The Housing Choice Voucher Program, commonly known as Section 8, is a federal rental assistance program administered by the U.S. The program aims to help low- income individuals and families afford safe and decent housing in the private rental market.
Under the Housing Choice Voucher program, eligible participants receive a voucher that they can use to rent housing from private landlords who have agreed to participate in the program. Participants are responsible for finding suitable housing within the private market, and the voucher subsidizes a portion of their rent.
The Housing Choice Voucher program provides flexibility and choice for participants to secure housing that meets their needs, while also offering support in the form of rental assistance. It’s important to mote that the specific details and procedures may vary slightly depending on the local PHA’s policies and regulations.
Here’s how the program generally works:
To qualify for the Housing Choice Voucher program, individuals or families must meet certain income requirements set by the PHA. Factors such as family size, income level, and citizenship status are taken into account.
If eligible, the PHA issues a HOUSING CHOICE voucher to the participant. The voucher specifies the maximum amount of rental assistance the participant can receive.
Participants can search for housing in the private market, which can include single- family homes, townhomes, or apartments. They are responsible for finding a unit that meets their needs and is within the program guidelines.
Before a participant can move into a selected unit, the PHA conducts a housing inspection to ensure it meets HUD’s minimum housing quality standards for safety and livability.
Once the participant moves into the approved unit, they pay a portion of their income towards rent (typically 30%), while the housing voucher covers the remaining portion, up to the maximum subsidy allowed.
The PHA continues to work with the participant and the landlord throughout the duration of the voucher to ensure compliance with program rules., conduct annual recertifications, and handle any necessary adjustments to the voucher subsidy.
Housing Choice Voucher Payment Standards for 2026
Payment Standard
$1,290
01 Bedroom
$1,641
$2,288
$2,505
$2,880
