote healthy full-term pregnancies and ensure every child celebrates a first birthday.

Given to veterans or spouses of veterans. This status is also given to family members of veterans living in the same household.

Summit County Continuum of Care (COC) referral.

Given to families that are composed of one or more non-elderly persons aged 18 to 61 with
disabilities who are eligible for services through a partner agency with whom AMHA has executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and are:

  • Transitioning out of an institutional or other segregated setting
  • At serious risk of institutionalization
  • Homeless
  • At risk of becoming homeless, or previously experienced homelessness and are currently a client in a permanent supportive housing or rapid rehousing project.

Given to clients who have been involuntarily displaced by government action.

Given to clients who are paying more than 30% of their income for rent and utilities or living in substandard housing.

Given to current supportive housing program participants (Shelter Plus Care, Family Unification Program, and Continuum of Care Permanent Supportive Housing with whom AMHA has executed an MOU) who have volunteered and meet the eligibility requirements to obtain a tenant-based housing choice voucher.

Given to disabled families in need of supportive services and with a referral from Community Support Services (specifically for vacancies at Madaline Park and Stoney Pointe). This preference is only available for applicable Project-Based Voucher wait lists.

Given to families that were issued a voucher by AMHA, but the voucher was recalled due to insufficient funding for the HCVP Program. If this preference is utilized, no other preferences will be given

Given to families that were leased in a unit under HAP contract and the HAP contract was terminated by AMHA due to insufficient funding for the HCVP Program. If this preference is utilized, no other preferences will be given.