Section 8 Apartments

Did you know that federal housing assistance actually got its start during the Great Depression? That’s when the U.S.government first introduced programs to help lower-income citizens find housing. It wasn’t until the 1970s that Congress passed the Housing and Community Development Act. This created the Section 8 housing program that lets tenants find their own housing and use vouchers to pay for all or part of the rent. More formally known as the Housing Choice Voucher Program, the term “Section 8” refers to the part of the Act that authorizes the program.  

In the program, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), tenants generally pay around 30 percent of their income for rent and federal funds make up the balance. The goal of the program is to allow low-income families, the elderly and the disabled to afford safe, decent Section 8 apartments in the private sector. 

Section 8 Apartments

There are currently two Section 8 housing programs: tenant-based and project-based vouchers. A Public Housing Agency (PHA) can choose to make up to 25 percent of its vouchers project-based. This links the vouchers to a particular rental unit. Tenants pay a percentage of their income to live in a Section 8 apartment, for example, and do not have the option to take the voucher with them if they choose to move to another complex or private residence. 

The tenant-based program gets around these limitations by providing eligible renters with a certificate or voucher. The renter finds and leases a unit in the private sector, and pays a portion of the rent (based on the renter’s income, but usually about 30 percent of their income). The local PHA pays the remainder of the rent to the owner.  

How Renters Benefit from Section 8 Housing

One great benefit of the tenant-based voucher is its portability. A renter can choose housing in any location without limits to certain units. The only exception is when it comes to the landlord’s choice to rent (or not to rent) to Section 8 program participants. Some landlords do not accept Section 8 tenants, while others are happy to accept them. For landlords, there are certain benefits to the program. The housing authority can be expected to make prompt payments, and renters can be kicked out of the program if they cause any damages or fail to pay rent.

Section 8 vouchers are popular because all units must meet federal Housing Quality Standards. Because of this, in some localities there is a long wait list for Section 8 vouchers (which sometimes amounts to a wait time up to five years). 

To apply for Section 8 housing, contact your local PHA. The PHA will determine your eligibility for the program based on your family’s income and size. Visit HUD at www.hud.gov to learn more about the Section 8 program.