What is Section 8?

Section 8 rent subsidies, in the form of vouchers and certificates, empower tenants to find affordable housing in the general population of their community, rather than confining them to housing "projects". Section 8 program, supported by the Department of Housing and Urban Development or HUD, assumes that no one should be required to pay more than 30% of their household income for housing costs. For example, if a tenant has income of $1000 per month, they would pay only $300 for their portion of rent and utilities; the government pays the balance directly to the landlord. The programs all differ in some ways and requirements can be fairly complex for landlords and tenants. For further details on Section 8 programs, click here.