 TITLE: What Is Section 8 Housing? CONTENT: How Section 8 Housing Works\n---------------------------\nSection 8 is administered and subsidized by your local Public Housing Authority (PHA). If you succeed in obtaining a Section 8 voucher and securing a home that accepts it, your portion of the rent would be 30% of your monthly income. The government would then pick up the tab for the rest.\nThe discount can be substantial. Imagine the rent for an apartment is $1,800 and your monthly income is $1,500. Multiply your income by 30%. In this example that would equal $450, which is what you would pay for the rent. That's $1,350 in savings. (Keep in mind that the income portion of the application is complicated because it involves certain additions and subtractions, so determining that figure is not as straightforward as it seems.)\nYou can see why Section 8 is an attractive program. Rather than live in designated subsidized housing projects (which may be located in less than desirable neighborhoods), it gives you some choice. But be forewarned: Section 8 can be a challenge to get. Not all property owners and landlords accept Section 8 tenants or set units aside for the program. Also, the amount the landlord charges can't be higher than the fair market rent for the area, and there are limitations for what the PHA will pay.\nFor you, the paperwork and application process is extensive. The demand for this program is so high that there is usually a waiting list, and some of those lists are so long that they're closed to new applicants. So if you're looking for instant approval, modify those expectations and be patient. END