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The Housing Choice Voucher Program is a federally funded program that assists low-income households afford housing on the private market. Local public housing agencies receive funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and administer the vouchers in local communities.
Eligible households are responsible for finding their own housing, but the rental unit must meet health and safety standards. The local public housing agency pays the landlord directly, and the voucher holder is responsible for paying the difference between the subsidy and actual rent. Voucher holders must contribute 30 percent of their monthly adjusted gross income to rent and utilities.
Income requirements for housing vouchers are set by the local agencies and vary by location and family size. By federal law, housing agencies must provide 75 percent of its vouchers to households whose income does not exceed 30 percent of the area median income. The rest may go to households with incomes up to 80 percent of the area median income.
Housing Choice Vouchers are typically used for rent, but may be used to purchase a home if the local public housing agency has a homeownership program.
For more information:
- Housing Choice Vouchers Fact Sheet [U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development]
- Policy Basics: The Housing Choice Voucher Program [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities]
