24 C.F.R. § 5.506
§ 5.506 General provisions. (24 CFR Part 5)
Operative Text
(a) Restrictions on assistance. Financial assistance under a Section 214 covered program is restricted to: (1) Citizens; or (2) Noncitizens who have eligible immigration status under one of the categories set forth in Section 214 (see 42 U.S.C. 1436a(a)). (b) Family eligibility for assistance. (1) A family shall not be eligible for assistance unless every member of the family residing in the unit is determined to have eligible status, as described in paragraph (a) of this section, or unless the family meets the conditions set forth in paragraph (b)(2) of this section. (2) Despite the ineligibility of one or more family members, a mixed family may be eligible for one of the three types of assistance provided in §§ 5.516 and 5.518. A family without any eligible members and receiving assistance on June 19, 1995 may be eligible for temporary deferral of termination of assistance as provided in §§ 5.516 and 5.518. (c) Preferences. Citizens of the Republic of Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau who are eligible for assistance under paragraph (a)(2) of this section are entitled to receive local preferences for housing assistance, except that, within Guam, such citizens who have such local preference will not be entitled to housing assistance in preference to any United States citizen or national resident therein who is otherwise eligible for such assistance.
Under 24 CFR Part 5 § 5.506, federal housing assistance covered by Section 214 is available only to U.S. citizens and certain noncitizens with qualifying immigration status. A household is generally ineligible if any member living in the unit lacks that status, though households with a mix of eligible and ineligible members—called 'mixed families'—may qualify for a reduced or prorated form of assistance under related provisions. Citizens of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau who meet the eligibility criteria are entitled to local housing preferences, with a specific exception limiting that preference within Guam.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers administering housing under a Section 214 covered program are generally expected to verify the citizenship or eligible immigration status of every household member residing in the unit, consistent with 24 CFR Part 5 § 5.506. Compliant operators typically maintain documentation for each resident and apply the mixed-family provisions found in §§ 5.516 and 5.518 when a household includes both eligible and ineligible members. Operators also account for the local-preference entitlements afforded to citizens of the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau, while applying the Guam-specific exception where applicable.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under 24 CFR Part 5 § 5.506, tenants and applicants have a right to be evaluated under the mixed-family rules if not every household member holds eligible status, meaning a household is not automatically disqualified simply because one member lacks qualifying citizenship or immigration status. Tenants who believe their household was incorrectly deemed ineligible may have grounds to raise that determination as a defense in a termination proceeding or to file a complaint with the relevant housing authority or program administrator. Consulting a tenant-rights organization or HUD-approved housing counselor can help a household understand which category of assistance under §§ 5.516 and 5.518 may apply to their situation.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 4, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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