The Housing Choice Voucher Program is the federal government's major program for assisting low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Since housing assistance is provided on behalf of the family or individual, participants are able to find their own housing, including single-family homes, townhouses and apartments.

A family that is issued a housing voucher is responsible for finding a suitable housing unit of the family's choice. Units must pass Housing Quality Standard Inspection and conform to rent requirements to be accepted on the program.

A housing subsidy is paid to the landlord directly by the local housing agency on behalf of the participating family. The family then pays the difference between the actual rent charged by the landlord and the amount subsidized by the program.