Free Housing Programs: Who Is Eligible?

The phrase "free housing" appears in thousands of online searches every month. The reality is more nuanced than the search term suggests. No single government program offers permanent, unconditional free housing to everyone who asks. What does exist is a network of targeted programs that effectively cover the full cost of shelter for specific populations: homeless veterans, chronically homeless individuals, domestic violence survivors, and public housing tenants with extremely low or zero income.

HUD-VASH: Free Housing for Homeless Veterans

The HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program combines a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher with case management and clinical services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Eligible veterans who are experiencing homelessness receive a voucher that covers their full rent, and VA staff provide ongoing support for mental health, substance use recovery, employment, and daily living skills. Because the voucher is paired with intensive services, many HUD-VASH participants pay no rent at all, particularly those with zero or minimal income at the time of enrollment.

To qualify, a veteran must be literally homeless, meaning they are living in a shelter, on the street, or in a place not meant for human habitation. The local VA Medical Center conducts the eligibility assessment and refers qualified veterans to the partnering PHA for voucher issuance.

Permanent Supportive Housing

Permanent Supportive Housing, often abbreviated PSH, is designed for individuals and families who are chronically homeless and have a disabling condition such as serious mental illness, chronic substance use disorder, or a physical disability. PSH combines long-term housing with wraparound supportive services. Rent contributions are typically set at 30 percent of the tenant's income, which means someone with no income pays nothing. The housing is not time-limited, so residents can stay as long as they comply with basic lease terms.

PSH programs are funded through HUD's Continuum of Care grants, and local organizations manage the housing units and services. In Alabama, the network of housing assistance programs includes several PSH providers operating in larger metro areas including Huntsville, Birmingham, and Mobile.

Public Housing With Zero Income

Tenants in public housing pay rent based on 30 percent of their adjusted gross income. When a household's income drops to zero, perhaps due to job loss, disability onset, or loss of benefits, the rent calculation produces a zero dollar amount. Most PHAs have a minimum rent policy that sets the floor between $0 and $50 per month. Some PHAs waive even the minimum rent during documented hardship periods. This means public housing can function as effectively free housing for the lowest-income residents, though it was not designed as a permanently free program.

Transitional Housing Programs

Transitional housing bridges the gap between emergency shelter and permanent housing. Programs typically last six months to two years and are operated by nonprofits and faith-based organizations. Many charge no rent during the program period, instead requiring participants to save a portion of their income in an escrow account for future housing deposits. Transitional housing often targets specific populations such as families exiting homelessness, individuals leaving incarceration, or young adults aging out of foster care.

Emergency Shelters

Emergency shelters provide immediate, no-cost overnight housing for people experiencing homelessness. Stays range from a single night to 90 days depending on the facility and demand. While shelters are free, they are meant as short-term crisis intervention rather than permanent solutions. In Huntsville, facilities like the Downtown Rescue Mission and Salvation Army provide emergency beds along with meals and case management services to help residents transition into stable housing.

Domestic Violence Shelters

Survivors of domestic violence can access emergency shelter at no cost through organizations funded by the Violence Against Women Act and the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act. These shelters provide safe, confidential housing along with legal advocacy, counseling, and help finding permanent housing. The National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 connects survivors with local shelter options 24 hours a day. For more information about federal homelessness resources, visit the HUD homelessness programs page.