Section 8 Still Exists and Is Still Funded

Section 8 has not been eliminated. The program continues to operate under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and vouchers are still issued to households that meet income requirements. No president has terminated the program outright.

What has changed over time are funding levels, the number of new vouchers issued, and how quickly housing authorities process applications. These shifts happen through annual budget decisions in Congress, not through a single executive action that would end the entire program.

If you hold a Section 8 voucher now, it remains valid. If you are on a waiting list, the list still exists — though how long you wait depends on your local housing authority's funding and the size of their backlog.

Key Takeaways

  • Section 8 vouchers are still issued by local housing authorities and remain a working rental subsidy program.
  • Funding levels and the number of new vouchers distributed change based on Congressional budget decisions each year, not on a single policy change.
  • Waiting lists for Section 8 vary by location — some housing authorities have lists with thousands of names and may not open them for years.
  • If you already hold a voucher, it continues to work the same way; changes to the program affect new voucher issuance and funding amounts, not existing holders.

How Funding and Voucher Numbers Actually Change

Congress controls Section 8 funding through the annual budget process. Each year, lawmakers decide how much money HUD receives to issue new vouchers and maintain existing ones. When funding increases, more vouchers can be issued. When it stays flat or decreases, fewer new vouchers are distributed, even though the program itself does not disappear.

The number of active Section 8 vouchers in use has fluctuated over decades. In some years it has grown; in others it has remained steady or declined slightly. These changes reflect budget priorities set by Congress, not the elimination of the program.

Individual housing authorities also manage their own waiting lists. Some have closed their lists because they have more people waiting than they can serve with current funding. A closed list does not mean Section 8 ended — it means that particular housing authority is not accepting new applications until funding or staffing changes.

What Changed Under Different Administrations

The Trump administration (2017–2021) did not propose or enact legislation to end Section 8. However, the administration's budget proposals included lower funding requests for HUD programs overall, which would have reduced the number of new vouchers issued if Congress had approved those budgets. Congress did not fully adopt those proposals.

Budget proposals and actual funding are different things. A president can propose a budget that cuts a program, but Congress must vote to approve it. In many cases, Congress funded Section 8 at levels higher than the administration requested.

The Biden administration (2021–present) has requested increased funding for Section 8 in its budget proposals, though the actual amounts Congress approves vary year to year.

Why Waiting Lists Are Long and Sometimes Closed

Many housing authorities have waiting lists with thousands of names and years-long waits. This happens because demand for Section 8 vouchers far exceeds the number available in most areas. A housing authority might have funding for 5,000 active vouchers but 15,000 people on the waiting list.

When a waiting list is closed, it means the housing authority is not accepting new applications. This is a local decision made to manage the backlog, not a sign that Section 8 has ended. Lists reopen when funding increases or when vouchers become available as existing holders move or no longer need assistance.

Some housing authorities have not opened their waiting lists in 10 or more years. Others open them briefly every few years. The status of your local list depends on your specific housing authority, not on federal policy.

How to Check If Section 8 Is Available in Your Area

Contact your local public housing authority directly. You can find it by searching "[your city or county] public housing authority" or by visiting HUD's website, which lists all housing authorities by state and region.

When you call or visit, ask three things: whether their Section 8 waiting list is open, how long the current wait is if it is open, and when they expect to open it again if it is closed. Some housing authorities have this information on their website; others require a phone call.

If your local authority's list is closed, ask if there are other rental assistance programs available through your city or county. Many areas have local emergency rental funds or other subsidy programs that operate separately from Section 8.

What Section 8 Actually Covers Today

Section 8 vouchers work the same way they have for decades. The voucher covers a portion of your rent based on your income; you pay the rest. The housing authority pays your landlord directly each month. You must find a rental unit that meets program standards and that a landlord is willing to accept.

Income limits vary by household size and by area. A family of four might have a different income limit in rural Kansas than in New York City. Your local housing authority sets these limits based on area median income.

The program has not been redesigned or fundamentally changed in recent years. If you receive a voucher, you use it the same way someone did 10 years ago.

Frequently Asked Questions

If Section 8 still exists, why is it so hard to get a voucher?

Demand far exceeds supply in most areas. There are millions of low-income renters but only about 2 million Section 8 vouchers in use nationwide. Waiting lists are long because housing authorities cannot issue vouchers faster than Congress funds them. This is a shortage problem, not a program-ended problem.

Can a president shut down Section 8 without Congress?

No. Section 8 is authorized by federal law (the Housing and Community Development Act). Ending it would require Congress to pass new legislation. A president can propose budget cuts or policy changes, but cannot unilaterally terminate the program.

If I am on a waiting list, will I ever get a voucher?

It depends on your local housing authority's funding and how many people are ahead of you. Some lists move fairly quickly; others have multi-year waits. Contact your housing authority to ask your position on the list and the typical timeline. Some people do receive vouchers; others move or stop waiting before their turn comes.

Does Section 8 work differently now than it did five years ago?

The basic structure and how vouchers work have not changed. Funding levels and the number of new vouchers issued fluctuate based on Congressional budgets, but the program itself operates the same way. If you used Section 8 five years ago, it works the same today.

What should I do if my local waiting list is closed?

Ask your housing authority when they expect to reopen it and whether you can get on a notification list to be contacted when applications resume. Also ask about other local rental assistance programs — many cities and counties run separate funds that may have shorter waits or different rules.