What Washington County Housing Authority does

Washington County Housing Authority is a public agency that administers housing programs in Washington County. It does not build or own housing itself. Instead, it manages federal money that goes to landlords and tenants, runs waiting lists for voucher programs, and processes paperwork for people seeking rental information.

The Authority's main job is to distribute Section 8 vouchers (also called Housing Choice Vouchers) to people who meet income limits. It also handles public housing applications if any public housing units exist in your county, administers emergency rental information when funding is available, and connects people to other local housing resources. Which specific programs the Authority runs depends on federal funding that year and what the county has chosen to operate.

You contact the Authority directly to ask about waiting lists, check your process status, report maintenance problems if you live in public housing, or ask which programs are currently open. You do not go through the Authority to find a landlord or to search for apartments — you do that on your own, then bring a lease to the Authority once you have found a place.

Key Takeaways

  • Washington County Housing Authority manages Section 8 vouchers and other federal rental programs, but does not own apartments or help you find one.
  • You must contact the Authority directly to learn which programs have open waiting lists, because funding and may be able to access change year to year.
  • Section 8 vouchers usually have long waiting lists (sometimes years), and the Authority may close the list when it is full.
  • If you receive a voucher, you find your own apartment and the Authority pays part of the rent to your landlord.
  • The Authority's phone number and office address are on its official website; avoid third-party sites that claim to represent it.

How to contact Washington County Housing Authority

The Authority has a main office with a phone line and mailing address. Call during business hours to ask whether waiting lists are open, what documents you need to bring, and how long the current wait is. Many people call first before visiting in person, because staff can tell you when ready whether it is worth making the trip.

The Authority's official contact information is on the Washington County government website or the HUD (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) website, which lists all housing authorities by county. Do not rely on third-party websites that claim to represent the Authority — they may charge fees or collect information you do not need to give. Go directly to the county or HUD.

If you cannot reach the Authority by phone, you can visit the office in person during posted hours, send a letter to the mailing address, or check whether the county offers online appointment scheduling. Some housing authorities now use online portals where you can check waiting list status or submit documents without calling.

Section 8 vouchers and waiting lists

The Authority's primary program is Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers. A voucher is a document that lets you rent an apartment from any landlord who accepts the program, and the Authority pays a portion of your rent directly to the landlord. You pay the difference out of pocket. To receive a voucher, your household income must be below 50 percent of the area median income — the exact dollar amount varies by family size and changes yearly.

Most Washington County housing authorities have waiting lists for Section 8 vouchers, and those lists are often closed because demand is much higher than available vouchers. When a list is closed, you cannot add your name. When it opens — which may happen once a year, once every few years, or not at all for a period — the Authority accepts applications for a set number of days. You must explore during that window or wait for the next opening.

Wait times from the day you are added to the list until you receive a voucher can range from one year to ten years or longer, depending on how many vouchers the Authority has and how many people are ahead of you. Call the Authority to ask the current wait time and whether the list is open. If the list is closed, ask when it typically opens again and whether you can request to be notified when it does.

Public housing and other programs

Some Washington County housing authorities also manage public housing — apartments owned by the Authority itself and rented to low-income tenants. Public housing is separate from Section 8 vouchers. If the Authority operates public housing units, it maintains its own waiting list and income limits. Public housing is less common than it once was, and many counties have few or no units left.

The Authority may also administer emergency rental information when the county or state receives federal funding for it. This program pays rent you already owe (arrears) or upcoming rent if you have experienced a recent hardship like job loss or medical emergency. Emergency funds are temporary and often run out quickly. Call the Authority to ask whether emergency information is currently available and what documents you need.

Some housing authorities partner with nonprofits to offer rapid rehousing or homeless prevention programs. These are separate from Section 8 and public housing. The Authority can tell you which programs exist in your county and how to reach the organizations that run them.

What documents you need to bring

When you explore for any program through the Authority, you will need to prove your identity, income, and household composition. Bring a government-issued photo ID, recent pay stubs or tax returns to show income, and birth certificates or Social Security cards for everyone in your household. If you are unemployed, bring documentation of benefits or a letter from your last employer.

For Section 8 vouchers, you also need to show that you have the right to live in the United States. This means a birth certificate, passport, green card, or work authorization document. The Authority will ask for this before you receive a voucher, even if you are already on the waiting list.

If you are explore for emergency rental information, bring your lease, proof of the hardship (like a termination letter or medical bill), and documentation that you are behind on rent or at risk of losing housing. The Authority or the partner organization handling the program will give you a complete list when you call.

What happens after you receive a voucher

Once you are issued a Section 8 voucher, you have a set amount of time (usually 60 to 120 days) to find an apartment. You search on your own using any rental listing site or by contacting landlords directly. The landlord must agree to accept Section 8 — not all do. Once you have a signed lease, you bring it to the Authority, which inspects the apartment to make sure it meets housing quality standards.

If the apartment passes inspection, the Authority issues a Housing information Payments (HAP) contract between itself and the landlord. The Authority then pays the landlord a portion of the rent each month, and you pay the rest. You are responsible for paying your share on time. If you stop paying or break the lease, you lose the voucher and the Authority can remove you from the program.

While you hold a voucher, you must report changes to the Authority — if your income increases, if someone moves in or out of your household, or if you move to a different apartment. The Authority recalculates your rent share based on your current income. You keep the voucher as long as you follow the rules, but if you move out of Washington County, the voucher may not transfer, depending on the Authority's policy.

When the waiting list is closed or the wait is very long

If the Section 8 waiting list is closed or the wait is many years, you have other options. Contact your county's 211 service (dial 211 or visit 211.org) to learn about emergency rental information, rapid rehousing, or nonprofits that help with deposits and first month's rent. Some counties have local housing trust funds or landlord incentive programs that are faster than Section 8.

You can also ask the Authority whether it runs a Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program, which helps people increase income and eventually move off information. FSS is not a housing program itself, but it can help you prepare for homeownership or higher-wage work while you wait for a voucher.

If you are experiencing homelessness or at when ready risk, contact your county's homeless services coordinator or a local shelter. They can connect you to emergency housing and may have faster pathways to permanent housing than the Section 8 waiting list.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if Washington County Housing Authority is the right place to call?

If you live in Washington County and want to know about Section 8 vouchers, public housing, or emergency rental information, the Housing Authority is the right place. If you live in a different county, you need to contact that county's housing authority instead. HUD's website lists all housing authorities by state and county.

Can I be on the waiting list for multiple programs at once?

Yes. You can be on the Section 8 waiting list and the public housing waiting list at the same time if both exist in your county. You can also pursue emergency rental information while waiting for a voucher. There is no rule against explore for more than one program, but each has its own process and waiting list.

What if I do not meet the income limit?

If your income is above the limit for Section 8 (usually 50 percent of area median income), you do not meet the basic requirement and cannot receive a voucher. The Authority cannot make exceptions. You would need to look for market-rate housing or explore other information programs that have higher income limits.

Do I have to use a specific apartment or landlord?

No. With a Section 8 voucher, you can rent from any landlord in Washington County who accepts the program. You find the apartment yourself. The landlord must pass a housing quality inspection, but you choose where to live within your budget and the voucher amount.

What if I move out of Washington County?

Section 8 vouchers do not automatically transfer to other counties. Some housing authorities have portability agreements that allow you to move and keep your voucher, but you must request a transfer and the receiving authority must approve it. Call the Authority before you move to ask whether portability is available and what you need to do.