HUD rental assistance: every major program explained

Last updated 2026-07-09

What is HUD rental assistance and who runs it?

HUD, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, rarely hands money directly to renters. It funds and writes the rules, then local Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) and private property owners run the programs on the ground. That distinction matters more than people expect: if your voucher or your application goes sideways, you deal with your local PHA, not a federal office in Washington.

The umbrella term "HUD rental assistance" covers at least seven separate programs, each with its own eligibility rules, funding stream, and application process ^[1]. The biggest by far is the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, also called Section 8, which served about 2.3 million households in FY 2023 ^[2]. Project-based rental assistance (PBRA) covers roughly another 1.2 million units tied to specific apartment buildings. Public housing adds around 900,000 units that PHAs own and manage directly ^[2].

Every one of them runs on the same core math: the federal government pays a share of the rent so a qualifying low-income household pays no more than 30 percent of its adjusted monthly income toward rent and utilities ^[3]. The gap between what the tenant pays and what the landlord charges gets covered by HUD funds flowing through the PHA or the property owner.

So "HUD housing" and "HUD rental assistance" can mean any of these. The program that applies to you depends on which one has an open waitlist in your city and what category of help you qualify for. Start by finding your local housing authority and asking which of its programs are taking applications right now.

What are the main HUD rental assistance programs?

Here is a plain comparison of the major programs so you can see how they differ at a glance.

Program	Portability	Who administers	Approx. households served	Key eligibility note
Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8)	Yes, after 12 months	Local PHA	~2.3 million [2]	Income at or below 50% AMI; 75% of new vouchers go to households at or below 30% AMI
Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA)	No (tied to unit)	Private owner via HUD contract	~1.2 million [2]	Income at or below 50% AMI typically; apply at property
Public Housing	No	PHA owns the building	~900,000 [2]	Income at or below 80% AMI; PHA sets local limits
Section 811 (Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities)	No	Nonprofits, PHAs	~30,000 units [4]	18+ with significant disability; income at or below 50% AMI
Section 202 (Supportive Housing for the Elderly)	No	Nonprofits	~300,000 units [4]	62+; income at or below 50% AMI
HUD-VASH (Veterans)	Yes	VA + PHA	~95,000 vouchers [5]	Veteran status + HUD-VASH eligibility screening by VA
Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV)	Yes	Local PHA	~70,000 authorized [6]	Homeless, at risk of homelessness, fleeing domestic violence, or recently homeless

Each of these keeps its own waitlist. Being on a Section 8 list does not put you in line for public housing, and the reverse is true too. That single misunderstanding costs people real time.

The housing choice voucher program is usually the most flexible, because you can rent a private-market unit of your own choosing as long as the landlord agrees and the unit passes a HUD inspection. Project-based and public housing tie you to a specific building. If location freedom matters to you, HCV is the one to chase.

Who qualifies for HUD rental assistance?

Eligibility runs through four gates: income, immigration status, family composition, and sometimes a criminal background check.

Income. Every HUD rental program ties eligibility to Area Median Income (AMI), a figure HUD calculates every year for every metro area and county in the country ^[3]. For Housing Choice Vouchers, the statutory limit is 50 percent of AMI, but federal law requires PHAs to issue at least 75 percent of new vouchers to households at or below 30 percent AMI ^[7]. In practice, if your income sits between 30 and 50 percent AMI, you may wait far longer than someone below 30 percent. HUD publishes income limits annually at huduser.gov ^[12].

Family composition. HUD defines "family" broadly. A single person counts. Elderly individuals, people with disabilities, and displaced families all qualify under their own categories. You do not need children.

Immigration status. At least one household member must be a U.S. citizen or have eligible immigration status ^[1]. Households with mixed immigration status can still get pro-rated assistance based on the number of eligible members.

Criminal history. PHAs have wide discretion here. Federal law bars lifetime registered sex offenders from HCV assistance and bars people evicted from federally assisted housing for drug-related activity for three years from the eviction date ^[1]. Beyond those two, each PHA writes its own admissions policy. Some are strict. Some have adopted fair chance housing rules. You have to read your specific PHA's Administrative Plan.

Here's what people miss: income from wages, Social Security, SSI, or anything else doesn't automatically disqualify you. What matters is whether that total sits below the AMI threshold for your household size in your metro area. A family of four in rural Mississippi and a family of four in San Francisco face dramatically different dollar limits even at the same percentage.

How do HUD waitlists work and how long do they take?

Waitlists are the single biggest practical obstacle to HUD rental assistance. Most PHAs have closed lists for Housing Choice Vouchers because demand blows past supply. When a PHA does open its list, it might take applications for only a few days, then close again for years ^[8].

Wait times once you're on a list swing wildly. The national median wait for a Housing Choice Voucher has been estimated at over two years, and in high-cost cities like Los Angeles or New York it runs five to ten years or longer. Nobody has a tidy national figure, because PHAs report differently; the best available data comes from HUD's Picture of Subsidized Households and annual PHA-level submissions ^[2].

Some PHAs run a lottery. They open the list, collect applications, then randomly order them. Your spot doesn't depend on when you applied inside the open window. Others use a plain first-come, first-served queue. Find out which system your PHA uses before you plan around it.

Preference categories move you up. Most PHAs give priority to households experiencing homelessness, people displaced by disaster or government action, veterans, and people with disabilities. Apply without a preference and you sit at the back of the general pool. If you qualify for any preference, document it at the moment you apply.

To find which waitlists are open, check your PHA website directly, and also look at open Section 8 waiting lists aggregated by state. You can apply to multiple PHAs at once. That's completely legal, and honestly, it's what you should do if you have any room to move.

How does the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program work step by step?

The HCV process follows a predictable order, though the timeline at each step shifts by PHA.

1. Apply and get placed on the waitlist. Submit your application when the list is open. If you have a preference, document it right away.

2. Receive an eligibility determination. When your name reaches the top, the PHA contacts you for income verification, background screening, and a formal eligibility interview. This can take weeks.

3. Receive your voucher. The PHA issues a voucher with a specific bedroom size (based on your family) and a payment standard. The voucher expires, usually in 60 days, with possible extensions to 180 days or more depending on the PHA ^[3].

4. Find a landlord who will participate. This is harder than it sounds in a lot of markets. The landlord has to agree to the program, sign a Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) contract with the PHA, and pass a HUD Housing Quality Standards inspection. Resources like section 8 houses for rent can help you find participating landlords.

5. Unit passes inspection. HUD requires every assisted unit to meet Housing Quality Standards (HQS). A PHA inspector visits before assistance starts and typically once a year after that ^[3].

6. Rent is approved. The PHA compares the rent to its payment standard and runs a rent reasonableness check. If the rent lands in range, the HAP contract gets executed.

7. Assistance begins. The PHA sends the housing assistance payment straight to the landlord each month. You pay your share, at least 30 percent of your adjusted income, directly to the landlord.

Your obligations don't stop at move-in. You report income changes, follow your lease, and pass annual recertifications. Slip on any of these and your assistance can end.

Landlords weighing whether to accept vouchers can find the mechanics in more depth in the section 8 program overview. VoucherReady also has a landlord kit that walks through the HAP contract and inspection checklist if you want one reference document.

What is project-based rental assistance and how is it different from a voucher?

Project-based rental assistance (PBRA) is subsidy attached to a specific apartment unit, not to a household. Move out of a PBRA unit and you lose the subsidy. You don't carry it with you ^[1].

PBRA started under the original Section 8 program in 1974, when HUD signed long-term contracts with private landlords who agreed to rent units to low-income households at subsidized rates. Many of those original contracts have since been renewed or converted. Today PBRA covers about 1.2 million units in privately owned buildings, managed under HUD's Multifamily Housing programs ^[2].

To apply for PBRA, you go straight to the property, not the PHA. Each property keeps its own waitlist. Some have short waits because hardly anyone knows about them. Others run years long.

The upside: PBRA units often come with supportive services built in, especially in Section 202 (elderly) and Section 811 (disability) properties. The downside: no flexibility. You live in that building, or you have no subsidy.

If you're on both a PHA's HCV waitlist and a PBRA property's waitlist and the PBRA list comes through first, it's almost always worth taking, even if you'd rather have a voucher eventually. You can stay in the PBRA unit and, in some cases, get a voucher later when one opens up. Ask the property manager how they handle that.

More background on the full landscape of hud housing programs can help you map every option side by side.

What does HUD rental assistance pay and how is rent calculated?

Under the Housing Choice Voucher program, the tenant pays 30 percent of adjusted monthly income toward rent and utilities. The PHA pays the difference between that amount and the actual rent, up to a local cap called the payment standard ^[3].

Each PHA sets its payment standard as a percentage of HUD's Fair Market Rents (FMR), which HUD calculates annually by metro area and unit size ^[9]. PHAs can set payment standards anywhere from 90 to 110 percent of FMR without HUD approval, and higher with approval in expensive areas.

Here's the part that bites: if the rent for the unit you pick sits above the payment standard, you can pay the extra, but your total tenant payment can't top 40 percent of your adjusted monthly income in the first month you rent that unit ^[3]. Some PHAs are stricter. This cap keeps landlords from squeezing more out of households than they can carry.

Fair Market Rents for FY 2025 swing enormously. A two-bedroom FMR in rural Alabama might land around $800; the same calculation in San Jose, California runs over $2,800 ^[9]. Your payment standard is local, so what your voucher actually covers depends entirely on where you live.

Adjusted income is not gross income. HUD allows deductions for dependents ($480 per dependent annually), an elderly or disabled household head ($400 annually), and certain medical and childcare costs above a threshold ^[3]. Those deductions lower your calculated income, which lowers your 30 percent share, which makes the voucher worth more to you. Ask your PHA caseworker to walk the income calculation with you line by line. Errors happen, and they cost money.

For a closer look at how payment standards get set and what they mean for finding a unit, see the rental assistance explainer.

What other HUD programs help specific groups like seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities?

HUD runs targeted programs for groups that hit particular housing barriers.

Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly funds construction and ongoing rental subsidies for low-income households headed by someone 62 or older. Residents typically pay 30 percent of adjusted income. The program also funds service coordinators who connect residents to health and social services. About 300,000 units exist nationally, but the stock has barely grown in decades, so waitlists run long ^[4]. You can find these properties through low income senior housing resources.

Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities works the same way but for non-elderly adults (18+) with significant disabilities. Some newer 811 units sit inside general multifamily properties instead of standalone disability buildings, which fits Fair Housing and Olmstead Act principles ^[4].

HUD-VASH (HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing) pairs HCV vouchers with VA case management and supportive services for homeless veterans. The VA screens and refers eligible veterans; the PHA then issues the voucher. As of FY 2023, roughly 95,000 HUD-VASH vouchers were funded ^[5]. Veterans should contact their local VA Medical Center's homeless programs coordinator, not the PHA directly.

Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV) were authorized under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 for households experiencing or at risk of homelessness, fleeing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking, or recently homeless ^[6]. EHVs go to PHAs, which partner with Continuums of Care to refer eligible households. Unlike the regular HCV waitlist, EHVs go to people the CoC refers, not people who walk in and apply.

Choice Neighborhoods and RAD (Rental Assistance Demonstration) are structural programs that convert or rehabilitate distressed public housing. They don't have separate applications for individuals. Residents of converted properties get protected in place or handed vouchers.

What are tenant rights under HUD rental assistance programs?

Federal law hands assisted tenants a real set of protections, though enforcing them takes some work.

Lease and termination protections. Under the HCV program, a landlord can only end your lease for material lease violations, criminal activity, or other good cause ^[3]. They can't just refuse to renew because they'd rather have a different tenant. The HAP contract requires landlords to follow both the lease and HUD regulations.

Grievance procedures. PHAs must run a formal grievance procedure for public housing tenants and for voucher holders disputing PHA decisions ^[1]. If your PHA denies you assistance, terminates your voucher, or cuts your subsidy, you have the right to an informal hearing. Request one in writing immediately. Deadlines are short.

Portability. After 12 months in your initial unit on a voucher, you have the right to move with that voucher to another jurisdiction, where the new PHA either absorbs it or bills your current PHA ^[3]. This is called porting. The mechanics take coordination, but the right is real. More detail on the process lives in the housing section 8 program overview.

Fair Housing. The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability ^[10]. Some states and cities add "source of income" as a protected class, which means a landlord can't refuse you just because you hold a voucher. This varies by location, so check your state and city law.

Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). HUD regulations put VAWA protections into assisted housing. A victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking can't lose their voucher or tenancy solely because they're a victim ^[1]. The PHA must give written notice of these rights.

Document everything. Keep copies of every letter, every inspection report, every income recertification. If your PHA cuts your subsidy and you think they got it wrong, your window to appeal is short. Missing it is one of the most common and most expensive mistakes in this whole process.

What should landlords know about accepting HUD rental assistance?

Landlords hear plenty of reasons to skip voucher programs: inspections, delays, fixed rents. The reality is more mixed than the horror stories.

The actual mechanics: a landlord who wants to take a voucher holder signs a Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) contract with the PHA. That contract guarantees the PHA's share of rent straight to the landlord, usually by direct deposit ^[3]. The tenant pays their share separately. PHAs are generally reliable payers, and the check arrives on time whether or not the tenant pays their piece.

The inspection requirement is real. Every unit has to pass HUD's Housing Quality Standards before the HAP contract starts, and again every year ^[3]. Common failure points: working smoke detectors, window security, adequate ventilation, and no visible lead paint hazards in pre-1978 housing. Most of these are things a landlord should be fixing anyway.

Rent reasonableness is the other constraint. The PHA compares your proposed rent to rents for similar unassisted units nearby. If your rent sits above the payment standard or flunks the reasonableness check, you either negotiate down or the tenant walks. In most markets, payment standards run close enough to market rate that this isn't a dealbreaker, especially since FMRs have climbed sharply since 2021.

Landlords who want the full picture before committing can use VoucherReady's landlord kit, which covers the HAP contract, what inspectors actually check, and how to handle payment disputes. The go section 8 platform is also one of the more widely used tools for listing voucher-friendly units.

State and local law keeps tightening the rules on refusing voucher holders outright. As of 2024, over 20 states and many cities have source-of-income protections ^[10]. Refuse a voucher holder in those places and you can face Fair Housing liability. That's not hypothetical. Complaints get filed, and settlements happen.

How has HUD rental assistance changed recently and what are the funding trends?

The HCV program's funding has been a political flashpoint for years. Vouchers get funded annually through HUD's appropriations, and any shortfall means PHAs either stop issuing new vouchers or, in the worst cases, terminate existing ones. Congress has generally protected renewal funding for existing vouchers, but the count of new vouchers each year is a budget fight.

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 authorized 70,000 Emergency Housing Vouchers, a large one-time expansion ^[6]. The Biden administration's FY2025 budget asked for money to widen HCV access, but congressional action on new expansions has stalled.

Fair Market Rents have climbed a lot. HUD issued an interim rule in 2023 changing how FMRs get calculated, which pushed FMRs higher in most areas. Higher FMRs mean payment standards can go higher, which means vouchers cover more of the actual market rent ^[9]. That was a real, practical win for voucher holders struggling to find landlords willing to rent at the old rates.

The Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program has converted over 175,000 public housing units to project-based assistance since 2012, shifting them from public housing appropriations to Section 8 contract funding, which HUD argues is steadier ^[11]. Critics say RAD privatizes public housing without solid long-term affordability guarantees. Residents of converted properties keep the right to return and can't be displaced without cause.

Low Income Housing Tax Credits, a related but separate program run by Treasury (not HUD), fund a big share of affordable unit construction. Many LIHTC properties also stack on project-based vouchers. See low income housing tax credit for how that program works alongside HUD assistance.

How do you apply for HUD rental assistance and what documents do you need?

Applications for HCV and public housing go through your local PHA. There's no single national application. HUD's website has a PHA locator at hud.gov, and the HUD Resource Locator app does the same ^[1].

For project-based properties (Section 202, Section 811, PBRA), you apply directly at the property. The property manager keeps a waitlist and contacts you when a unit opens.

Documents you'll typically need at application (not every PHA asks for all of this upfront, but have it ready for the eligibility interview):

• Government-issued photo ID for all adult household members
• Social Security cards or documentation of eligible immigration status for each household member
• Birth certificates for minors
• Proof of income: last 2-3 pay stubs, benefit award letters (Social Security, SSI, TANF, and so on), self-employment records
• Documentation of assets: bank statements, investment accounts
• Any documentation backing a preference category (homeless certification, military discharge papers for veterans, disability documentation)
• Current and recent landlord contact information for rental history verification

Once you're on a waitlist, keep your contact information current with the PHA. PHAs drop applicants they can't reach. This happens constantly. If you move, call the PHA immediately and send a written update.

The PHA verifies all income independently, often through the HUD Enterprise Income Verification (EIV) system, which cross-references Social Security Administration and other records ^[1]. Gaps between what you report and what EIV shows will cause delays and, if the gap looks intentional, can lead to denial or repayment demands. Report everything accurately from the start.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between HUD rental assistance and Section 8?

Section 8 is one specific piece of HUD rental assistance, named after Section 8 of the Housing Act of 1937. HUD rental assistance is the broader category that includes Housing Choice Vouchers, public housing, project-based Section 8, Section 202 for seniors, Section 811 for people with disabilities, HUD-VASH for veterans, and Emergency Housing Vouchers. When most people say "Section 8" they mean Housing Choice Vouchers, the largest and most flexible of these programs.

How long is the wait for HUD rental assistance?

Wait times swing hard by location and program. For Housing Choice Vouchers, the national median is estimated at over two years, but many high-cost cities run five to ten years or more. Some smaller PHAs in rural areas have shorter waits or even open waitlists. Project-based properties keep their own separate waitlists that may run shorter or longer than the local PHA's list. There's no single national number because PHAs report differently.

Can I apply for HUD rental assistance online?

Many PHAs now offer online applications when their waitlists are open. Others still use paper or in-person applications. You have to check your specific PHA's website or call them directly. HUD's PHA locator at hud.gov gives you contact information. Some third-party sites aggregate open waitlist information, but always verify directly with the PHA before submitting anything.

Does HUD rental assistance cover utilities?

Yes, utilities factor into the program. If a tenant pays their own utilities, the PHA calculates a utility allowance and subtracts it from the tenant's required contribution, offsetting the cost. If utilities are included in rent, no adjustment is needed. The utility allowance schedule is set by the PHA and varies by unit size, utility type, and local rates. Ask your PHA for its current utility allowance table.

Can a landlord refuse to accept HUD vouchers?

Federally, landlords are not required to accept vouchers. But over 20 states and many cities have "source of income" anti-discrimination laws that bar landlords from refusing tenants solely because they hold a voucher. In those jurisdictions, refusal can be a Fair Housing violation. If you're in a protected area and a landlord refuses your voucher without a legitimate reason, you can file a complaint with HUD or your local Fair Housing office.

What income is too high for HUD rental assistance?

Income limits are based on a percentage of Area Median Income for your location and household size. Housing Choice Vouchers generally require income at or below 50 percent of AMI, though 75 percent of new vouchers must go to households at or below 30 percent AMI. Public housing allows up to 80 percent AMI in some cases. HUD publishes updated income limits annually at huduser.gov. Your specific dollar limit depends on your metro area and family size.

Can I use a HUD voucher to rent a house instead of an apartment?

Yes. Housing Choice Vouchers work for apartments, houses, townhomes, or manufactured housing, as long as the unit passes HUD's Housing Quality Standards inspection and the rent falls within the PHA's payment standard. The one structural restriction is bedroom size: your voucher is issued for a specific number of bedrooms based on your household composition, and you generally need to rent a unit in that size range.

What is the HUD-VASH program and how does a veteran apply?

HUD-VASH pairs a Housing Choice Voucher with VA case management for homeless veterans. About 95,000 vouchers were funded as of FY 2023. Veterans do not apply to the PHA directly. They contact their local VA Medical Center's homeless programs coordinator, who screens eligibility and refers qualified veterans to the partnering PHA. The VA handles intake; the PHA handles the voucher.

What happens if my landlord sells the building while I have a voucher?

If you have a Housing Choice Voucher and your landlord sells, your voucher goes with you, not with the building. You're not tied to the unit. A new owner who buys a building with voucher tenants must honor existing leases through their term, but can choose not to renew the HAP contract afterward. If that happens, you take your voucher and find a new unit. Project-based assistance stays with the unit regardless of ownership change, as long as the new owner keeps the HUD contract.

Can I move to a different city or state with my housing voucher?

Yes, after 12 months in your initial unit you can port your voucher to another jurisdiction. The receiving PHA either absorbs your voucher into its own program or bills your original PHA. Not all PHAs handle portability transfers smoothly, and the receiving PHA's payment standards apply at your new location. Coordinate well ahead of time, because timing matters: your voucher has an expiration date and porting takes time to process.

Is HUD rental assistance the same as emergency rental assistance?

No. HUD rental assistance is an ongoing subsidy program. Emergency rental assistance (ERA) was a separate, temporary program funded through COVID-19 relief legislation in 2020 and 2021 that helped households pay past-due rent and utilities. Most ERA funding has been spent or expired. Some states and localities still have limited emergency rental funds; check 211.org or your local community action agency for current availability.

What are the most common reasons HUD rental assistance applications get denied?

Common denial reasons include income above the program limit, a household member who is a lifetime sex offender registrant, drug-related eviction from federally assisted housing within the past three years, fraud or misrepresentation on a prior application, or owing money to any PHA. A denial from one PHA doesn't automatically disqualify you from applying to another PHA with different local policies on criminal history or debt owed.

How is project-based Section 8 different from a Housing Choice Voucher?

Project-based Section 8 is tied to a specific apartment. Leave the unit and you lose the subsidy. A Housing Choice Voucher belongs to your household and moves with you. Project-based units may have shorter waitlists and often include supportive services. Vouchers give you freedom to choose your unit in the private market. Both cap your rent contribution at roughly 30 percent of adjusted income, but the portability difference is significant depending on your priorities.

Does receiving HUD rental assistance affect other benefits like SNAP or Medicaid?

Getting a voucher or other HUD housing subsidy does not make you ineligible for SNAP (food stamps) or Medicaid. It may change your benefit calculations, though. SNAP counts housing costs in its Net Income test, and if your rent contribution drops because of a voucher, your SNAP benefit might shrink slightly. Medicaid eligibility is based on income, not housing subsidy status. Talk to a benefits counselor if you're worried about interactions, since the calculations are program-specific.

Sources

1. HUD.gov, Housing Choice Vouchers Fact Sheet: Overview of HCV program rules, eligibility, criminal history bars, immigration requirements, VAWA protections, and grievance procedures
2. HUD User, Picture of Subsidized Households 2023: Approximately 2.3 million HCV households, 1.2 million PBRA households, and 900,000 public housing units served annually
3. Code of Federal Regulations, 24 CFR Part 982 (Housing Choice Voucher Program): Tenant pays 30% of adjusted monthly income; payment standard range 90-110% of FMR; 40% cap on first-month rent; portability rights after 12 months; annual inspections required
4. HUD.gov, Multifamily Housing Programs (Section 202 and Section 811): Section 202 serves approximately 300,000 units for elderly households; Section 811 serves approximately 30,000 units for persons with disabilities
5. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, HUD-VASH Program: Approximately 95,000 HUD-VASH vouchers funded; veterans must be referred through VA homeless programs coordinators
6. HUD.gov, Emergency Housing Vouchers: American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 authorized approximately 70,000 Emergency Housing Vouchers for households experiencing or at risk of homelessness or fleeing domestic violence
7. Code of Federal Regulations, 24 CFR 982.201, Income Targeting: PHAs must issue at least 75% of new vouchers to households at or below 30% of Area Median Income
8. HUD User, Waiting Lists for Housing Assistance: Most PHAs have closed waitlists due to demand exceeding supply; median wait times exceed two years nationally
9. HUD User, Fair Market Rents: FMR for a two-bedroom unit ranges from approximately $800 in rural Alabama to over $2,800 in San Jose CA; HUD publishes updated FMRs annually
10. National Housing Law Project, Source of Income Discrimination Overview: Over 20 states and numerous cities have source-of-income protections prohibiting landlords from refusing voucher holders; Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination by race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability
11. HUD.gov, Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD): RAD has converted over 175,000 public housing units to project-based assistance since 2012
12. HUD User, Income Limits Documentation System: HUD publishes Area Median Income thresholds annually for every metro area and county; income limits for assisted housing programs are derived from these figures