The Basic Requirements for Section 8

To get on a Section 8 waiting list, you must be a U.S. citizen or have may be able to access immigration status, have a household income below the local area median income (usually 50 percent of it), and pass a background check. The income limit and what counts as income vary by location and household size — a family of four in one county might have a $35,000 annual limit while the same family in another county has a $52,000 limit. Your local public housing authority sets these numbers each year.

You do not need to own a home, have perfect credit, or be currently homeless. You do need to be able to sign a lease with a landlord who accepts Section 8, and you need to pass screening for criminal history and prior evictions. What "pass" means depends on the housing authority — some reject any felony conviction, others look at how recent it was and what it was for. Some reject any eviction, others only reject evictions within the last three to five years.

Key Takeaways

  • Your household income must fall below a threshold set by your local housing authority, usually around 50 percent of the area median income for your county or city.
  • You must be a U.S. citizen or have an may be able to access immigration status such as permanent resident, refugee, or asylee — the housing authority will ask for documentation.
  • You will pass a background check that includes criminal history and prior evictions, but the standards for what disqualifies you vary widely by location.
  • Waiting lists are often closed and can have years-long waits even when open, so you may not receive a voucher for months or years after you are added to the list.

Income Limits and What Counts as Income

The housing authority counts gross income — what you earn before taxes — not take-home pay. This includes wages from employment, self-employment income, Social Security, SSI, unemployment benefits, child support, alimony, and some types of pension or retirement income. It does not include TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), food stamps, or most one-time payments like tax refunds or settlement money.

If you are self-employed, the housing authority will ask for tax returns and may average your income over two years. If your income fluctuates — seasonal work, gig work, commission — they may average it or use the most recent year. If you receive benefits that end on a known date, they may count that income as ending when the benefit ends.

Income limits change yearly. A single person in a rural area might have a limit of $24,000, while a single person in a high-cost city might have a limit of $42,000. The only way to know your local limit is to contact your housing authority directly or check their website — they post the current limits by household size.

Immigration Status and Documentation

You must be a U.S. citizen or have one of these immigration statuses: lawful permanent resident (green card holder), refugee, asylee, Cuban/Haitian entrant, or holder of a valid work permit. Undocumented immigrants cannot receive Section 8 vouchers. The housing authority will ask for proof — a birth certificate or passport for citizens, a green card or I-797 approval notice for permanent residents, an I-94 or I-131 for refugees and asylees.

If you are a mixed-status household — some members citizens or may be able to access, others not — the housing authority will calculate income and rent based only on the may be able to access members. The ineligible members can live in the unit, but their income does not count toward the household total.

Criminal History and Eviction Records

The housing authority will run a background check through the criminal justice system and through the Multifamily Tenant Screening Consortium, a database that tracks evictions and lease violations. Standards vary sharply by location. Some housing authorities have a blanket ban on anyone with a felony conviction. Others look at the type of crime, how long ago it was, and whether you have stayed out of trouble since.

For drug-related convictions, federal law requires housing authorities to deny anyone convicted of manufacturing or distributing drugs within the last three years. For other drug convictions, the authority has discretion. For violent crimes, most authorities deny applicants, but some allow it if the conviction is old enough and the person has a clean record since.

Evictions are treated similarly. Some authorities reject anyone with any eviction on record. Others reject only evictions within the past three to five years, or only evictions for non-payment of rent (not lease violations). A few consider the circumstances — whether you were in a domestic violence situation, for example. You will not know your housing authority's exact standards unless you ask or read their admissions policy, which they are required to make public.

How to Start the Process

Contact your local public housing authority directly. You can find it by searching "[your city or county] public housing authority" or by calling 211 and asking for the housing authority phone number. Some housing authorities accept applications only during open enrollment periods, which may last a few weeks or a few months. Others keep applications open year-round but have a closed waiting list, meaning they accept your application but do not add you to the active list until they reopen it.

When you call or visit, ask three things: Is the waiting list open? What documents do you need to bring? What is the current wait time? The wait time tells you how long people who were added to the list years ago are still waiting — it is not a promise of when you will receive a voucher.

You will need to bring proof of identity, proof of income (recent pay stubs, tax returns, benefit letters), proof of residency (utility bill or lease), and proof of immigration status. Some housing authorities ask you to bring these documents to an in-person appointment. Others accept applications by mail or online. The process varies significantly by location.

What Happens After You Are Added to the List

Once you are on the waiting list, you wait. The housing authority will contact you when a voucher becomes available — this can take months or years. When they do contact you, you will have a limited time (usually 10 to 30 days) to respond and confirm you still want the voucher. If you do not respond, you lose your spot.

After you confirm, you enter the next phase: finding a rental unit. You have a set amount of time (usually 60 to 120 days) to locate a landlord willing to accept Section 8 and a unit that meets program standards. The housing authority will inspect the unit to ensure it is safe and meets housing codes. Only after inspection and approval does the voucher actually activate and the housing authority begin paying the landlord.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I be on multiple waiting lists at once?

Yes. You can apply to your city housing authority and your county housing authority simultaneously, and some people apply to neighboring counties as well. Each has its own waiting list and its own wait time. Being on multiple lists increases your chances of receiving a voucher sooner, though you can only use one voucher.

What if I have a criminal record or prior eviction?

Contact your housing authority and ask about their specific policies before you apply. Some will tell you over the phone whether your record disqualifies you. Others require you to submit an application and let them review it. If one housing authority denies you, another in a different jurisdiction may have different standards, so applying to multiple authorities can help.

Does my income have to stay below the limit after I get a voucher?

No. Once you receive a voucher and move into a unit, your income can increase without affecting your voucher. However, if your income rises significantly, your rent contribution may increase. The housing authority recertifies your income annually, and your share of rent is based on your current income at that time.

What if the waiting list is closed in my area?

Check back periodically — waiting lists open and close based on funding and voucher availability. Some housing authorities announce reopenings on their website or through 211. You can also call the housing authority every few months to ask when they expect to reopen. In the meantime, explore other options like emergency rental assistance, rapid rehousing programs, or local affordable housing developments that do not use Section 8.

Do I have to live in the same city where I work to get Section 8?

No. You apply through the housing authority where you want to live, not where you work. You can work in one city and live in another. However, some housing authorities give preference to people who already live or work in their jurisdiction, so your wait time may be shorter if you have a local connection.