Affordable Housing Online Search Tool (AHOST)

Watch this short video to learn how to use the AHOST to find affordable rental properties:

What is the AHOST?

The Affordable Housing Online Search Tool (AHOST) is a searchable map and listing of income-restricted affordable rental housing within the City of Austin*.  

The search tool shows rental housing that matches your household income and household size according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development: 

 

Each property also has detailed information that helps renters find housing that best meets their needs, such as: 

• Contact Information 
• Affordability Levels 
• Nearby Schools 
• Amenities 
• Communities Served
• Acceptance Criteria

*The AHOST database includes income-restricted rental units from governmental agencies (Housing Authority of the City of Austin, Housing Authority of Travis County, City of Austin, and the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs). 

How many affordable properties are in the AHOST right now?

How do I use the AHOST to find affordable housing for rent?

3 easy steps to find affordable rental housing with the AHOST: 

• Browse Properties: view property details and contact the property for current availability  
• Enter Household Income & Size: enter your current yearly household income and how many people reside in your household 
• Select Language: select your preferred language (currently available in English and Spanish) 

Resources for Renters

The Resources for Renters (Web) provides information on the following resources:

• Financial Assistance for Rent & Utilities
• Find Affordable Rental Housing
• Get Help with a Landlord
• Support for Families with Children

For Property Owners/Managers: Request an AHOST Update 

If you are a Property Owner or Manager and you see something that needs to be updated on the Affordable Housing Online Search Tool (AHOST), fill out the below form to request an update to the AHOST database: AHOST Survey (office.com)

Frequently Asked Questions

How often is the AHOST listing of rental housing updated?  

The AHOST listing of affordable rental housing is updated regularly, but the availability of units cannot be guaranteed at any given time due to the rapid changes in the Austin housing market.  

Affordable Housing non-profit partners and housing navigators can change the information in the Affordable Housing Portal which will immediately update the search tool and will be uploaded regularly to the Comprehensive Affordable Housing Directory located on the Austin Open Data Portal.  New properties near completion, where a building permit has been issued, are updated quarterly.   

Do I qualify for income-restricted rental housing? 

The properties in the AHOST are only income-restricted, meaning those who rent them must have a household income less than 80 percent of the area median family income for the Austin area, though some properties have lower income limits. 

According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, your yearly household income and household size dictate which rental properties would be available to you: 

For example, for a household with 4 people the total yearly income can be no more than $78,100 to qualify for income-restricted affordable rental housing that appears in the AHOST. 

Why doesn’t this search tool show homes for sale? 

While there are income-restricted homes for sale within the City of Austin, very few are for sale at any moment in time and when they are on the market they don’t stay active for very long before being sold. This prevents staff from having timely and accurate data on the AHOST regarding homes for sale.  

To learn more about City resources regarding home-ownership, please visit Homebuyer Education and Assistance.

What about affordable housing that has a waitlist? 

The AHOST is a new tool that is constantly being improved.  In this first version there is no current waitlist functionality. Currently, affordable rental properties will show whether or not a waitlist exists for that property and provide the property website, phone number, and email address you can contact to assist you with getting on the waitlist.   

Where does the list of properties on the AHOST come from? 

This database of affordable rental units is drawn from the Comprehensive Affordable Housing Directory (Web), which is a comprehensive online data tool for planning and tracking housing inventories and construction programs across the City of Austin. 

For more information on the Affordable Housing Listing and the AHOST, email HPD@austintexas.gov and the Housing and Planning Department staff will respond promptly.