Section 8 Housing Program was created by the US Congress back in 1974 as a set of rental assistance subprograms for low-income households. Managed by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Section 8 provides rental subsidies for eligible tenant families including single persons. With Section 8 program housing rent assistance payments are made through vouchers called Housing Choice Vouchers. A Housing Choice Voucher can be issued as a project-based, tenant-based and more.
Section 8 Program was created to help provide affordable housing to very low-income households – families and individuals. In addition, it helps specific categories tenants like veterans, persons with disabilities, and keeping low-income families and their children together. HUD determines median income levels for each area annually and sets the limits to local public housing agencies. Eligibility requirements include income below 50 percent of area median income. Some specific categories of families can be eligible to apply for Housing Choice Vouchers with incomes up to 80% of the area median income. For specifics on eligibility for each Section 8 of the Housing Choice Vouchers please check with your local public housing agency (PHA).
A low-income household that needs assistance to pay its rent can apply for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher at any city or county housing authority office in their state – normally this is the public housing agency, the PHA. You can apply at any US PHA but many agencies give preference to residents of the local community over non-residents and you may be required to reside in the jurisdiction of that PHA for at least one year.
Once a family or an individual qualifies for Section 8 the applicant is placed on a waiting list. In most areas the waiting list is full, with thousands of households waiting for their vouchers. The waiting time varies from area to area and the applicants can get estimation by contacting the local PHA.