Affordable housing buildings have homes with different rent levels. The chart below gives an overview of rent levels and maximum household income levels at six different affordability levels. You can use it to determine if you might qualify for one of our available apartments. A more thorough calculation will be completed with the site manager in person at the time that an application for a specific apartment is made.
For all affordable housing described on this website, eligibility is partially based on your household income. Different types of affordable housing will have different income limits depending on the size of the apartment. For you to be eligible to sign a lease, your household income cannot exceed those limits. All of our properties use a similar process for measuring your income. Your income is calculated and compared as a percentage of the median household income in King County for a household of your size. This tells us what level of eligibility you are in.
Area Median Income (AMI) is the midpoint of a region’s income distribution- half of the families in a region earn more than the median and half earn less than the median. All of our properties’ income levels are tied to the King County AMI.
On our website, Unit Area Median Income (Unit AMI) is the limit that determines the maximum allowable income of a certain apartment. You will find it listed for each apartment vacancy along with a Maximum Allowable Income pop-up chart in Search Available Apartments.
Calculate your household income and your likely Unit AMI category per the King County Median Income with these steps:
- Step One: Total Annual Income
Add the gross yearly income for each person in your household to determine your household’s total annual income. This number should combine the annual wages and salaries, assets, and other sources of income.
- Step Two: Number of People in Household
Using the chart below, move your finger vertically along the left-most column and find the number of people living in your home.
- Step Three: Unit AMI Percent
Next, move your finger horizontally in the row for your household’s size. Find the first annual income value that is greater than your household’s total annual income. You may qualify for the Unit AMI percent at that level and greater.
See the example below.
Maximum Allowable Income & Area Median Income (AMI) Percent
Here is an example on how to estimate your household Income and likely Unit AMI percent category:
Your household has two adults with two children (under 18 years old). One adult receives social security benefits of $1,200 per month and the other adult has a full-time job 40 hours/week paying $20/hour.
- Step One: Total Annual Income
Adult 1 $1,200 per month X 12 months = $14,400
Adult 2 $20/hour X 40 hours/week X 52 weeks/year = $41,600
Total $14,400 + $41,600 = $56,000
- Step Two: Number of People in Household
Using the chart below, move your finger vertically along the left-most column and find the number of people living in your home.
With two adults and two children, your household’s is the row that says 4 Persons.
Step Three: Unit AMI Percent
Next, move your finger horizontally in the row for your household’s size. Find the first annual income value that is greater than your household’s total annual income. You may qualify for the Unit AMI percents at that level and greater.
Your income is $56,000, so you may qualify for the 40% Unit AMI apartments and above.
Please note this explanation is provided to give a sense of the income range to look for in our apartments, but Community Roots Housing staff will do a more thorough calculation with you in person when you apply for a specific apartment.
This means that when you search for an apartment, you are looking for the ones that have maximum allowable incomes based on Unit AMIs at 40% and above.
Search available apartments to find a great fit, read our How to Apply step-by-step guide, see the frequently asked questions on the Income Eligibility page, and contact staff with questions via email or phone.
