Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8): How It Works
The Housing Choice Voucher Program — most people still call it "Section 8" — is the largest rental assistance program in the United States. It helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford safe housing in the private market. Instead of putting you in a specific building, it lets you choose where to live and pays part of your rent directly to your landlord.
What the voucher covers
In general, you pay about 30% of your household's adjusted monthly income toward rent and utilities, and the voucher covers the rest — up to a local limit called the Fair Market Rent. For example, if the Fair Market Rent in your area is $1,500 and your 30% share works out to $500, the voucher would cover roughly $1,000. The exact amount depends on your income, your household size, and where you live.
Who can qualify
Eligibility is set by your local Public Housing Agency (PHA), but the main factors are:
- Total household income — usually at or below 50% of the median income for your area
- Household size
- U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status
- A standard background and rental-history check
Priority often goes to families with very low income, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities.
Where you can live
You're free to pick any apartment, house, or townhouse in the private market, as long as the unit passes a basic health-and-safety inspection and the rent is reasonable for the area. The voucher is also portable — you can generally move and take it with you, even to another state.
Take our free 60-second eligibility check.
Check My Eligibility →