What the Housing Authority of the City of Austin does

The Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA) is a public agency that runs rental information programs and public housing in Austin. It does not set housing policy for the city — that is the city council's role — but it administers the programs that help people pay rent or find affordable units. HACA manages public housing (apartments it owns), Housing Choice Vouchers (formerly Section 8, which subsidize rent at private landlords), and emergency information funds when they are available.

HACA is separate from the City of Austin's housing department. If you are looking for information about zoning, rent control, or tenant protections in Austin, you need the city's housing policy office. If you need help paying rent or finding an affordable place to live, HACA is the agency to contact.

Key Takeaways

  • HACA runs Housing Choice Vouchers and public housing in Austin, but it does not handle emergency rental information — that comes through the city's housing department or nonprofit partners when funds are available.
  • The Housing Choice Voucher waiting list is typically closed and can have thousands of people on it; you can ask HACA when it reopens, but there is no way to speed up your place in line.
  • HACA's public housing includes family apartments, senior housing, and units for people with disabilities, and rent is based on your income.
  • You can contact HACA by phone, mail, or in person at their office on East Riverside Drive; online portals exist for current residents but not for new inquiries.
  • If you have a dispute with HACA about a decision or your lease, you have the right to a hearing before the agency makes a final ruling.

Housing Choice Vouchers and the waiting list

HACA administers Housing Choice Vouchers, which are federal subsidies that pay part of your rent at a private landlord. The voucher covers the difference between 30 percent of your income and the fair market rent for your unit size in Austin. You find the apartment yourself, the landlord agrees to accept the voucher, and HACA pays the landlord directly each month.

The waiting list for Housing Choice Vouchers in Austin is almost always closed. When it is open, it fills quickly — sometimes within hours — and then closes again. HACA does not maintain a master waiting list that you can join whenever you want. Instead, the list opens at specific times, and you must submit your request during that window. You can call HACA to ask when the list is expected to reopen, but the agency does not announce reopenings far in advance.

If you are on the waiting list, your position is determined by the date you applied, not by need or other factors. There is no way to move up the list faster. Once you reach the top and HACA contacts you, you have a limited time to complete the voucher process, which includes an income verification and a lease inspection.

Public housing managed by HACA

HACA owns and operates public housing apartments throughout Austin. These include family complexes, senior housing, and units reserved for people with disabilities. Rent in public housing is set at 30 percent of your household income, which is usually much lower than market rent in Austin.

Public housing has its own waiting list, which is typically open. The process process requires proof of income, citizenship or may be able to access immigration status, and a background check. HACA may deny housing based on criminal history, but the agency must follow specific rules about which offenses disqualify you and for how long. If you are denied, you have the right to a hearing.

Once you live in public housing, HACA is your landlord. The lease includes rules about maintenance, guest policies, and lease violations. If HACA wants to evict you, it must follow the same court process as a private landlord, but you also have the right to a hearing within HACA before the eviction goes to court.

How to contact HACA and what to bring

HACA's main office is located at 1124 East Riverside Drive, Austin, Texas 78702. You can visit in person during business hours, call the main line, or mail a written inquiry. The agency does not have a single online portal for new inquiries, though current residents can access their account information online.

If you are calling about a specific program, have your information ready: your name, date of birth, address, and any reference numbers or case numbers you have. If you are asking about the waiting list, HACA will tell you whether it is open and what documents you need to submit. If you are a current resident with a maintenance request or lease question, have your lease and unit number available.

Response times vary. Calls are answered during business hours, but written inquiries can take several weeks. If you need emergency help with rent or utilities, HACA is not the right contact — you need the city's housing department or a nonprofit like Austin Community Care or Caritas of Austin.

Your rights in a dispute with HACA

If HACA denies you housing, terminates your lease, or makes a decision you believe is wrong, you have the right to a hearing. The hearing is held before an independent hearing officer or panel, not by HACA staff. You can present evidence, bring witnesses, and have a representative speak for you.

The hearing request must be made in writing within a specific time frame — usually 10 days from the notice of the decision. HACA's notice will tell you the important date and how to request the hearing. If you miss the important date, you lose the right to a hearing, so read any notice from HACA carefully and act quickly.

If you cannot afford a lawyer, you may be able to get help from a legal aid organization. Austin Tenants Advocates and the Texas RioGrande Legal Aid office both handle housing disputes, though they prioritize cases involving eviction or when ready loss of housing.

Emergency rental information and other city programs

When Austin has emergency rental information funds available — usually from federal COVID relief or city budget allocations — those programs are run by the city's housing department or contracted nonprofits, not by HACA. HACA does not administer emergency rent or utility information. If you need help with rent you already owe or utilities, contact the city's housing department or call 211 Austin to find out which programs are currently open.

HACA also does not handle tenant rights questions, complaints about private landlords, or disputes over security deposits. Those issues go to the city's housing department or a legal aid organization. HACA's role is limited to the programs it runs directly: public housing, Housing Choice Vouchers, and any other federal programs the agency is contracted to manage.

How HACA's waiting lists and income limits work

HACA uses area median income (AMI) to determine who can live in its programs. For public housing, the income limit is usually 80 percent of AMI for the Austin area. For Housing Choice Vouchers, the limit is also typically 80 percent of AMI. AMI changes every year, so the dollar amount you need to earn to be under the limit changes too.

You can ask HACA what the current income limit is for the program you are interested in. The agency will also verify your income during the process process using tax returns, pay stubs, or other documents. If your income is above the limit, you do not meet the basic requirement, and HACA will not move forward with your case.

Waiting lists are separate for different programs and sometimes for different unit types. The public housing waiting list is not the same as the Housing Choice Voucher waiting list. Within public housing, there may be separate lists for family units, senior housing, and disability-accessible units. Ask HACA which list you should be on based on your household size and needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get a Housing Choice Voucher after I am approved?

Once HACA approves you and you reach the top of the waiting list, you have a limited time — usually 60 to 120 days — to find an apartment and have it inspected. If you find a unit quickly, the voucher can be issued within a few weeks. If you cannot find a landlord willing to accept the voucher in that time, you may lose your spot.

Can I be denied public housing because of my criminal record?

HACA can deny housing based on criminal history, but only for certain offenses and only if the conviction is recent enough. Violent crimes, drug manufacturing, and sex offenses have longer lookback periods. HACA must give you a written reason for the denial and tell you how to request a hearing. You can also ask HACA to make an exception if you can show you have rehabilitated.

What happens if I lose my job while I am in public housing?

Your rent will be recalculated based on your new income. If your income drops to zero, your rent may drop to a minimum amount (usually around $50 to $100 per month). You must report the job loss to HACA within 30 days. If you do not report it and HACA finds out later, you may owe back rent at the higher rate.

Can I appeal if HACA says I do not meet the income limit?

You can request a hearing to dispute how HACA calculated your income, but you cannot appeal the income limit itself — that is set by federal law. If HACA made an error in adding up your income or counting household members, a hearing officer can correct it. If your income is genuinely above the limit, the hearing will not change the outcome.

What should I do if HACA is not responding to my inquiry?

Follow up in writing — send a letter to the main office address with a copy of your original request. Keep records of when you called or submitted documents. If you still do not get a response after two weeks, contact the city's housing department or a legal aid organization to ask about filing a complaint with HACA's board.