Two programs, one acronym soup
Most renters use "Section 8" and "public housing" interchangeably. They aren't the same. Section 8 is private housing subsidized by HUD; public housing is owned and operated by a local government agency. The same household can qualify for both, but the programs apply through different channels and behave differently once you're in.
Public housing — government-owned apartments
Public housing units are owned by a Public Housing Agency (PHA), the same local agency that runs the Housing Choice Voucher program. The PHA is your landlord. Rent is calculated as roughly 30% of adjusted household income, the building is maintained by PHA staff, and the waiting list is centralized at the PHA. Many U.S. cities have been steadily converting their public housing stock to project-based Section 8 contracts under the RAD program over the past decade — the units stay affordable, but the day-to-day operator becomes a private nonprofit or for-profit owner.
Section 8 — private housing, public subsidy
Section 8 funds two flavors. Tenant-based Section 8 (the Housing Choice Voucher) is portable: a PHA gives you a voucher, you find a private rental that meets HUD's quality standards, and the PHA pays your landlord HUD's portion of the rent. Project-based Section 8 attaches to specific buildings: you apply directly to the property owner, who has signed a long-term contract with HUD to keep certain units affordable. The directory on RentReady covers project-based properties.
Apply once, or apply many times?
Public housing and the Housing Choice Voucher both go through your local PHA, so a single application typically gets you on both lists. Project-based Section 8 is different: each building keeps its own list, and you must apply to each one separately. Don't assume that "applying for Section 8" at your PHA puts you on every project-based list — it doesn't.
Which one should I pursue?
All three. Apply to your PHA's combined public housing / voucher list, and apply to several project-based buildings whose location and unit mix fit your household. Whichever one comes through first is your housing; you can always decline if a better option opens up later.
When you get to the top of the list
All three programs end with a similar admissions process: income re-verification, criminal and landlord background checks, eligibility determination, and a unit inspection. The lease and the rent calculation are the same. The biggest difference comes during the year-to-year experience — public housing tenants deal with the PHA for repairs, while project-based tenants deal with the building's private management agent. Tenant rights are largely identical.
Where to next
If you're acting on this guide, the next two stops on RentReady are the income-eligibility page and the application checklist. Then drill into your state's directory to find buildings in your city.