Code: Section 8 (Federal rental assistance program)
Description: (Section 8 Rental Assistance) is a federal housing assistance program that helps eligible households pay rent. NYCHA administers both tenant-based vouchers for private-market rentals and project-based assistance tied to specific apartments.
Practical Meaning: If you rent out a home through NYCHA’s voucher program, you receive the tenant’s rent share from the tenant and the housing assistance payment directly from NYCHA. Check the program’s inspection, repair, and rental requirements before participating.
Where You May See It: NYCHA housing vouchers, rental assistance applications, annual recertification documents, NYCHA’s Self-Service Portal, and notices about project-based housing.
Why It Matters: The type of assistance matters: tenant-based vouchers help households rent qualifying private-market apartments, while project-based assistance supports designated apartments. PACT uses project-based Section 8, so Section 8 and PACT are related but are not the same program.
Source: NYCHA Section 8 Guide