* Housing Help: Housing Choice Voucher Program

The Housing Choice Voucher Program, formerly called Section 8, helps the following people afford housing:

  • very low-income families
  • the elderly
  • people with disabilities

If you participate in the Housing Choice Voucher Program, may choose any housing that meets the requirements of the Public Housing Program. Under certain circumstances, the Public Housing Agency (PHA) will allow you to use the voucher to purchase a modest home.

How the Program Works

  • The PHA pays the landlord a subsidy directly.
  • You pay the difference between the actual rent and the amount subsidized.

Additional information on the Housing Choice Voucher Program, including a Housing Choice Vouchers fact sheet and a list of all program vouchers and services, is available.

How to Apply

Landlords - How to Accept Housing Choice Vouchers
There are certain requirements that you must meet to have your property approved. For instance, your property must:

  • Be lead-base approved.
  • Have working smoke detectors.

HUD provides additional information for landlords, which include fact sheets and regulations.

How to Make a Complaint
The office you report your complaint to depends on the nature of the complaint.

  • Housing Discrimination - This information explains how to file a discrimination complaint by phone at 1.800.669.9777, online, or by mail.
  • Office of the Inspector General Hotline - The hotline allows you to report fraud, waste, abuse, or serious mismanagement in HUD or HUD-funded programs from HUD employees, contractors, and the public. You may contact the hotline at 1.800.347.3735.
  • Multifamily Housing Complaint Line - This line allows you to report complaints with a property's management such as poor maintenance, dangers to health and safety, mismanagement, and fraud. You may contact the complaint line by phone at 1.800.MULTI.70 (685.8470).

Need More Information? Try These Additional Resources:

The short link for this FAQ is http://1.usa.gov/rqJ2qs

 

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