Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Rental Assistance Program

In 1974, the Federal Government created what would become the largest rental subsidy program in the nation's history. The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program now helps more than 3 million families nationwide. Sarasota County, through the Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD), assists 434 low and very low-income families through their Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Rental Program and currently has a waiting list of approximately 930 applicants.

The program provides an opportunity for low-income families to rent safe and decent housing on the private market. The Section 8 subsidy or voucher bridges the gap between the landlord's rental price and the family's ability to pay rent.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) subsidizes the rental assistance program. HUD provides funds directly to OHCD to distribute to families in the form of rental assistance vouchers. Once a family has a voucher, they must locate a rental facility. Participants can rent houses, apartments, or mobile homes. Property owners are responsible for screening and selecting applicants and may charge tenants a security deposit. In addition, landlords are under no obligation to accept Section 8 Rental Housing Vouchers.

Whatever accommodations the participant chooses, it must be inspected by OHCD to ensure that it is safe, sanitary and decent.
If the rental home is acceptable, the landlord then enters into a lease with the program recipient and a contract with OHCD. Participants pay approximately 30- 40% of their income for both rent and utilities, with the voucher making up the difference to the landlord each month.

The majority of assistance occurs for households at or below 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI). For a family of four, 30% of the AMI is $17,750 dollars. The maximum amount a family of four can make and stay on the voucher program is $46,700.