Federal law largely restricts illegal migrants from receiving direct federal rental assistance through HUD
. However, some individuals without legal status can live in federally subsidized housing under specific conditions, and there is no precise figure for how many do. Factors that complicate tracking include:
- Mixed-status households: In some federally assisted housing, a family with one or more eligible members (such as a U.S. citizen child) and one or more ineligible members (an undocumented parent) may receive a prorated rental subsidy. This means the family only receives assistance for the eligible members.
- Undercounting: Surveys from government sources like the Census Bureau often undercount undocumented immigrants. The exact number of illegal migrant households using any welfare, including housing assistance, is therefore difficult to pin down.
- Variable eligibility rules: While federal law sets the baseline, various state and local jurisdictions have different rules regarding housing aid and eligibility for immigrants, which can further complicate accurate data collection.
