HUD PIC and TRACS Longitudinal

The Tenant Rental Assistance Certification Systems (TRACS) dataset is an annual extract from Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) administrative system that manages financial controls over assisted housing programs. TRACS files contain information about a number of programs collectively referred to as privately-owned, subsidized housing. The TRACS file contain information all members of each household with a participant in a covered program. TRACS recipients generally include the low-income population, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.

The Public and Indian Housing Information Center (PIC) dataset is an annual extract from HUD's administrative system that manages financial controls over Indian Housing, Housing Choice Voucher, and Public Housing programs. Indian Housing ensures that safe, decent and affordable housing is available to Native American families and creates economic opportunities for Tribes and Indian housing residents. Housing Choice Vouchers allow very low-income families to choose and lease or purchase safe, decent, and affordable privately-owned rental housing. Public housing provides decent and safe rental housing for eligible low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. The PIC file contains information on all members of each household with a participant in a covered program..

For years 1999-2014, these were delivered as two separate files, the PIC file and the TRACS file. Starting in 2015, they were delivered together, as a PICTRACS file. PICTRACS is not a study but tracking people by SSN and address over 18 months.