Federal tenant-based rental assistance is provided primarily through HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program. The program is implemented by local and state public housing agencies. Voucher holders receive a subsidy that they can use at any privately owned rental unit that meets program guidelines and has an owner willing to participate in the program. Because the assistance moves with the household, rather than remaining attached to a particular unit, tenant-based rental assistance can be a particularly effective tool for increasing low-income families’ access to low-poverty, resource-rich neighborhoods.

For Voucher Participants: