The HUD Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program (formerly the Section 8 Program) is the federal government's major program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market.

Since housing assistance is provided on behalf of the family or individual, participants can find their own housing, including single-family homes, townhouses and apartments. The participant is free to choose any housing that meets the requirements of the program and is not limited to units located in subsidized housing projects.

A housing subsidy is paid to the landlord directly by the Public Housing Agency on behalf of the participating family. The family then pays the difference between the actual rent charged by the landlord and the amount subsidized by the program. The assistance the family receives is based on the family’s income, the number of bedrooms on the voucher and in the unit, and the rent and utilities paid by the family. The family pays a minimum of 30 percent of its monthly-adjusted income for rent and utilities. However, the family may not pay more than 40 percent of its monthly-adjusted income for rent and utilities at the time the unit is initially approved.

Applicants must meet the requirements of the Section 8 HCV Program. In general, the family's income may not exceed 50% of the median income for the county or metropolitan area in which the family chooses to live. Eligible applicants will be selected for the Waiting List based on preference ranking.