Section 8 is the informal name for the Federal Housing Choice Vouchers Program. Section 8 permits private landlords to be paid by the government's housing assistance program. Participants in the program are able to find their own housing and use a "housing choice voucher" in order to pay rent.
Applying for the Federal Housing Choice Voucher Program is simple. The first step is to contact your local Public Housing Agency (PHA) who will help determine your eligibility. After that, all you must do is fill out an application.
Keep in mind, in some areas, you'll enter a waiting list to receive Section 8 benefits and not receive assistance immediately. For this reason, it's best to start the process sooner rather than later.
You might be wondering if you're eligible for Section 8. While the PHA will be able to tell you for sure, there are a couple of factors that play into eligibility for Section 8 that you can consider ahead of time. You must:
Not all property owners will participate in Section 8. Some states or municipalities may have guidelines that require property owners to accept tenants with government housing vouchers, but that's not the standard nationwide.
Timothy Harris is a freelance writer based in Albuquerque. He brings a professional background in event marketing, residential real estate and journalism to the table to provide useful and relevant content for the modern renter. Timothy has previously written content for Karsten & Associates in New Mexico and Up 'til Dawn, a philanthropic fundraiser that benefits St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.