Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8)
Who Can Benefit from the Housing Choice Voucher Program
The Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) housing program serves persons with very low incomes, including elderly persons and persons with disabilities.
What is the Housing Choice Voucher Program
The Housing Choice Voucher program helps pay for housing by giving a person a voucher or certificate. The person pays about one-third of her income toward the rent, while the voucher pays the leftover amount of the rent and utilities. The person who gets the voucher can choose where to live, as long as the owner of the housing (landlord) agrees to accept the voucher as rent. The housing the person chooses must meet minimum health and safety standards (the Public Housing Authority (PHA) decides what these standards are). The PHA pays the landlord directly, on behalf of the person who has the voucher. The person can "carry" the voucher to any PHA in the country, so if the person moves, the voucher can go with her.
How can a Person Apply for the Housing Choice Voucher Program
The person must go to the PHA to apply for the Housing Choice Voucher program. There will probably be a waiting list.
Pros of the Housing Choice Vouchers Program
- allows the person to choose her own housing;
- can be used to help a person own her own home;
- most PHAs offer Housing Choice Vouchers.
Cons of the Housing Choice Vouchers Program
- often has long waiting lists (the PHA can close the waiting list if it is too long);
- when a person gets a voucher, she or he must find housing within 60 days or she will lose the voucher (the person can ask for a 60 day extension, but that request must be in writing);
- if the person does not find housing within 60 days, she may have to reapply and be put at the end of the waiting list;
- landlords do not have to accept vouchers, and many do not;
- the PHA can make choices of what is acceptable housing based on local preferences, but this may work against people with disabilities;
- accessible apartments are usually more expensive and PHAs sometimes refuse to pay this higher cost.
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