The Section 8 Department administers the Housing Choice Voucher Program, which provides a rental subsidy to low-income individuals and families. Through the program, tenants may pay 30-40 percent of their net monthly income to a private landlord, with the remainder of the rent covered by HACP. Eligible program applicants attend a briefing session and are issued a voucher. The tenant then must locate a unit, either inside or outside the City of Pittsburgh, that meets HACP rental and inspection requirements. If the unit requested is qualified, a contract is made between HACP and the landlord, and then the tenant signs a lease with a landlord for at least one year.
The Section 8 department has administrative responsibility for annual recertification of tenants and annual Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspections. Participating landlords are assured HACP will send them a portion or all of each month's rent, depending on the household income of the tenant.
A Section 8 website is available with a detailed listing of available rental units.
