What's the difference between Public Housing and Section 8?

Section 8 – you apply at the Section 8 office. Section 8 – you can live anywhere where the landlord accepts Section 8. Public Housing (also sometimes known as a housing project) you live in the project itself. Usually with Public Housing you apply in the town or city’s housing dept, which may or may not be Section 8 also. The programs are different so it’s probably two different applications, processes and two different waiting lists.

These two programs are federal programs under HUD (housing and urban development) and administrated at the state level, with most states supervising at the county or city level. Section 8 is a contract with the tenant and the local landlord (both must meet eligibility). the program will pay rent directly to the landlord with the tenant being responsible for a portion based on your situation could be between 0 and full rent .

Although they are completely separate programs, they are communally run through the same office, with separate applications and separate waiting list. Most people sign up for both to see witch they get called for first. Both programs require an HQS (housing quality standards) inspection.

One major difference is, (as long as you are in good standing) you can transfer your section 8 voucher to anywhere in the country once you have it, and do not have to get on the new locations waiting list.

And to add to @DrBill‘s last sentence, whereas with Public Housing you can’t transfer to anywhere in the country, as you would have to go to the town’s housing department and apply to move into one of their projects.

It seems like with housing projects (public housing) people become prisoners because they never move. Due to the mobility of Section 8 vouchers, like @DrBill said, you can move anywhere in the country including Puerto Rico. Also, you can live in any neighborhood, any home where the LL takes Section 8. Public Housing is often not in nice areas.