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What Is the Project-Based Section 8 Rental Assistance Program?

The Project-Based Section 8 Rental Assistance program provides affordable apartment communities that are owned by private landlords with a rental subsidy that helps pay the rent for low income tenants. Called the Total Tenant Payment (TTP), program tenants pay either 1) 10% of their monthly income (gross income minus exclusions), 2) 30% of their monthly adjusted income (gross income minus exclusions and deductions) or 3) a minimum rent of $25. The Project-Based Section 8 rental subsidy may be available for every unit in a property, or a select number of units in the apartment community.

This program can be confused with the Section 8 Project-Based Voucher (PBV) program, which is managed by a Public Housing Agency as an offshoot of its Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program.

Start the guide at Part 1: How Do I Know If I'm Eligible for the Project-Based Section 8 Program? or choose a topic from the list below.

Project-Based Section 8 Rental Assistance Guide

  1. How Do I Know If I'm Eligible for the Project-Based Section 8 Program?
    1. Confirm that you meet the basic qualifications.
    2. Calculate your household’s income.
    3. Determine if there are any restrictions.
    4. Be aware of common factors that may disqualify an application.
  2. How Do I Find an Project-Based Section 8 Apartment?
  3. How Do I Apply to a Project-Based Section 8 Apartment?
    1. Obtain the application.
    2. Complete the application
    3. Submit the application.
  4. What Happens After Applying to a Project-Based Section 8 Apartment?
    1. Wait for the property to process applications.
    2. Confirm your waiting list status (If Applicable).
    3. Estimate your wait time (If Applicable).
    4. Stay in contact with the property (If Applicable).
    5. Move into offered unit.