United States
Benefit
Housing Choice Voucher Program
Also known as: Section 8, HCV
The Housing Choice Voucher Program helps very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled afford decent, safe housing in the private market.
At a Glance
- Family income must not exceed 50% of the area median income.75% of vouchers must go to families a...
- At least one family member must be a U.S. citizen, national,or eligible immigrant.
- Must meet HUD definition of "family."
- Cannot have been evicted from federally assisted housingfor drug-related activity in the past 3 y...
- + 1 more requirements below
Eligibility Requirements
Citizenship/Immigration
RequiredAt least one family member must be a U.S. citizen, national,or eligible immigrant.
citizenship_status
in
[us_citizen, us_national, eligible_immigrant]
Family Composition
RequiredMust meet HUD definition of "family."
household_type
in
[family_with_children, elderly_head, disabled_head, single_person, remaining_family_member]
No Drug-Related Eviction
RequiredCannot have been evicted from federally assisted housingfor drug-related activity in the past 3 years.
evicted_for_drugs_3_years
=
false
Background Screening
RequiredMust pass the local Public Housing Authority's screeningcriteria (criminal background, rental history, etc.).
passes_pha_screening
=
true
Ruleset effective: 2024-01-01
View as JSON
{"service_id":"section-8","effective_date":"2024-01-01","rules":[{"id":"income-limit","key":"household_income_ami","operator":"less_than_or_equal","value":50,"unit":"percent","requirement":"required","label":"Income Limit","description":"Family income must not exceed 50% of the area median income.\n75% of vouchers must go to families at or below 30% AMI.\n","source_url":"https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/public_indian_housing/programs/hcv/about/fact_sheet"},{"id":"citizenship","key":"citizenship_status","operator":"in","values":["us_citizen","us_national","eligible_immigrant"],"requirement":"required","label":"Citizenship/Immigration","description":"At least one family member must be a U.S. citizen, national,\nor eligible immigrant.\n"},{"id":"family-composition","key":"household_type","operator":"in","values":["family_with_children","elderly_head","disabled_head","single_person","remaining_family_member"],"requirement":"required","label":"Family Composition","description":"Must meet HUD definition of \"family.\""},{"id":"not-evicted-drugs","key":"evicted_for_drugs_3_years","operator":"equals","value":false,"requirement":"required","label":"No Drug-Related Eviction","description":"Cannot have been evicted from federally assisted housing\nfor drug-related activity in the past 3 years.\n"},{"id":"background-check","key":"passes_pha_screening","operator":"equals","value":true,"requirement":"required","label":"Background Screening","description":"Must pass the local Public Housing Authority's screening\ncriteria (criminal background, rental history, etc.).\n"}]}
Quick Info
- Agency
- HUD
- Category
- Housing
- Last Verified
- 2026-01-13