What are Section 8 Rental Vouchers?
The Section 8 rental voucher program is one of the federal governments major programs for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to rent decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Section 8 rental vouchers are administered locally by public housing agencies (HAs). The HAs receive federal funds from HUD to administer the Section 8 programs. A family issued rental voucher is responsible for finding and selecting a suitable rental unit of their choice. Rental units must meet minimum standards of health and safety, as determined by the HA. A rental subsidy is paid directly by the HA to the landlord on behalf of the participating family. The family then pays the difference between the actual rent charged by the landlord and the amount subsidized by the program. Family Share of Rent versus the Rent Subsidy: Under the rental voucher program, the HA calculates the maximum amount of rental assistance allowable, which is the difference between the paymen
