The property rights of low-income housing in the United States are held by a combination of public entities, private developers, and nonprofit organizations, depending on funding sources and program structures. Government agencies like the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and local housing authorities often own or fund public housing, while private entities and nonprofits manage properties through tax credits, grants, or partnerships.

Public ownership dominates in traditional public housing, which is managed by local housing authorities and funded by HUD. As of 2022, approximately 1.2 million public housing units were owned by 3,300 local agencies, with HUD allocating $9.8 billion in federal funding to maintain these properties. Private developers, however, play a significant role through programs like the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), which incentivizes private investment. In 2021, LIHTC generated $8.7 billion in equity, financing 325,000 units. Nonprofits, such as the National Housing Trust, own or manage 1.2 million affordable units, often leveraging federal grants like the Capital Fund program. Public-private partnerships are also critical; 40% of low-income housing units in the U.S. are supported by such collaborations, according to the Urban Institute. Recent policies, like the 2018 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, expanded Opportunity Zones, attracting $6.5 billion in private investment for affordable housing in 2021. These structures reflect a mixed-ownership model where public funding guides private and nonprofit involvement to ensure affordability and accessibility.