Rental Assistance

Austin Housing and Redevelopment Authority

Section 8 Vouchers

What is Section 8 Rental Assistance?

The Austin HRA administers the Section 8 Rental Assistance Program in the City of Austin and a limited number of units in Mower County. Rent is based on 30% of the total household’s adjusted income. The program is open to low-income individuals whose income does not exceed the income limits listed below. Program participants must find their own rental unit and can rent a house, duplex or an apartment.

308 2nd Avenue NE, Austin, MN
(507) 433-1866

Public Housing Units (See list of affordable / subsidized housing apartments)

What is the Public Housing program?

Public Housing is a government-funded program that provides rental housing to low-income households. Renters in Public Housing units pay 30% of their income for rent* while some units may have a low fixed rent amount. Some of the buildings are older and more basic. This subsidy generally stays with the building; when you move, out you no longer have the rental assistance.

* Example of rent at 30% of income: Household with one full-time worker at $7.25/hour might pay $348 per month.

How does it work?

You apply at a housing authority for a unit based on the bedroom size needed to accommodate the number of members in your household. Some units are reserved only for households that are elderly or disabled. The waiting list you apply for may be long and it may take several months for your name to get to the top of the list. Once you are selected from the waiting list you may be offered a small selection of units to choose from as there may be a limited number of available units.

Do I qualify?

To qualify you must fall within the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s required income limits.

Pickup and drop off Applications at HRA main office at 308 2nd Avenue NE, Austin, MN. Interested persons should contact section 8 staff at (507) 433-1866.

This program is for within Austin City Limits.

Mower County Housing and Redevelopment Authority

Section 8 Vouchers

Public Housing Units

Pick up and drop off Applications at 59039 220th St, Austin, MN, 55912-6456

This program covers a wider range of Mower County than just Austin, also has some units in some of the smaller towns in the county.

59039 220th St, Austin, MN, 55912-6456
(507) 434-5556

Bridges Assistance Program

What is the Bridges Program?

Bridges is a rental assistance program for people that have serious and persistent mental illness. A Serious Mental Illness (SMI) is defined as someone over the age of 18 who has (or had within the past year) a diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder that causes serious functional impairment that substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities. SMI includes disorders such as bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, and schizoaffective disorder. It can supply people with rental assistance until they come up on our waiting list for the Section 8 Voucher program. Applications are available at the HRA office, 308 2nd Avenue NE, Austin, MN.

Semcac Mower County

Emergency Assistance for rent, utilities and furnace repair or replacement.

111 North Main, Suite 201
Austin, MN 55912
Phone: (507) 433-5889
Fax: (507) 437-8419