Understanding Section 8 Housing

Section 8, officially known as the Housing Choice Voucher Program, is a federally funded program designed to help low-income families, the elderly, and people with disabilities afford decent housing. It doesn’t provide housing directly; instead, it offers vouchers that tenants can use to rent apartments in the private market. This means you have more choices in location and apartment style compared to public housing projects. The program covers a portion of your rent, and you pay the rest. The amount of assistance you receive depends on your income and the fair market rent for your area.