Section 3 Program Information

Section 3 Program Information

As Required by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Act of 1968, there is a Section 3 component to each contract. The purpose of the Section 3 Program is to provide employment, training and contracting opportunities to low-income and low-skilled persons, particularly those individuals who are recipients of government assistance for housing. The purpose of Section 3 is to ensure that employment and other economic opportunities generated by certain HUD financial assistance shall, to the greatest extent feasible, and consistent with Federal, State, local laws, and regulation, be directed to low and very low-income persons, particularly those who are recipients of government housing assistance (public housing and Section 8) and to business concerns which provide economic opportunities to low and very-low income persons. The only exception to this requirement is supply only contracts that do not include labor.

What is a Section 3 Worker?

A Section 3 worker is any worker who currently, or when hired within the past five years, meets at least one of the three criteria:

  • The worker’s income for the previous or annualized calendar year is below the income limit established by HUD
  • The worker is employed by a Section 3 business concern
  • The worker is a YouthBuild participant

What is a Targeted Section 3 Worker?

A targeted Section 3 worker is a Section 3 worker who also meets at least one of three criteria:

  • Employed by a Section 3 Business
  • Lives in public housing or Section 8-assisted housing
  • Lives in other public housing projects or Section 8-assisted housing managed by EHA

What is a Section 3 business?

A Section 3 business concern is a business that meets at least one of the following criteria, documented within the last six-month period:

  • At least 51% owned and controlled by low-income persons
  • Over 75% of the labor hours performed for the business over the prior three-month period are performed by Section 3 workers; or
  • A business at least 51% owned and controlled by current public housing residents or residents who currently live in Section 8-assisted housing

Section 3 Opportunity Portal

On the Opportunity Portal :

  • Section 3 workers can find employment and and training opportunities
  • Section 3 Businesses can find contracting opportunities 
  • All businesses can find Section 3 workers

HUD Section 3 Opportunity Portal

Section 3 Opportunities at the Everett Housing Authority

Businesses that wish to regestered as Section 3 businesses should contact Dustin Okerstrom (dustino@evha.org).

Section 3 workers interested in seeking employment on EHA's construction projects should fill out the page "Construction Jobs."