The Housing Choice Voucher Program, commonly referred to as Section 8, is the federal government’s major program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Participants are not limited to units located in subsidized housing projects and are free to choose any housing that meets program requirements. Housing choice vouchers are administered locally by public housing agencies, or PHAs, which receive federal funds from HUD for program administration.