Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8)
Helps low-income families pay for private rental housing. The voucher covers the gap between 30% of your income and the local rent standard.
Who qualifies
- Household income below 50% of area median income (AMI) — PHAs prioritize those below 30% AMI
- US citizen or eligible immigration status for at least one household member
- No member evicted from federally assisted housing for drug-related activity in the past 3 years
How it works
You pay 30% of your adjusted income toward rent. The voucher covers the rest up to the PHA payment standard (based on HUD's fair market rent for your area). You find your own landlord — the unit must pass an HQS (Housing Quality Standards) inspection and the landlord must agree to the program.
Waiting list
Waiting lists are typically 2–5 years or closed entirely. When a list opens, apply immediately. Some PHAs use a lottery. Find open lists near you at resources.hud.gov.
Find your local PHA PHA contact directory — HUD