Housing Choice Vouchers – the Good, the Bad, the Ugly of Section 8 housing
Section 8 housing, also known as the Housing Choice Voucher Program , is a federal program in the United States designed to assist low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled in affording decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. The program is administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and managed locally by Public Housing Agencies (PHAs). First of all: Who is eligible? Eligibility is primarily based on two criteria: income (you total annual gross) and your citizenship status. Regarding income, there are limits set at 50% of the median income for the county or metropolitan area. However, by law, a PHA must provide 75% of its vouchers to applicants whose incomes do not exceed 30% of the area's median income. Your citizen status will also impact eligibility, as vouchers are limited to U.S. citizens and non-citizens who have eligible immigration status. However, there are other factors which include eviction history and criminal b...