In many communities, there is a shortage of safe, decent affordable housing. The Section 8 program gives elderly persons, disabled persons, and low income working families the choice to rent in many different neighborhoods. The Section 8 program provides vouchers for rental subsidies for qualifying families and allows them to rent homes from private property owners. Property owners determine the rents for their units but the rent must be comparable to non assisted units in the area (fair market and rent reasonable). Property owners are encouraged to screen their prospective Section 8 tenants by using credit, background and rental history checks. The Same standards that apply to non assisted tenants should be used when screening. Selection of clients cannot be based on race, color, age, religion, sex, familial status, or any other discriminatory factors. The units rented must pass a Housing Quality Standards Inspection annually to insure that Section 8 tenants have safe, decent and sanitary housing.

Section 8 participants pay about 30-40% of their adjusted monthly income in rent and Plano Housing Authority sends an additional check to the property owner for the difference in rent. If the family has a reduction or increase in income, the portions of the rent are adjusted accordingly.

Property Owners participate in Section 8 because it insures timely rent collections, lower unit turnover, and unit maintenance! Please contact Plano Housing Authority if you would like to participate in the Section 8 Program.

(FSS) coordinates the use of public and private resources to enable families eligible for assisted housing to achieve economic independence and self sufficiency. The Objective of the FSS program is to eliminate the dependency of low income families on welfare assistance such as TANF, Food Stamps, and subsidized housing. Under the FSS Program families are provided opportunities for education, job training, counseling, budget and credit education, and other forms of social and private services committed to helping the family achieve self sufficiency. The success of the program is measured by the number of families who gain first time meaningful employment, obtain higher paying jobs, no longer need benefits under one or more welfare programs, obtain a high school diploma or higher education degree, become homeowners, or accomplish similar goals that will assist in obtaining economic independence.