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Housing Data & Reports

Housing Task Force Information

2025 Housing Data

Vickie Day and her family holding a Kiss Your Landlord Goodbye sign in celebration of buying a house.
1,690
Delaware families purchased a home with DSHA’s help last year
An old building in Old New Castle that was renovated using Downtown Development Districts funding.
83
projects supported with Downtown Development Districts (DDD) program in 2024
Apartment complexes to represent the number of housing units created.
761
affordable rental units created and preserved

DSHA Frequently Asked Questions

  • Main Office:
    18 The Green
    Dover, DE 19901
    Phone: 302-739-4263
    Toll Free Phone: 888-363-8808
  • Housing Management Office
    500 W. Loockerman Street
    Suite 104
    Dover, DE 19901
    Phone: 302-739-7416
  • Wilmington Office
    820 N. French Street
    10th Floor
    Wilmington, DE 19801
    Phone: 302-577-5002

  • Our mission is to provide and assist others with quality, affordable housing opportunities and appropriate supportive services to low-and-moderate-income Delawareans.

  • Housing is considered to be “affordable” if the household pays no more than 30% of its gross monthly budget on housing costs (rent plus utilities for tenants or mortgage plus taxes, insurance, and utilities for homeowners). If a household pays more than 30% of their budget on housing costs, they are considered “cost-burdened”, and the housing is not considered affordable.
  • Subsidized housing is housing that is supported by a government subsidy in order to ensure affordability for the occupant. Generally, there are four types of subsidized housing: Public Housing; Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8 Voucher); Site-Based Subsidized Housing; and Tax Credit sites.
    • Public Housing: These are apartment complexes owned and managed by a Housing Authority. The tenant pays a portion of the rent each month, and the federal government pays the remainder of the rent.
    • Housing Choice Voucher: Formerly called Section 8 vouchers, voucher holders locate their own rental unit (apartment, house, condo, townhouse, manufactured home). The voucher holder pays a portion of the rent each month, and the voucher pays the remaining portion.
    • Subsidized sites (site-based Section 8, USDA Rural Development, Rental Assistance) offer rents based on household income in accordance with federal regulations. The tenant pays a portion of the rent each month, and the federal government pays the remaining portion. The majority of these sites are privately owned and managed, although subsidized by the federal government. Unlike a Housing Choice Voucher, the tenant cannot take the subsidy with them when they move out of a site-based subsidized apartment.
    • Tax Credit sites, though not subsidized by the federal government, are considered affordable. They offer lower than market rate rents to families and individuals with modest incomes. The tenant is required to pay the full rent and utilities and must have a minimum income to qualify (as opposed to subsidized housing, which has provisions for those with no regular income).

  • Offered by DSHA in Kent and Sussex Counties, Public Housing and Housing Choice Vouchers provide safe, decent affordable rental housing and access to supportive services for low-income families. The Housing Choice Voucher program offers rental assistance to eligible low-income individuals and families to rent privately-owned dwelling units from participating landlords. DSHA administers 900 vouchers and 500 units of public housing at ten public housing sites.
  • Note: Program participants, except the elderly or people with disabilities, must also be enrolled in the Moving to Work (MTW) program.

  • Any person or family who is homeless and in need of assistance should call 2-1-1. They will then be connected to Housing Alliance Centralized Intake or call directly at 1-833-346-3233 to be referred to appropriate services.
  • All Delaware programs serving homeless families and most programs serving homeless individuals require a referral from the centralized intake system. Assistance accessing centralized intake is also available at the State Service Centers.

  • The Delaware State Housing Authority has partnered with AffordableHousing.com to simplify the process of finding affordable rental properties.
  • Constituents may visit Delaware.AffordableHousing.com to apply.
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  • The LIHTC was created in 1986 to encourage a private/public investment to preserve and construct new affordable rental housing. Alone and in combination with tax exempt private activity bonds, the LIHTC has been the most productive source of affordable housing financing in the nation’s history. DSHA receives an annual tax credit amount and awards credits annually through a competitive process. The awards are based on criteria outlined in DSHA’s Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP). The equity raised through the tax credit investment makes it possible for developers to attract the financing needed to create or restore low-income rental housing.
  • Tax credit sites offer lower than market rate rents to families and individuals with modest incomes. The tenant is required to pay the full rent and utilities and must have a minimum income to qualify (as opposed to subsidized housing, which has provisions for those with no regular income. Specific income limits are determined based on family size and county location of the unit. Constituents should visit delawarehousingsearch.org for rates and availability.

  • We’re committed to meeting our constituents where they are and appreciate any opportunity to work with our partners around the state.
  • If you’d like to request a DSHA staff member to speak at your event, deliver an in-person presentation, or participate as a vendor, please email the details of your request to Deborah Whidden.

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