Guides

Practical, regularly updated explanations of federal rental assistance programs — written for renters, not for caseworkers.

Section 8 / Housing Choice Vouchers, explained 10 min read The Public Housing program, demystified 9 min read Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA), explained 8 min read RAD: HUD's Rental Assistance Demonstration, explained 8 min read How to apply for Section 8 (Housing Choice Vouchers) 8 min read Section 8 vs. Public Housing: what is the difference? 6 min read How PHA waiting lists actually work 7 min read Section 8 eligibility and income limits explained 9 min read Pre-applications: what they are and how to file one 5 min read Project-based vs. tenant-based vouchers 6 min read Voucher portability: how to use your voucher in a new city 7 min read Reasonable accommodations and your Fair Housing rights 7 min read The HUD inspection process for Section 8 units 6 min read Finding a Section 8-friendly landlord 6 min read

Where to start

If you have never applied for federal rental assistance before, the right starting point depends on what you already know. People who have heard the words "Section 8" but are not sure what it actually is should begin with our explainer on the difference between Section 8 and Public Housing — they sound similar but work very differently. People who already know which program they want should jump straight into our step-by-step application guide. People who have already applied and are wondering why nothing is happening should read our guide to PHA waiting lists.

If you are an existing voucher holder, the most-requested guides are voucher portability (for moving between PHA jurisdictions) and finding a participating landlord in tight rental markets.