There are currently over 500,000 Americans who are homeless in the U.S, and up to 20 percent of the homeless are children. Federal, state, and local housing assistance programs strive to provide decent, safe, sanitary, and affordable housing to struggling families and households in order to prevent homelessness. One of the most well-known housing assistance programs is Section 8. Section 8 provides monetary assistance through housing vouchers that can be used to rent housing for a discounted price. These vouchers pay for a portion of a household’s rent, making housing more affordable. You can learn more about Section 8 housing assistance and how to access these benefits in our free guide.