The Section 8 Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as a rent-subsidy program that supplements what very low-income families and individuals can afford to pay for housing in the private market through the use of housing vouchers. Housing vouchers allow very low-income families to choose and then lease or purchase safe, decent, and affordable rental housing in the private market. Because housing assistance is usually provided on behalf of the family or individual, participants are most often able to find their own housing, including single-family homes, town houses, and apartments. There are several types of vouchers, and they are administered locally by public housing agencies (PHAs) using federal funds from HUD.