Home / Section 8 Waiting Lists
Open Section 8 Waiting Lists by State (Checked October 2026)
An "open" Section 8 waiting list means the housing authority is accepting Housing Choice Voucher applications right now. Most lists are closed most of the time: HUD's own guidance says a PHA may close its waiting list when it has more families on the list than it can assist in the near future, and that there may be a long wait for assistance. Of the 54 authorities we track, 5 say they are taking applications (Anaheim Housing Authority, HOC, Santa Clara County Housing Authority, Dallas Housing Authority, Seattle Housing Authority), 38 say their list is closed, and 11 do not state a status on a page we could read.
Every status on this page is the authority's own wording, with the date we read it and a link to the page. We do not guess, and we do not publish wait-time estimates — only what a source states. A list can open or close at any time, so treat this as a map of where to look, not a promise.
To check your own status, use the authority's applicant portal or phone number on its page; many authorities do not give a numbered position, and most remove applicants who miss an update letter or stop checking in.
Status as published by the authority on October 23, 2026; confirm with the authority before applying. We do not estimate wait times or predict openings. HUD's description of how waiting lists work: Housing Choice Vouchers — tenants; public-notice rule: 24 CFR 982.206.
Waiting lists by state
States with an authority accepting applications are listed first.
California (17) · Maryland (1) · Texas (9) · Washington (2) · Arizona (1) · Colorado (1) · District of Columbia (1) · Florida (3) · Georgia (2) · Hawaii (2) · Illinois (4) · Massachusetts (2) · Michigan (2) · Nevada (1) · New Jersey (1) · New York (2) · Ohio (1) · Oklahoma (1) · Pennsylvania (1)
The authority says it is accepting Housing Choice Voucher applications. Read the wording — some openings are limited to one preference group.
The authority accepts pre-applications at any time and draws applicants at random when vouchers are available. Applying puts you in the pool, not in a queue.
The authority says its Housing Choice Voucher waiting list is closed to new applicants.
The authority's page did not state a status, or could not be read, on the date shown. Confirm with the authority before relying on anything.
Every tracked housing authority
How to check your Section 8 waiting list status
- Find the authority you applied to. Vouchers are run by local public housing authorities, not by HUD. The table below links each tracked authority; for any other, use the HUD PHA contact directory for your state.
- Log in to its applicant portal. Most authorities use an online portal (RentCafe, MyHousing, WaitlistCheck or their own). You need the email or confirmation number from your application. The portal shows whether your application is active; many do not show a numbered position.
- Call or write if there is no portal. Use the phone number or email on the authority's page. Have your application or confirmation number ready. Some authorities, including NYC HPD, say they cannot give status over the phone.
- Keep your contact details current. Authorities mail or email update requests and remove applicants who do not respond. Seattle Housing Authority, for example, removes anyone who does not check in every month. Report every address, phone and household change in writing.
- Watch for the next opening. Under 24 CFR 982.206 a PHA must give public notice before it opens its waiting list. Sign up for the authority's email list and check its website; the dates on this page show when each status was last read.
Not on this list? HUD's PHA contact directory lists every housing authority by state. Our waiting list guide covers preferences, update letters and what happens when your name comes up; the eligibility checker shows the income limit you must be under.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Section 8 waiting lists are open right now?
As of October 23, 2026, 5 of the 54 authorities we track say they are accepting applications: Anaheim Housing Authority (California), HOC (Maryland), Santa Clara County Housing Authority (California), Dallas Housing Authority (Texas), Seattle Housing Authority (Washington). Some openings are limited — Anaheim Housing Authority's is limited ("The HCV program is currently only open to individuals who qualify for the mainstream preference."); the lottery-style lists at Dallas Housing Authority and Seattle Housing Authority accept applications at any time but select at random. Each row of the table links the authority's own page; confirm there before applying.
How do I check my Section 8 waiting list status?
Log in to the applicant portal of the housing authority you applied to, using the email or confirmation number from your application, or call the number on its page. Authorities cannot see each other's lists, so you must check with each one you applied to. If you moved or changed phone numbers since applying, report it immediately — applicants who miss an update letter are removed.
How long is the Section 8 waiting list?
There is no national figure, and this page does not estimate one. HUD says only that there may be a long wait and that a PHA may close its list when it has more families than it can assist in the near future. Some authorities publish a fact about their own list — King County Housing Authority says it is not pulling applicants from its 2020 lottery list in 2025 or 2026, and the Housing Authority of Joliet says its list has been closed since March 2010 — and those statements appear in the table.
What is a Section 8 lottery, and is it the same as an open waiting list?
Some authorities take pre-applications for a short window and then draw a fixed number at random to form the waiting list (New Jersey DCA drew its list that way in 2023; Honolulu selected 3,000 in July 2025). Others, like Dallas Housing Authority and Seattle Housing Authority, accept pre-applications at any time and draw at random whenever vouchers are available. In both cases applying puts you in a pool, not in a first-come queue.
Can I apply to more than one housing authority?
Yes. Each authority keeps its own list and there is no rule against applying to several. Residency preferences may put non-residents behind local applicants, and a voucher is normally used in the issuing authority's area first before you can port it elsewhere.
Why does this page say "not stated" for some authorities?
11 authorities either do not state an open or closed status on the pages we could read, or run their status page in a way we could not read (JavaScript-only portals, pages that block automated access). Rather than guess, we show "not stated" with the page we checked. Call the authority to confirm.
Also: payment standards by housing authority · rent limits by ZIP · income limits