The Housing Choice Voucher Program

Created in the 1970s, the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) is the federal government’s largest program for assisting very low-income, elderly and disabled families to afford decent, safe and sanitary housing in the private market. More than 2.2 million low-income families use vouchers throughout the United States to help pay their rent and the Bellingham Housing Authority assists approximately 1,800 households in Whatcom County. This session will provide a general overview of how the program works, with a goal of clarifying common misconceptions and discussing a variety of community benefits. Please bring your questions about the Bellingham Housing Authority and the Section 8 program.