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

Since the housing assistance is provided on behalf of the family or individual, participants are able to find and rent privately owned housing, including single-family homes, condominiums, and apartments. The participant is free to choose any housing that meets the requirements of the program.

Housing Choice Vouchers are administered locally by public housing agencies, such as West Springfield Housing Authority (WSHA). The WSHA receives federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to administer the voucher program.

A family that is issued a voucher is responsible for finding and selecting suitable housing of the family’s choice where the owner agrees to rent under the program.

Rental units must meet minimum standards of health and safety, as determined by the WSHA. A housing subsidy is paid to the landlord directly by the WSHA 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.