Section 8 and how it works
Finding affordable housing can be difficult for families with low-income. When it comes to living in low-income neighborhoods the rentals aren't always in the best of shape. The Section 8 program was designed to help people find affordable housing in safer areas.
What is Section 8
The section 8 program is a Government funded program that helps low-income families, the elderly and disabled to find affordable housing, the program is a section of U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development(HUD). The overall goal of the program is to provide affordable and safe housing for people living with low-income. Housing is not limited to subsidized housing tenants can rent town homes and single-family homes. There was a time when the program first started tenants were only allowed to live in subsidized housing. Now most tenants are allowed to move anywhere in the U.S and rent from private renters.
How does it work and who qualifies
Here is how section 8 works, the renter only pays 30% or rent and utilities while the program pays the other 70%. Background checks are required to apply for the section 8 program. Landlords are also required to submit a form housing quality assurance (HQS) to HUD to ensure that the rental meets all requirements, this is for the safety of tenants.
There are two types of vouchers used under the section 8 program, 1) the project based voucher that only allows tenants to live in a unit of their choice for any apartment. Where as the 2) tenant voucher allows the tenant to live anywhere in the U.S. giving the tenant more freedom to find housing out side of subsidized housing. Click on section 8 waiting lists for more details.