Public housing is housing owned and run by a government body such as a local Housing Authority.  To be eligible to live in public housing, you must have low income and meet certain other requirements. Your rent and utilities are generally lower than in private housing. In most cases, rent in public housing will be no more than 30 percent of your adjusted gross income.

Housing is subsidized when the government pays part of the tenant’s rent or mortgage.  To get subsidized housing, you must have a low or moderate income.

Under these programs, tenants usually pay no more than 40 percent of their adjusted gross income.  There are two distinct programs—tenant-based Section 8 vouchers and project-based Section 8 vouchers.

There are usually waiting lists to get a Section 8 voucher or to get into public or subsidized housing.  You may be entitled to a preference on the waiting list for such things as:
• Living in sub-standard housing;
• Paying more than 50 percent of your income for rent;
• Being homeless or involuntarily displaced; or
• Having earned income

Check with your local Housing Authority to find out the policy in your area.
If you are denied admission to public or subsidized housing, you have a right to get a written notice that tells you the reasons.  You also have the right to ask for a meeting, or in some cases an informal administrative hearing, to discuss why your application was denied and to attempt to get the denial reversed.

Most housing authorities are required to have a public housing resident or a Section 8 certificate or voucher holder on its Board of Directors.  Housing authorities will also be required to have Resident Advisory Boards to assist with developing a five-year plan.

As a public housing tenant, you have the right to request a grievance hearing if you have a complaint or disagreement with the management.  Tenants in subsidized housing may request a meeting with management.

You can be evicted from public and most subsidized housing only for good cause.  However, for tenant-based Section 8, the good cause provision is in effect only during the term of the lease.  When the lease expires, the landlord may refuse to renew it, whether or not there is good cause.  Tenant-based Section 8 leases must have an initial term of one year.  The length of the term of any renewals is left to the parties to decide.

Examples of good cause for eviction are
• not paying the rent;
• serious or repeated violations of the lease;
• criminal activity that threatens the health and safety of other tenants or disturbs the peace.

To evict you, your landlord must give you a written eviction notice and then take you to court.  You have the right to go to court and tell your side of the story.