Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Rent Assistance Programs

There is an assistance program, the Section 8 Rental Voucher Program, that will help families and individuals with paying rent. The program provides an increase in the number of affordable housing choices for low income households, and the voucher program allows families to choose privately owned rental housing. Vouchers are distributed to those families in need to help them pay rent. Also, find out to get help that will prevent an eviction.

The program will generally pay the landlord the difference between 30 percent of the families total household income and the PHA-determined payment standard, which is about 80 to 100 percent of what is called the fair market rent (FMR). What this means is that you still need to pay a portion of your rent, but the program will pay the difference between what you can pay, and what your rent costs are. The rent rate must be competitive and reasonable. The household may decide to choose a rental unit with a higher rent than the FMR and then they need to pay the landlord the difference in rent, or they can choose a lower cost unit and keep the difference.

Together, these programs help more than 1.4 million households in the United States with paying rent and being able to stay in their apartments or homes. Research has indicated that vouchers are a highly effective form of providing housing assistance and they also lead to success for low-income adults in the workplace and result in a positive outcome for children.

How do I apply?
Most of the programs are offered at the state or local government level. Many community action agencies will also accept applications. Find a listing of various state resources, agencies, and community action agencies, all of which may accept applications. Click here.

How much of my rent payment will vouchers cover?
A family requesting help from this program is generally required to contribute 30 percent of their income for utilities and rent. The voucher will then pays the rest of those costs, typically up to a limit (called a "payment standard") that is established by the government organization.

Can vouchers be used to pay other costs or bills?
Yes. These vouchers/grants can sometimes be used to help pay mortgages, thus helping low-income families to purchase homes. Vouchers can sometimes also be used to help pay for repairs or “rehabilitation” of housing for low-income families.

Can I find my own housing or apartment?
Yes, participants in the rent assistance program are able to find their own apartment or housing and are not limited to only selecting subsidized housing projects. A rental unit you select must meet minimum housing standards of both safety and health. This will be determined by the local public housing authorities that administer the program to those who need rent help.

How do the rent grants get paid?
The housing grant will be paid to the landlord directly by the local or government housing authority on behalf of the participating family who is in the program. The family then pays any difference in total rent charged between the actual monthly rent charged by the landlord and the amount of the grant that is subsidized by the government program.