This glossary provides a comprehensive list of terms related to affordable housing and housing authority operations.
Accessible Housing Housing that is approachable, entered, and used by a person with a physical disability. Accessible housing often features ramps, elevators, wider doorways, wheelchair-accessible bathrooms, and universal design elements like lever door handles.
Accessible Route A continuous, unobstructed path that connects all accessible features and spaces within a site or building, ensuring passage for people with physical disabilities.
Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) An obligation for state and local governments under the Fair Housing Act of 1968. This requires them to not just outlaw discrimination but to proactively work to eliminate discriminatory housing practices and reduce segregation based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, or familial status.
Affordability The extent to which there are enough rental units at various costs to meet the housing needs of a renter household, defined as paying no more than 30% of their income for rent.
Affordable Housing According to the federal government, housing is considered affordable when a household's rent or mortgage payments, plus utilities, are no more than 30% of their monthly income. Households paying more than this are considered "cost burdened."
Affordable Housing Program (AHP) A program by the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) that provides competitive grants and subsidized loans to support affordable housing development. Funds are flexible and can be combined with other programs.
American Community Survey (ACS) A national survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau that collects data on age, race, income, home value, and other household information. It's collected more frequently than the decennial census to help communities with planning.
American Dream Downpayment Initiative (ADDI) An initiative authorized by the 2003 American Dream Downpayment Act, providing down payment assistance, covering closing costs, and funding some rehabilitation for homebuyers.
American Housing Survey (AHS) Conducted every two years by the Census Bureau, this survey collects data on housing units, family composition, income, housing quality, and costs for a sample of 50,000 households and all new construction.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) A civil rights law from 1990 that guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in areas like employment, public accommodations, transportation, and government services.
Analysis of Impediments (AI) A review of barriers to fair housing choice required for local jurisdictions and organizations that receive federal housing funds. It helps in fair housing planning and informs policy makers.
Annual Adjustment Factor (AAF) A factor published annually by HUD that adjusts rent levels for Section 8 vouchers and project-based rental assistance based on changes in residential rent and utility costs, using Consumer Price Index data.
Annual Contribution Contract (ACC) Annual contracts between HUD and public housing authorities that provide payments for rent, debt service, and modernization.
Area Median Income (AMI) A metric calculated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) used to determine income eligibility for federal housing programs.
Bedrooms Rooms in a housing unit that are primarily used for sleeping or are designed to be a bedroom, even if they are currently used for other purposes.
Blighted Structure A building that shows signs of serious deterioration, posing a threat to human health, safety, and public welfare.
Brownfield Abandoned, underused industrial and commercial properties that have real or potential environmental contamination.
Building Code A set of construction requirements developed and administered by national, state, and local bodies to ensure buildings meet minimum standards for structural integrity, safety, design, and durability.
Capital Fund Program (CFP) A program that provides financial assistance to public housing authorities (PHAs) to improve or develop new public housing, including mixed-finance properties. Improvements can range from replacing roofs to enhancing accessibility and energy efficiency.
Census Tract A small statistical subdivision of a county used by the U.S. Census Bureau for data collection. Each tract has a unique Census Tract Number.
Chronic Homelessness A state of homelessness experienced over a long period or in recurring cycles. HUD defines it as an unaccompanied homeless individual with a disabling condition who has been continuously homeless for a year or more, or has had four or more episodes of homelessness in the past three years.
Chronically Homeless Individual A homeless person with a disability who has been living in a shelter or a place not meant for human habitation for a total of at least 12 continuous months or at least four separate occasions over the past three years.
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) The collection of permanent rules and regulations published by federal government agencies in the Federal Register.
Combined Statistical Area (CSA) An area made up of two or more Metropolitan Statistical Areas or a mix of metropolitan and micropolitan areas. The areas are connected by social and economic ties, particularly commuting.
Commercial Building Any building other than a residential or government building, constructed for industrial, retail, business, or public purposes.
Community Planning and Development (CPD, HUD) A HUD office responsible for creating viable communities through integrated approaches to housing, living environments, and economic opportunity. It administers programs like the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).
Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy Data (CHAS) Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau to HUD that focuses on housing problems and needs, particularly for low-income households.
Condominium (Condo) A form of homeownership where individuals own their unit while jointly owning the common areas and facilities with other unit owners. Owners typically pay dues for the upkeep of common areas.
Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area (CMSA) A metropolitan area with a population of one million or more, composed of two or more Primary Metropolitan Statistical Areas (PMSA).
Continuum of Care A collaborative approach to funding and planning that helps communities address homelessness by providing a full range of emergency, transitional, and permanent housing options and services.
Cooperative A form of housing where each resident is a member who shares ownership of the entire project, with exclusive rights to occupy a specific unit.
Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA) A collective term for metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas, anchored by an urban center of at least 10,000 people and adjacent counties tied to it by commuting.
Cost Burdened A household is considered cost burdened if they spend more than 30% of their income on housing costs. This is a key indicator that they may struggle to afford other necessities like food, healthcare, and transportation.
Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (NAHA) Legislation from 1990 that established programs to empower low-income individuals, including the HOME block grant program and supportive housing initiatives for the elderly and people with disabilities.
Credit Period (LIHTC) In projects using the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), this is the span of taxable years (usually 10) during which a building is placed in service and the taxpayer receives tax credits.
Debt Service The required payments of principal and interest on a mortgage secured by real property.
Decennial Census The U.S. Census Bureau's count of the entire population and housing units, conducted every 10 years, primarily to determine the apportionment of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Deed-in-Lieu A way to avoid foreclosure where the homeowner gives the deed to the lender to satisfy the mortgage debt. The homeowner must move out but avoids the negative consequences of foreclosure on their credit.
Default A failure to make payments or meet obligations under a mortgage for a period of 30 days. This typically triggers foreclosure proceedings.
Demonstration Program An initiative by HUD to develop, test, and implement new housing assistance strategies and policies on a small sample of Public Housing Agencies.
Density The average number of dwelling units or persons per acre of land, usually expressed as units per acre.
Difficult Development Area (DDA) An area designated by HUD as having high construction, land, and utility costs relative to the area median gross income. Affordable housing projects in these areas receive a boost in Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC).
Dilapidated Housing A housing unit that is unsafe or inadequate for shelter and endangers the health and safety of its occupants. This is quantified by HUD as having critical or numerous intermediate defects requiring substantial repair.
Disability A physical or mental impairment that significantly limits one or more major life activities. Disabled persons often qualify for preferences on housing waiting lists and specific programs like Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities.
Discriminatory Effect A practice that has an actual or predictable negative impact on a protected group of people, or a practice that creates or reinforces segregated housing patterns.
Domestic Violence Crimes of violence committed by a current or former spouse, cohabitant, or other person against an adult or youth victim protected under domestic violence laws.
Dwelling Any building, structure, or portion used or intended for use as a residence by one or more households.
Earned Income Disallowances for Persons with Disabilities (EID) A disallowance used to calculate tenant rent for the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program for persons with disabilities who are newly employed or receive income increases.
Elder Cottage Housing Opportunity (ECHO) Units Small, free-standing, accessible, and energy-efficient units designed to be installed on a property to allow elders to live independently near family.
Elderly Person Household A household with at least one person who is 62 years of age or older.
Emergency Exception Payment Standards Payment standards that a public housing authority can request from HUD to go outside the typical range (90-110% of the Fair Market Rent) to accommodate areas with significantly higher or lower rents.
Emergency Shelter A facility whose primary purpose is to provide temporary or transitional shelter for individuals experiencing homelessness.
Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) Program A federal program from HUD that provides funds to improve and create new emergency shelters, cover operating costs, offer social services, and support homelessness prevention.
Eminent Domain The power of a government or quasi-governmental agency to take private property for public use, provided they offer just compensation.
Energy Audit A process that identifies and specifies potential energy and cost savings by evaluating the need for improvements like insulation or more efficient heating/cooling systems.
Energy Performance Contracting An innovative financing technique that uses cost savings from reduced energy consumption to repay the cost of installing energy-efficient improvements.
Enterprise Income Verification (EIV) An online reporting system from HUD that Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) use to review the earnings and income of participants in HUD housing programs.
Equitable Land Use Planning Zoning and land use planning that ensures the needs of all community groups are met and offers marginalized groups greater housing choice.
Eviction The legal process of a landlord removing a tenant from a leased unit, often due to lease violations such as failure to pay rent.
Extremely Low-Income Household Households with incomes below 30% of the area median income.
Fair Housing Act A 1968 act that prohibits housing discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability.
Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) Provides funding for organizations that work to prevent or eliminate discriminatory housing practices, assisting victims of discrimination and promoting fair housing laws.
Fair Market Rent (FMR) The average rent and utility costs for newly leased, non-luxury rental units in a given area. FMRs are used to set rental assistance payment standards for federal housing programs.
Fair Market Value The most probable price a property would sell for in an open market between a willing buyer and a willing seller, neither of whom is under pressure to act.
Family In HUD-assisted housing, a family is defined as a "single person or a group of persons," including households with or without children, whether related or not.
Family Self-Sufficiency Program (FSS) A program that helps residents of public housing and Section 8 voucher recipients achieve self-sufficiency through education, training, case management, and matched savings.
Family Unification Program (FUP) Provides Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers to families for whom a lack of adequate housing is a factor in children entering or being delayed from returning from out-of-home care. It also serves homeless youth leaving foster care.
Federal Housing Administration (FHA) An agency within HUD that provides mortgage insurance to protect lenders against losses if borrowers default on their loans.
Federal Register The official daily publication for rules, proposed rules, and notices of federal agencies, as well as executive orders and presidential documents.
FHA-Home Affordable Modification Program (FHA-HAMP) A program that allows homeowners with FHA-insured mortgages to modify their loans to reduce monthly payments and avoid foreclosure.
Flat Rent A rent amount based on the market rent of comparable, nearby units. Unlike income-based rent, it does not change with a household's income.
Foreclosure The legal process by which a property is sold to pay off a delinquent mortgage debt.
Frail Elderly An elderly person who is unable to perform at least three "activities of daily living," such as eating, bathing, dressing, or home management.
Geocoding The process of identifying the geographic coordinates of a location from its address, often used to map and compare data.
Government Sponsored Enterprise (GSE) A private company chartered by Congress to fulfill a public purpose, such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which provide a secondary market for residential mortgages.
Gross Annual Income The total income received by all members of a household before taxes and other deductions are subtracted.
Handicap A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. This is often used synonymously with disability in a housing context.
Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) A program that allows homeowners to modify their mortgages to make them more affordable, especially when they are at risk of falling behind on payments.
Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) Also known as a "reverse mortgage," this allows senior homeowners (62+) to convert their home equity into a line of credit or monthly income. The loan is repaid when they no longer occupy the home.
Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) A 1975 law requiring most mortgage lenders in metropolitan areas to collect and report data on their lending activity to the government annually.
Homeless An individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, or who lives in a temporary shelter, institution, or place not designed for human habitation.
Homeless Prevention Activities or programs designed to prevent homelessness, such as providing short-term subsidies for rent or utility arrears, security deposits, or legal services.
Homeownership Zone Program (HOZ) A program that allows communities to reclaim vacant and blighted properties and create new neighborhoods of single-family homes to promote homeownership and economic revitalization.
Household All people who occupy a housing unit, including related family members and unrelated individuals who share the unit. A person living alone is also considered a household.
Housing Adequacy A measure of housing quality based on a list of fourteen conditions that can classify a unit as having severe physical problems, such as a lack of running water, proper heating, or an electrical system.
Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) The monthly amount a Public Housing Agency (PHA) pays directly to a landlord on behalf of a Section 8 voucher holder. It is the difference between the unit rent and the tenant's contribution.
Housing Authority A general term for a Public Housing Agency (PHA), which is a government entity authorized to administer HUD housing programs.
Housing Authority Annual Plan A document that outlines a housing authority's policies, programs, and strategies for meeting local housing needs and goals.
Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) HUD's primary tenant-based rental assistance program. It allows low-income households to choose and rent housing in the private market. The tenant pays about 30% of their income, and the federal government pays the rest directly to the landlord.
Housing Finance Agency (HFA) A state or local agency responsible for financing and preserving low- and moderate-income housing, often administering federal programs like the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC).
Housing First A model for addressing homelessness that provides rapid and permanent affordable housing without requiring participants to engage in supportive services like addiction counseling. Research shows it is effective and can reduce costs compared to traditional shelters.
Housing Market Area The geographic region from which it is likely that renters or purchasers would be drawn to a particular housing project, often corresponding to a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).
Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) A program that provides housing assistance and supportive services, such as health care and nutritional services, to low-income people with HIV/AIDS and their families.
Housing Quality Standards (HQS) HUD guidelines used to determine if a housing unit is decent, safe, and sanitary. Units must meet these standards to be eligible for the Housing Choice Voucher program.
Housing Stock The total number of existing residential units in a market, including both renter- and owner-occupied homes, at all price ranges.
Inadequate Housing Housing with severe or moderate physical problems as defined by the American Housing Survey (AHS). Problems can include a lack of basic utilities, exposed wiring, or structural deficiencies.
Income-Based Rent A rent model where a household pays a portion of their income toward housing costs, typically no more than 30%. This amount fluctuates with changes in household income or size.
Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) Program A program that provides grants to American Indian and Alaska Native tribal governments to develop decent housing, a suitable living environment, and economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income people.
Indian Tribe A term that includes any Indian tribe, band, group, and nation, as well as Alaska Native Villages, that are eligible for federal assistance.
Integrated Real Estate Management System (IREMS) A HUD data source on HUD's multifamily housing portfolio used for administering subsidies, monitoring performance, and asset management.
Judgment A legal decision. When requiring debt repayment, a judgment may include a property lien that gives the creditor a claim to the property as collateral.
Land Bank A governmental or nonprofit entity that assembles and manages vacant land to stabilize neighborhoods and encourage redevelopment.
Land Development The process of improving land by installing or constructing infrastructure like grading, paving, or utility services, or more broadly, constructing buildings and public works.
Lead-Based Paint Paint containing lead, which was banned in the U.S. in 1978 and is considered hazardous.
Lease A written agreement between an owner and a household for the leasing of a dwelling unit, specifying the rent, lease term, and other conditions.
Lease Term The period of time for which a lease agreement is valid, which can be expressed in days, weeks, months, or years.
Livability A measure of how well a community integrates housing, transportation, environmental quality, and employment opportunities to create a safe, secure, and affordable environment for residents.
Livable Community A community with multiple transportation options that connect residents to resources and services. Housing and destinations are located within an easy distance.
Live-In Aide A person who lives with an elderly or disabled person to provide care, but who is not financially obligated to the person and would not live there otherwise.
Local Public Agency An official body, such as a city, county, or housing authority, empowered by state law to plan and manage local urban renewal programs with federal assistance.
Loss Mitigation A process in which a lender works with a borrower who is in danger of defaulting on their loan to help them avoid foreclosure.
Low-Income Household A household with a combined income that does not exceed 80% of the median family incomefor the area. This is the income eligibility threshold for most federal affordable housing programs.
Mainstream Voucher A specialized voucher providing rental assistance to low-income persons with disabilities. They are administered under the same rules as the Housing Choice Voucher program.
Mark-to-Market A program designed to preserve low-income rental housing affordability by restructuring debt and adjusting rents to market levels, which also reduces the long-term cost of federal rental assistance.
Market Area The geographic area from which a housing project owner can reasonably expect to attract applicants.
Market Value The most probable price a property would sell for in a competitive and open market, assuming a fair transaction between knowledgeable parties.
Metropolitan Area A large population center that includes a core city and adjacent communities with a high degree of economic and social integration.
Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) An area with at least one urbanized area of 50,000 or more people, plus adjacent territories with strong social and economic ties, measured primarily by commuting patterns.
Microenterprise A small commercial enterprise with five or fewer employees, often providing local goods and services with a small amount of capital.
Micropolitan Statistical Area An area with at least one urban cluster of 10,000 to 50,000 people, plus adjacent territory with strong commuting ties to the core.
Minority Neighborhood A neighborhood where the percentage of a specific racial or ethnic minority is at least 20 percentage points higher than the overall minority percentage in the housing market, or where the total minority population exceeds 50%.
Minority-Owned Business A business where more than 50% of the ownership and control is held by one or more minority individuals.
Moderate Income Household A household with an income between 81% and 95% of the Area Median Income (AMI).
Moderate Rehabilitation Program (Mod-Rehab) A former program that provided project-based rental assistance for low-income households. It was repealed in 1991.
Mortgage-Backed Security (MBS) A financial security that represents an interest in a group of mortgages. Principal and interest payments from the mortgages are passed on to the security holders.
Moving to Opportunity (MTO) A HUD demonstration program that tested the idea that helping very low-income families move from high-poverty neighborhoods to middle-class areas would lead to better outcomes.
Moving to Work (MTW) A demonstration program that gives selected public housing authorities flexibility to design and test new strategies to improve efficiency, promote self-sufficiency for residents, and increase housing options.
Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund (MMI) The primary accounting fund used by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to insure mortgages. Money from this fund is used to cover a lender's loss when a borrower defaults.
National Green Building Standard (NGBS) A consensus standard for rating the "green" qualities of residential buildings based on materials, construction, energy efficiency, and environmental impact.
Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) A program that provides emergency assistance to state and local governments to acquire and redevelop foreclosed properties to prevent blight and stabilize neighborhoods.
Non-Elderly Disabled Vouchers (NED) A program that enables non-elderly disabled households to lease affordable private housing, administered under the same rules as the Housing Choice Voucher program.
Nonprofit Housing Organization A private organization that is structured to have no net earnings benefiting any individual. It has a long-term record of providing or financing quality affordable housing for low-income households.
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) The office that assists the President in preparing the federal budget and supervises its administration within executive agencies.
Office of Native American Programs, HUD (ONAP) A HUD office that administers housing and community development programs for American Indian and Alaska Native tribal governments and communities.
Office of Policy Development & Research, HUD (PD&R) A HUD office that collects and disseminates information on housing needs and market conditions and conducts research on housing and community development issues.
Office of University Partnerships, HUD (OUP) A HUD office that facilitates partnerships between academic institutions and communities to revitalize local economies and communities.
Operating Fund Financing Program (OFFP) A program that allows public housing authorities to borrow private capital to finance the development and modernization of public housing, including new construction and improvements like roof replacements and accessibility modifications.
Operating Subsidies Payments authorized by the U.S. Housing Act of 1937 to help public housing authorities cover the costs of operating low-rent public housing, such as utilities, maintenance, and security.
Overcrowding A housing condition where there is an average of more than one person per room. This is considered a serious housing problem and is not permitted in federally assisted housing.
Oversubscribed A term used when the number of people who qualify for housing assistance or supportive programs exceeds the available funding and capacity to serve them.
Owner The person or entity with the legal right to lease or sublease dwelling units. This can be a private individual or entity, or a government agency like a Public Housing Agency.
Paired Testing A method used to detect housing discrimination where two individuals with similar backgrounds (one from a majority group, one from a minority group) pose as prospective renters or homebuyers to compare their treatment.
Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) A HUD initiative dedicated to developing and using technologies that improve the quality, durability, energy efficiency, and affordability of housing.
Partnership for Sustainable Communities A collaboration between HUD, the Department of Transportation, and the Environmental Protection Agency to promote livable communities through coordinated funding and policies.
Payment Standards The maximum monthly assistance payment for a family in the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV)program. These standards are set by Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) based on the local housing market, typically between 90% and 110% of the Fair Market Rent.
Point-in-Time Counts A one-night, unduplicated count of both sheltered and unsheltered homeless populations, conducted annually by Continuum of Care networks to gather data on homelessness.
Poor A household with an income below the U.S. national poverty cutoff for their household size, as determined by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Poor Quality Index (PQI) A measure of the physical deficiencies in housing units, used to compare housing quality over time or in different places.
Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area (PMSA) A metropolitan statistical area that has a census population of 1 million or more. A larger Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area (CMSA) can contain multiple PMSAs.
Prohibited Bases The demographic categories protected from discrimination under civil rights statutes. Under the Fair Housing Act, the prohibited bases are race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, and disability.
Project-Based Housing Assistance Housing assistance that is attached to a specific unit or apartment community, not to the tenant. When a tenant moves out, the rental assistance stays with the unit for the next occupant.
Project-Based Section 8 A federally funded program where rental assistance is tied to specific units in a private property. Tenants pay 30% of their income for rent, and HUD pays the remainder to the landlord.
Project-Based Vouchers (PBV) A component of a Public Housing Agency's Housing Choice Voucher program where a PHA can attach up to 20% of its vouchers to specific housing units, often for new construction or rehabilitation.
Protected Class Demographic categories of persons who are protected from discrimination under civil rights statutes. This is the same as Prohibited Bases.
Public Housing Housing owned and operated by a Public Housing Agency (PHA) for low-income residents, established under the U.S. Housing Act of 1937.
Public Housing Agency (PHA) A state, county, municipality, or other government entity that is authorized to develop and operate low-income housing. PHAs own and manage public housing properties and administer Section 8 programs.
Public Housing Management Assessment Program (PHMAP) A program that evaluates the performance of public housing agencies in key management operations. Poor scores can lead to interventions from HUD.
Public Indian Housing Information Center (PIC) A HUD website used by Public and Tribal Housing Authorities to report data on all HUD housing programs.
Public Use Areas Interior or exterior spaces of a building that are made available to the general public, such as common rooms, dining rooms, or gardens.
Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) Statistical samples of tenant-level data from various HUD housing programs, available to public researchers to analyze the characteristics of households receiving assistance.
Qualified Census Tract (QCT) A census tract where at least 50% of households have an income below 60% of the area median gross income, or where the poverty rate is at least 25%.
Qualified Mortgagee (HUD, FHA) An entity, such as a lending institution, that is approved by HUD to originate and service mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).
Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC) A HUD center that compiles and ranks information on the physical and financial condition of HUD-assisted housing, including scores from building inspections.
Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) A law that protects consumers from abuses during the residential real estate purchase and loan process by requiring lenders to disclose all settlement costs and relationships.
Reasonable Accommodation A change to a policy or practice to allow a person with a disability to fully participate in a HUD housing program. This can include services for blind applicants or modifications to an apartment.
Reasonable Modification A structural change made to a dwelling to allow a person with a disability full enjoyment of the premises.
Redlining A discriminatory practice where lending institutions or other businesses refuse to do business in a specific neighborhood, often based on racial or ethnic demographics.
Regulatory Barriers Clearinghouse (RBC, HUD) A resource hosted by HUD that collects and shares information on regulatory barriers that prevent the creation and maintenance of affordable housing.
Rehabilitation The process of improving a building, other than minor or routine repairs. It includes changing the use of a building, such as converting it into an emergency shelter.
Renovation A type of rehabilitation where the improvement costs are 75% or less of the building's value before the work began. Examples include kitchen remodels or window upgrades.
Rent Reasonableness A standard set by HUD to ensure that rental assistance payments made by a housing agency are reasonable compared to the rent of similar units in the same area.
Request for Tenancy Approval (RTA) A formal request from a tenant to a Public Housing Agency to inspect and approve a rental unit for Housing Choice Voucher rental assistance.
Section 8 A federally funded program that provides rental assistance to low-income households. It has two main forms: Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV), which are tenant-based, and Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA), which is tied to the unit.
Section 8 Administrative Plan A document created by a Public Housing Authority (PHA) that outlines the policies and procedures for administering its Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program.
Tenant-Based Section 8 A program where the rental subsidy is tied to the tenant, not the unit. The Housing Choice Voucher program is the most common example, allowing households to move and take their rental assistance with them.
Tenant-Based A broad category of affordable housing programs where the rental subsidy is tied to the tenant.
Total Tenant Payment A household's portion of the monthly rent in the Section 8 program, determined by the Housing Authority based on income, payment standards, and utilities.
Transitional Housing Temporary housing for homeless individuals and families that is intended to help them transition into permanent housing. It is often combined with supportive services.
Unit A housing or dwelling unit is a house, apartment, or a single room intended for occupancy as separate living quarters.
Utility Allowance An amount used by a Public Housing Authority (PHA) to estimate average utility bills for a specific area, which is then used to calculate a tenant's portion of the monthly rent.
Utility Reimbursement A monthly payment in the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program that reimburses the cost of utilities. It is typically only available to households with little to no income.
Veterans Administration Supportive Housing (VASH) A program administered by the Veterans Administration, HUD, and local Public Housing Authorities that provides housing vouchers and supportive services for homeless veterans.
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) A federal law originally passed in 1994 that provides protections for women and men from domestic violence, assault, and stalking, including specific housing protections.
Voucher Portability A key feature of the Tenant-Based Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program that allows households to use their rental subsidy to lease a unit outside of their original housing authority's jurisdiction.
Waiting List An ordered list of households who have applied for housing assistance through a housing authority or private landlord. Waiting lists are used when demand for affordable housing exceeds the available supply.
Waiting List Preferences A point system that gives priority placement on a waiting list to households with specific housing needs, such as local residents, elderly persons, disabled persons, or veterans.
