How to Get a Housing Voucher: Clear Steps and What to Expect

Housing vouchers (often called Section 8 or Housing Choice Vouchers) help eligible households afford rental housing by paying part of the rent directly to the landlord. HowToGetAssistance.org only provides general information; you must use official government offices or portals to apply or check your status.

Housing voucher programs are run locally, and details vary by city, county, and state, but the basic process is similar almost everywhere.

Fast Answer: How People Typically Get a Housing Voucher

To try to get a voucher, you usually must:

Find your local housing authority (city, county, regional, or state).
Check whether its voucher waiting list is open.
Submit an application when the list is open (often online, sometimes by mail or in person).
Wait on the list until your name is selected.
Complete full eligibility screening and paperwork when you’re reached.
Receive a voucher and search for a rental that meets program rules, if you’re approved.

No one is guaranteed a voucher, and in many areas the list is closed or the wait can be long because funding and available spots are limited.

Does This Apply to Me? Basic Eligibility Clues

Each housing authority sets its own policies within federal and state rules, but you can often get a sense of whether it’s worth applying by looking at a few common factors.

Key terms to know:

Housing Choice Voucher (HCV): Main “Section 8” program that helps you rent on the private market.
Public Housing Agency (PHA): Local office that runs vouchers and public housing.
Waiting list: A queue of applicants; you usually must get on this list before you can be considered.
Preferences: Local rules that move some applicants (such as people who are homeless) higher on the list.

You may be a good candidate to apply if:

Your household income is low for your area.
- PHAs typically use “low income limits” set by HUD based on county and family size.
At least one household member is a U.S. citizen or has eligible immigration status.
You meet local screening rules about criminal background, previous evictions from assisted housing, or unpaid rent/debts to a housing authority.
You live, work, or plan to live in the area served by the PHA (often required for local preferences).

Many PHAs also use preferences that can move you up the list if you:

Are homeless or at serious risk of homelessness
Are fleeing domestic violence
Have a disability
Are a veteran or living with a veteran
Have been displaced by natural disaster or government action

These are not guarantees; they simply affect your place on the waiting list where such preferences are used.

Because rules and income limits vary by location, your first step should be to identify the correct housing authority that covers the city or county where you want to live, then review its voucher page or call to ask about eligibility.

What You’ll Need Ready Before and After You Apply

You usually don’t need every document for the initial “waiting list” application, but you will need more paperwork when your name comes up. Getting organized early can prevent delays.

Commonly needed information for the initial application:

Full names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers (if available) for all household members
Current address and phone number (or a reliable mailing address)
Approximate total household income and where it comes from
Household size and basic details (such as disabilities, veteran status, or homeless status if asked)

Documents typically required later (when you are selected from the list):

Photo IDs for adult household members
Social Security cards or official proof of SSNs
Birth certificates or other proof of age/identity for children
Proof of income (pay stubs, benefit letters for SSI/SSDI, unemployment, TANF, child support, etc.)
Recent bank statements or asset information (if you have savings, retirement, etc.)
Immigration documents for non-citizen members with eligible status
Paperwork about disability if you are requesting certain deductions or preferences

Common snags (and quick fixes)

Applications get delayed when contact information is outdated → Always update your mailing address, email, and phone with the PHA if anything changes.
Files can stall if income or identity documents are missing → Start a folder now for pay stubs, benefit letters, and IDs for everyone in the household.
People often get dropped from lists after missing one mailed notice → If you have unstable housing, consider using a trusted relative’s address or a nonprofit mailing address if allowed by the PHA.

Your Next Steps: How to Actually Apply

1. Locate the Right Housing Agency

Because programs are local, the correct office might be:

A city housing authority
A county or regional housing authority
A state housing agency that covers rural areas or the entire state

To find it:

Use HUD’s “Find Your Local Public Housing Agency” tool on the official HUD website (hud.gov).
Or dial 2-1-1 or visit your state’s official 211 website to ask for the local housing authority contact information.
Search “[your city or county] housing authority Section 8” and verify the site ends in .gov or clearly identifies it as an official public housing agency.

2. Check Whether the Voucher List Is Open

Once you’ve found the correct PHA:

Go to its Housing Choice Voucher or Section 8 page.
Look for language like “Waiting List Status: Open/Closed”.
If online information is unclear, call the office and ask:
- “I’m calling to ask if your Housing Choice Voucher waiting list is currently open, and how I can apply if it is.”

If the list is closed, ask:

Whether there is an email or mailing list to get notified when it opens, and
If they have other programs (public housing, project-based vouchers, emergency assistance) you can apply for meanwhile.

3. Apply When the Waiting List Is Open

When the list is open, PHAs commonly:

Take applications online through an official portal, and/or
Provide paper applications by mail, drop box, or at the office.

Do this next:

Follow the exact directions on the PHA’s site or notice (online form, mail-in, or in-person drop-off).
Fill out every required field; use “0” instead of leaving income blank if you have no income, if allowed.
Submit before the stated deadline (many lists are open only a few days or weeks).
Save confirmation: screenshot or print any confirmation page or keep a copy of your paper application.

What to expect next:
You usually receive a confirmation number or written notice that you are now on the waiting list, but you will not get a voucher right away. The PHA will later select applicants from the list by lottery or in order of application, often giving priority based on local preferences.

4. When Your Name Comes Up on the List

If you are selected:

The PHA typically mails a packet or appointment letter asking for documents and scheduling an interview/briefing.
You must respond by the deadline and attend any required meetings (in person or virtual).
The PHA will verify your income, family composition, identity, and immigration status.
If approved, you receive a voucher that states your family size and how much rent the program can support based on local rules.

What to expect next:

You usually have a limited time (for example, 60–90 days) to find a rental that passes inspection and is within cost guidelines.
The landlord must agree to participate in the voucher program and sign a contract with the PHA.
The PHA will inspect the unit for basic health and safety standards before payments begin.

Avoid Mistakes and Housing Voucher Scams

Anytime benefits or housing are involved, scams are common. Housing voucher programs usually do not charge application fees.

Watch out for:

Websites or people asking for money to “guarantee” a voucher or move you up the list.
Fake application sites that are not clearly part of a government .gov or known housing authority.
Requests to share Social Security numbers or IDs on unofficial forms or by text/social media messages.

To protect yourself:

Check that online applications link from your PHA’s official website or HUD.
If you’re unsure, call the housing authority using a phone number from an official .gov site and ask, “Is this the correct portal for your Section 8 application?”
Never pay a fee just to apply for a standard Housing Choice Voucher. Some PHAs may charge a small fee for background checks in certain programs, but this is clearly explained in official documents and not required to “skip the line.”

For trusted information, you can review voucher basics on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) site under “Housing Choice Vouchers.”

If This Doesn’t Work: Other Housing Help to Consider

Because voucher lists are often long or closed, it makes sense to look at backup options at the same time.

Common alternatives through local agencies and nonprofits include:

Public housing: Apartments or townhomes owned by the housing authority with separate waiting lists.
Project-based vouchers: Assistance tied to specific buildings; you apply for particular properties instead of receiving a portable voucher.
Emergency or rapid rehousing programs: Short-term rent help for people experiencing homelessness or a recent eviction.
State or local rental assistance programs: Temporary help paying rent or utilities, especially during a crisis.
Shelter and transitional housing programs: For those without a safe place to stay right now.

To find these:

Ask your PHA whether they administer other programs you can apply for.
Call 2-1-1 or visit your state’s official 211 website and ask for “rental assistance, homeless prevention, or housing stabilization programs” in your area.

Once you know which housing authority serves your area and whether its list is open, you can decide whether to apply for a voucher now, sign up for alerts, and pursue other forms of housing help at the same time.