Welfare-to-Work Voucher Program

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) initiated the Welfare-to-Work (WtW) Voucher Program in 2000 to increase the incentive and resources for families to become more self-sufficient. Specifically, the vouchers target families that have a critical need for housing in order to obtain or retain viable employment. To qualify to participate in the voucher program, PHAs are required to develop their plans in partnership with welfare and workforce development agencies to ensure the housing assistance is combined with job training, child care, and other services families need to make the successful transition from welfare to economic independence. Participating families must meet eligibility requirements for the regular Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program and must be eligible to receive TANF assistance, be currently receiving TANF, or have received TANF within the past two years.

The goal of this program is to address the lack of stable, affordable housing available to families attempting to transition from welfare to self-sufficiency.

HUD awarded approximately 50,000 additional housing choice vouchers to local public housing authorities (PHAs) nationwide through the WtW Program. HUD is conducting a long-term study mandated by Congress to evaluate the success of the WtW program in helping families obtain and retain employment. Eight PHAs are participating in the study.