Public Housing is owned and operated by the local Public Housing Authority, non profit (pseudo-governmental) entities established primarily for the purpose of developing and/or operating affordable housing according to the rules established by the state and HUD. PHAs established under state law are eligible to develop and operate public housing.
Public housing provides affordable shelter for low-income families either citizens or eligible immigrants. Public housing serves mostly very low-income tenants who pay no more than 30 percent of their adjusted income for rent.
Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) also administer the tenant-based Section 8 program. Several assistance programs exist under Section 8. The Section 8 voucher and certificate programs together help over 1.4 million households in the United States by paying landlords the difference between what the household can afford and the rent for the unit.