Stark Metropolitan Housing Authority has administered the Section 8 Rental assistance Program since 1975. The Section 8 program is funded by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The program, which subsidizes rent for units in the private market, is designed to help families afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing. SMHA operates a Section 8 Housing Program which provides assistance to over 1400 low-income families in the local housing community. Funds are used to maintain housing in neighborhoods throughout the county, support the local tax base, and cover the many expenses associated with the business of housing. Section 8 housing is located in more than 90% of Stark County census tracts.

SMHA's Section 8 Department administers several types of rental assistance: Housing Choice Voucher Program, Moderate Rehabilitation, and Special Programs for homeless and disabled families.

The Housing Choice Voucher Program provides renters with rent vouchers that can be used across the county. In this program, there is no ceiling rent requirement. However, rents must be comparable to comparable unassisted units. The tenant pays the difference between the property rent and the SMHA portion determined by a calculation using local Payment Standards.

The Moderate Rehabilitation Program features designated buildings where the rental assistance is "tied" to the building which has been renovated through this program. All rehab apartments in the building are leased to Section 8 eligible families; the family rent is generally 30% of their monthly adjusted income.

Shelter Plus Care is designed to link rental assistance to support services for hard to serve homeless persons with disabilities and their families. Rental assistance must be matched by supportive services that are appropriate to the needs of the population served. The Shelter Plus Care Program targets homeless persons who have serious mental illness; are disabled by drug or alcohol abuse; or have AIDS or related diseases.

The HOME Program provides rental assistance and stabilizing services to Stark County's chronically homeless individuals. Participants receive assistance in acquiring and maintaining a stable residence while they work on issues that contributed to their homelessness, including vocational and employment issues.