Low-Income Apartments in Ohio

"Low-income apartments" is a broad term covering multiple programs. The federal Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) is the most flexible — it follows the tenant to any approved private unit. Project-based Section 8 ties the subsidy to a specific building. LIHTC properties cap rent at a fixed percentage of area median income and don't require a voucher at all. Public housing is owned and operated by the county housing authority. Many Ohio renters qualify for more than one; your county PHA can confirm what you're eligible for. Note that Ohio has no statewide source-of-income protection — only the City of Cleveland (Ordinance 213-22, 2022) and a few other localities bar landlords from refusing vouchers.

Payment standards vary by ZIP code. Since January 1, 2025, HUD has required CMHA to use Small Area Fair Market Rents, so CMHA sets its voucher payment standards ZIP code by ZIP code, generally between 90% and 110% of HUD's fair market rent for that area. Look up the current standard for any Cuyahoga County ZIP code with CMHA's online payment standard tool, or call CMHA at 216-348-5000.

To find low-income apartments in Ohio, start with your county's metropolitan housing authority: CMHA (cmha.net) for Cuyahoga County, CMHA Columbus for Franklin County, and equivalents in Hamilton, Lucas, Summit, and Montgomery counties. Apply to open Section 8 and public housing waitlists, and ask each PHA for its list of project-based and LIHTC properties. For voucher-accepting private rentals, browse listings by city and neighborhood. If a landlord in Cleveland refuses your voucher, that violates city law — document it and contact the Fair Housing Center for Rights & Research.