Section 8 / Housing Choice Voucher Program

The Housing Choice Voucher program — commonly called Section 8 — provides rental assistance that pays a portion of your rent directly to your landlord, allowing you to live in privately owned housing you choose.

Who qualifies for Section 8?

Eligibility is determined by your local Public Housing Authority (PHA). Generally, your household income must be at or below 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI) in your area — though PHAs are required to target 75% of vouchers to households at or below 30% AMI (extremely low income).

Key eligibility factors:

• Income at or below 50% of Area Median Income (AMI) — varies by location
• U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status required
• Background check required — certain criminal histories may disqualify applicants
• Must be currently renting or planning to rent
• Wait lists are common — often 1 to 8 years; apply as soon as possible

How much rental assistance can I get?

The voucher covers the difference between your local payment standard (set by your PHA based on fair market rents) and 30% of your adjusted monthly income. In practice, this means Section 8 can cover $700–$1,500+ per month of your rent depending on your area, household size, and income.

What documents do I need?

• Proof of identity for all household members (birth certificates, IDs)
• Social Security numbers for all household members
• Proof of income (pay stubs, award letters, tax returns)
• Rental history and landlord references

How to apply for Section 8

Contact your local PHA to apply. You can find your local PHA at HUD.gov. Because demand far exceeds supply, many PHAs open their waitlists only periodically — check your local PHA's website regularly and apply to multiple PHAs if possible.

Some PHAs have preference categories that can move you up the waitlist, including households that are homeless, displaced by a disaster, paying more than 50% of income on rent, or include a person with a disability or a veteran.

Common questions

How long is the Section 8 waitlist?

Waitlists vary widely — from several months to 10+ years in high-cost cities like New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Apply as early as possible and to multiple PHAs.

Can I use a Section 8 voucher anywhere?

Once you have a voucher, you can use it at any private rental unit that meets HUD's housing quality standards and where the landlord agrees to participate in the program. After 12 months you can also "port" the voucher to move to another jurisdiction.

What's the difference between Section 8 and public housing?

Section 8 (Housing Choice Vouchers) lets you rent privately-owned housing. Public housing refers to government-owned units managed by your local PHA. Both are administered by PHAs but are separate programs with separate waitlists.

Can I get Section 8 if I'm behind on rent right now?

Being behind on rent doesn't disqualify you from Section 8, but Section 8 is not designed for emergency situations due to long waitlists. If you need immediate help, look into Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) programs by calling 211.