Section 8, also known as the Housing Choice Voucher Program, provides funding for rent subsidies for eligible low-income families for decent, safe, and affordable housing. Families can select housing within a neighborhood of their choice from a landlord willing to participate in the program. Rent subsidies (vouchers) allow families to pay a reasonable share of their income toward rent while the program, within specific limits, makes up the difference.

NYCHA’s Section 8 program is the largest in the United States. We administer approximately 83,000 Section 8 vouchers serving 270,000 New Yorkers. Over 29,000 landlords currently participate in the program.

NYCHA reserves Section 8 vouchers for emergency applicants who are referred by the New York City Administration for Children's Services (ACS) or those who are classified as intimidated witnesses or victims of domestic violence. As of May 15, 2007 NYCHA will only accept Section 8 applications from emergency applicants, until further notice.

What distinguishes this program from conventional public housing?  In conventional public housing tenants are assigned apartments owned by NYCHA.  Under Section 8, the housing is owned by individual owners from whom the voucher holder rents.