This arrangement forms a three-way contractual agreement binding together the housing authority, tenant and landlord.
Landlords sign a contract with the housing authority, and tenants have a lease directly with the landlord. Voucher tenants pay 30-40% of their income to rent and the housing authority pays the difference, up to a specific payment standard, directly to the landlord. Administered by Public Housing Authorities, the Housing Choice Voucher, or Section 8 voucher program, allows tenants to take a voucher to a private landlord to secure low-income housing on the private market.