What is Section 8?

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.

How do you apply for Section 8 benefits?

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.

What makes you eligible for Section 8 assistance?

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:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen
• Make no more than 80 percent of your area's median income
• Must have not been evicted in the past 3 years for drug-related criminal activity

Not all apartments are eligible for Section 8

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.

Additional resources

• How Does Veteran Housing Assistance Work with Apartments
• How Do You Qualify for Section 8 Apartments?
• How To Find Section 8 Apartments
• What's the Difference Between Section 8 and Section 42 Housing?
• What is a Public Housing Agency?

The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal or financial advice. Readers are encouraged to seek professional financial or legal advice as they may deem it necessary.

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