Administration

• Section 8 is a federal program that the Department of Housing and Urban Development oversees and supports. However, local public housing agencies administer Section 8 voucher programs for residents. This means that if you have questions about Section 8, either as a landlord or a tenant, you should contact your city or county public housing agency. Those interested in the legal operation of budgeting of the Section 8 program might need to deal with HUD directly. Local public housing agencies provide contracts that landlords and tenants sign, requiring the tenant to pay a portion of the monthly rent and securing a Section 8 payment that goes directly to the landlord each month to cover the difference.
  
  

Eligibility

• Each local public housing agency sets its own standards for Section 8 eligibility. Tenants with the lowest incomes are most likely to qualify, but some public housing agencies also use factors such as family size, age and disability status to provide Section 8 assistance to those in need or with fewer options for increasing their incomes. In general, Section 8 is only available to tenants whose household incomes fall below 50 percent of the median income for the community. Your public housing agency can tell you whether you are likely to qualify and might be able to suggest a list of available rental units that are likely to comply with HUD Section 8 standards.
  
  

Finding Housing

• The first step in taking advantage of Section 8 housing is to find a rental unit. Units must be affordable and meet HUD guidelines for safety, sanitation and structural integrity. Landlords cannot discriminate among tenants based on Section 8 status, but some who provide low-rent units specifically encourage Section 8 applicants. Once you select a rental unit, the landlord must submit to an inspection from the local public housing agency. The final step is applying for a Section 8 voucher and completing the rental agreement with the landlord.
  
  

Applying and Waiting

• Section 8 applications ask for information about the rental unit you choose, as well as your personal financial information to verify your income. If you qualify, the housing agency will provide a contract that the tenant and landlord must both sign. Tenants still enjoy their rights under state or local laws, and landlords also retain their rights, including the right to evict a tenant who fails to make rent payments. Many local public housing agencies require Section 8 applicants who qualify for the program to go onto a waiting list before they receive authorization to sign a Section 8 lease. When demand for Section 8 is high or local agencies experience limited funding, waits can grow longer and the agency might even decide to close its waiting list temporarily.