How Section 8 Lotteries Work: Real Odds, What Winning Means
Quick answerIn the United States, as of October 2026, a Section 8 lottery is a random draw for a place on a housing agency's waiting list. Winning does not give you a voucher. The agency takes applications for a short window, draws a set number of them, and calls those names later as funding allows. In four draws with published counts, 4% to 31% of applicants were picked. Entering is always free.
- 0federal rules that require a lottery. Each agency chooses date order or a random draw
- 200,000 of 638,224applications New York City's NYCHA placed on its list in 2024
- About 1 in 7applications Los Angeles drew in 2022
- 0names Denver drew from its 2025 and 2026 lotteries
- 60 daysshortest voucher search term federal rules allow
- $0what any housing agency charges to enter
Why lotteries exist at all
Lotteries exist because far more families apply than an agency can serve, and federal rules let each agency decide how to sort them.
- Opening the listthe agency "must give public notice that families may apply", saying where and when, in a local newspaper of general circulation and "by minority media and other suitable means" (24 CFR 982.206).
- Closing itonce the list holds "an adequate pool for use of available program funding", the agency "may stop accepting new applications" (982.206(c)).
- Choosing the orderamong applicants with the same preference, the agency may use "date and time of application" or "a drawing or other random choice technique" (24 CFR 982.207(c)).
- Family sizethe order "may not be based on family size" (24 CFR 982.204(d)). A single adult and a family of six draw on equal terms.
Each agency writes its method into its administrative plan, a public document. Philadelphia's says a lottery lets it cap the list "to avoid an unreasonably long wait".
Key point"HUD lottery" is a common search, but HUD does not run one. HUD's tenant page says you apply "through your local Public Housing Agency". Find yours in the housing authority directory.
What your odds look like: four real lotteries
Your odds are the number of places drawn divided by the number of applications. In the four draws below that picked anyone, they ran from about 4% to 31%.
View the data table
| Lottery | Drawn, percent |
|---|---|
| New York City (NYCHA), 2024 | 31.3% |
| Los Angeles (HACLA), 2022 | 13.4% |
| Twin Cities (Metro HRA), 2025 | 9.0% |
| Denver (DHA), 2019 | 3.8% |
| Denver (DHA), 2020 | 0% |
What it means: even the best odds here left two of every three applicants off the list, and in one year Denver drew nobody.
Source: the agency counts in the table below; the percentages are VoucherMatch's arithmetic.
| Agency and window | Applications | Drawn | Odds | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NYCHA, June 3 to 9, 2024 | 638,224 (633,808 online, 4,416 paper) | 200,000 | 1 in 3.2 | NYCHA press release, August 1, 2024 |
| HACLA, October 17 to 30, 2022 | 223,375 | Up to 30,000 | 1 in 7.4 | HACLA fact sheet, 2023 |
| Metro HRA (Twin Cities), April 9 to 16, 2025 | 11,172 | 1,000 | 1 in 11.2 | Metropolitan Council item, June 16, 2025 |
| Denver Housing Authority, 2019 lottery | About 21,000 | 800 | 1 in 26 | Denver Post report on DHA's site, January 27, 2022 |
| Denver Housing Authority, 2020 lottery | 23,388 | 0 | None | Same report |
What it means: the size of the draw matters as much as the crowd, and the agency sets it by the funding it expects.
Source: the documents linked in each row. "Odds" is VoucherMatch's arithmetic: drawn divided by applications. HACLA's count is an upper limit. Denver's figures are those DHA officials gave the Denver Post, which DHA republished. A Denver draw leads to a full application; the other three lead to a list.
ExampleIf 2n people enter a housing lottery and n are drawn, each has n ÷ 2n, a 1 in 2 chance. A hypothetical 10,000 entries for 1,500 places gives 15%.
The three ways housing authorities run lotteries
Agencies run lotteries in three ways, and which one yours uses changes what "open" means.
1. A closed list that opens for a few days
The agency opens for a few days, takes every application, draws a fixed number onto the list, then closes and works through those names for years.
New York City in 2024 (seven days online), Los Angeles in 2022 (two weeks) and the Twin Cities in 2025 (one week) all ran this way. NYCHA's was its first general opening since December 10, 2009. Each city's payment standards and agency contacts are in the VoucherMatch guides to Section 8 in New York City, Los Angeles, Minneapolis and Denver.
2. A standing pool that the authority draws from only when vouchers free up
Denver holds a lottery every year and draws from that year's pool only if money appears. Its FAQ says the program "doesn't have a traditional waiting list" and adds: "Entries do not carry over from year to year; persons must re-register each year". The next section has the dates.
3. An always-open list with random selection
Some agencies take applications for months or years and randomize afterward. Philadelphia's plan lets it "keep the waiting list open continuously" (section 5.4). Milwaukee kept its voucher list open from December 15, 2021 to August 1, 2024. Then, on June 17, 2026, it drew 5,000 applicants at random for the official list. Milwaukee did not publish how many had applied.
Denver Section 8 lottery 2026: what the Denver Housing Authority has published
The Denver Housing Authority (DHA) has published that it drew no names from its 2025 or 2026 lotteries and that it "may not be able to select names from the 2027 lottery", which closed on September 18, 2026.
- 2019800 names drawn from a pool of about 21,000.
- 2020no names drawn from 23,388 entries. DHA had projected a budget shortfall.
- 20211,000 names drawn; 214 vouchers had been issued by January 2022.
- 2025 and 2026"Because of limited federal funding, DHA did not select names from the Housing Choice Voucher lottery in 2025 or 2026."
- September 17, 2026, 12:01 a.m., to September 18, 11:59 p.m.entry window for the 2027 lottery.
- January 2027when DHA expects results for the September 2026 lottery to be searchable.
What it means: entering in September 2026 put you in a pool DHA has warned it may never draw from.
Source: DHA's lottery page and lottery FAQ, as last modified on September 18 and 19, 2026; and the Denver Post report on DHA's site for 2019 to 2021.
Key pointDHA has not published how many people entered in 2025 or 2026, and no list of selected names was found on its site. For what a Denver voucher pays, see how much Section 8 pays in Denver.
Where are the Denver Housing Authority lottery results?
Results are on DHA's lottery status page, where you enter the Social Security number used on the entry. On October 6, 2026 it covered "the lottery held in September 2025 only".
- If your number is drawn: DHA mails a full application, and "you have a limited time to respond".
- If you move: mail a letter with your new contact details, lottery number and the last four digits of your Social Security number to Denver Housing Authority, Attn: Housing Choice Voucher Lottery, 1401 Mariposa St., Denver, CO 80204.
- One entry per household: DHA's FAQ says a second entry "will disqualify all entries".
Why applying on day one does not help
Applying first does not help because a lottery ignores the order in which applications arrive.
NYCHA said its 2024 draw gave every household "an equal opportunity to be chosen regardless of when their applications were received", though 301,044 of them applied in the first 24 hours. Madison, Wisconsin's housing agency says "only the total number of applicants affects your chance of being selected".
- Apply before the window closes. Denver's lasted 48 hours.
- Apply once. Los Angeles withdraws duplicate applications, and Denver disqualifies every entry from the household.
- Enter your Social Security number and birth date correctly. Denver uses the number to look up your result.
- Give a mailing address that will still reach you in a year. Denver accepts a relative's, caseworker's or shelter's address.
Preferences: the part of the lottery that is not random
Preferences are local rules that move some applicants ahead of others, and each agency applies them at a different point.
| Agency | How preferences meet the lottery | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago (CHA) | Each application gets a random number. Families with a preference are served first, in number order, then everyone else in number order. | Administrative Plan, effective October 1, 2025, chapter 4 |
| Madison (CDA) | "The date you applied and any preferences do not help or hurt your odds of being selected in the lottery." | CDA lottery page, linked above |
| Los Angeles (HACLA) | The 2022 draw gave a preference to people who live or work in the city and to veterans. | HACLA news release, October 31, 2022 |
| New York City (NYCHA) | Selection from the list goes by preference, then by application date. | Administrative Plan, May 2026 |
What it means: read the admissions chapter of your agency's plan before the window opens, and claim every preference you can document.
Source: the documents in each row.
- Residencyan agency may prefer local residents and must count people who work in the area as residents. It may not require residency (24 CFR 982.207(b)(1)).
- Who else may be preferredworking families, people with disabilities, and single people who are elderly, displaced or homeless.
- Income targetingat least 75% of the families admitted from the list each year must be extremely low income (24 CFR 982.201(b)(2)). See can a single person get Section 8 for who counts.
How to stay on the list after you are drawn
You stay on the list by answering every letter or email from the agency by its deadline and by keeping your address current.
Federal rules let an agency "remove names of applicants who do not respond to PHA requests for information or updates" (24 CFR 982.204(c)). Agencies call the mailing an update or a purge.
- New York City (NYCHA)mails an update notice. If nothing comes back it sends a final notice, then closes the application. A notice returned as undeliverable closes the case at once.
- Los Angeles (HACLA)may send a letter of interest, no more than once a year (section 5.25). If mail comes back undeliverable, the name is withdrawn "without further notice" (section 5.11).
- Philadelphia (PHA)applicants who do not answer an update request completely and on time are withdrawn "without further notice" (section 5.13).
- Chicago (CHA)purges the list "as necessary". It may reinstate a family whose silence was caused by a CHA error or by circumstances beyond the family's control.
What it means: a missed letter can undo a lottery win, so report every move in writing and keep a copy.
Source: the NYCHA, Philadelphia and Chicago plans linked above and the HACLA Administrative Plan, January 2026.
Key pointIf you missed an update because of a family member's disability, the agency "must reinstate the applicant in the family's former position on the waiting list" (24 CFR 982.204(c)(2)). Ask in writing and say why.
What happens after your name is drawn
After the draw you wait, and when your name is reached the agency checks your eligibility, briefs you and issues a voucher with a deadline.
- 1The waitthe agency calls names as vouchers and funding allow. NYCHA said in 2024 that it "is unable to estimate when applicants will be reached".
- 2The eligibility interviewthe agency contacts you "to determine your eligibility and income", in HUD's words. Bring proof of income, household members, and citizenship or eligible immigration status.
- 3The briefingthe agency "must give the family an oral briefing" and a packet that explains the voucher term and how to ask for more time (24 CFR 982.301).
- 4The voucherit states its term, which "must be at least 60 calendar days" (24 CFR 982.303).
- 5The searchthe clock pauses from the day you submit a request for tenancy approval until the agency answers in writing.
What it means: the "Section 8 interview" is the eligibility check at step 2, and the facts on your lottery entry are verified there.
Source: 24 CFR 982.301 to 982.303 and HUD's tenant page, linked above.
View the data table
| Agency | Days |
|---|---|
| Federal minimum | 60 |
| Chicago (CHA) | 120 |
| Philadelphia (PHA) | 120 |
| New York City (NYCHA) | 180 |
| Los Angeles (HACLA) | 180 |
What it means: your deadline is local, and it is printed on the voucher.
Source: 24 CFR 982.303(a) and the four plans linked above. NYCHA's 180 days is a 120-day term plus an automatic 60-day extension.
If the agency denies you at the eligibility stage, it must send prompt written notice with its reasons and offer an informal review (24 CFR 982.554). See what disqualifies you from Section 8 and, for old debts, Section 8 with an eviction or a housing agency debt.
Apply to more than one list
You may enter every lottery you qualify for, and HUD advises it: "you may need to apply to multiple Public Housing Agency waitlists."
- One list per agency. Each agency keeps a single list for its tenant-based vouchers (24 CFR 982.204(f)), so two agencies mean two separate chances.
- You need not live there. HUD says "you do not need to be a resident of the jurisdiction where you apply."
- No penalty. An agency may not refuse to list you, or move you down, because you applied for or received other housing help (24 CFR 982.205(b)).
ExampleA hypothetical household enters three lotteries with the odds NYCHA, HACLA and Metro HRA recorded: 31%, 13% and 9%. The chance of missing all three is 0.69 x 0.87 x 0.91 = 0.55. The chance of at least one place is about 45%. This is VoucherMatch's arithmetic, and it assumes the draws are independent.
A voucher from one agency can later move to another area. How Section 8 portability works explains the rules and the first-year limit.
Vouchers that skip the lottery
Some vouchers never pass through the general lottery, because federal rules create routes around the list.
- Special admissions: when HUD targets funding to families in specific units, such as a demolished public housing project, the agency may admit them without regard to the list (24 CFR 982.203).
- HUD-VASH: veterans reach these vouchers through the VA, which refers them to the housing agency.
- Project-based vouchers: an agency may keep a separate list for these, including lists the building owner maintains (24 CFR 982.205(a)). The subsidy is tied to the building. Section 8 vs. public housing vs. project-based compares the three.
Avoiding lottery scams
No housing agency charges to enter a lottery, so any site or person asking for a fee is not the agency.
- Federal Trade Commission"there is no fee to register for a Section 8 waiting list." Scammers "have made websites that look like registration sites for Section 8 waiting list lotteries" (consumer alert, dated June 16, 2022 on the page).
- Denver Housing Authority"NEVER pay money to apply for housing!" Anyone asking for money to submit an application is "attempting to commit fraud".
- NYCHA"Never pay money to apply for public housing or Section 8" (NYCHA).
Watch outThird-party "apply now" sites cannot enter you in a lottery.The FTC warns that the top search results "often are bogus sites", and that housing agencies "won't reach out to you by phone or email to suggest that you join a waiting list". Apply at the address in the agency's own public notice.
Which lists are open right now
Openings are short and scattered, so check a dated source instead of a static list.
- The Section 8 waiting list tracker shows the lists VoucherMatch monitors, with the date each was checked.
- Is Section 8 open right now? explains how to check any agency yourself and what to prepare.
- No national schedule answers "when does the Section 8 waiting list open in 2026". Each agency announces its own opening in a public notice.
New York City readers: the three agencies there, their status and NYCHA's 2025 pause on calling names are in how to get on the Section 8 waitlist in NYC.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does winning a Section 8 lottery mean I get a voucher?
No. It puts you on the waiting list, or in Denver sends you a full application. The voucher comes only after the agency reaches your name, confirms you are eligible and has funding. NYCHA said a place "does not necessarily guarantee receipt of a voucher".
How often do Section 8 lotteries happen?
It depends on the agency. Denver holds one every year. NYCHA's 2024 opening was its first general one since December 2009. Los Angeles said its 2022 opening came five years after the one before.
What is the difference between a Section 8 lottery and an open waiting list?
A lottery limits who gets onto the list by random draw. An open list takes every application for as long as it stays open; the agency then orders it by date and time or at random, as its plan says.
I was selected years ago and have heard nothing. Am I still on the list?
Possibly. Agencies remove applicants who miss an update mailing. Log in to the agency's applicant portal or call, confirm your address, and ask in writing whether your application is active.
Is there an appeal if I am not drawn?
No appeal was found in any plan read. Milwaukee's housing authority told applicants in 2026: "Since this was a random lottery selection, there is no appeal process." You can apply again at the next opening.
Next step: look up your agency in the housing authority directory and read the waiting list chapter of its plan before the next opening. The national Section 8 guide covers the rest of the program.
Already holding a voucher and looking for a place to use it? Browse Section 8 apartments from landlords who already accept vouchers.
Landlord with a vacancy? List your property free and reach voucher holders whose rent is paid directly by the housing authority.
How this article was checked
Last checked: October 6, 2026, against 24 CFR 982.201 to 982.207, 982.301 to 982.303 and 982.554; HUD's voucher tenant page; the FTC's Section 8 lottery alert; lottery notices from the housing agencies in New York City, Los Angeles, Denver, Milwaukee, Madison and the Twin Cities; and the current administrative plans of NYCHA, HACLA, Chicago and Philadelphia.
Sources for this article (27)
- 24 CFR 982.206 (ecfr.gov)
- 24 CFR 982.207(c) (ecfr.gov)
- 24 CFR 982.204(d) (ecfr.gov)
- tenant page (hud.gov)
- NYCHA press release (nyc.gov)
- HACLA fact sheet (hacla.org)
- Metropolitan Council item (metrocouncil.org)
- Denver Post report on DHA's site (denverhousing.org)
- plan (pha.phila.gov)
- drew 5,000 applicants at random (hacm.org)
- lottery page (denverhousing.org)
- lottery FAQ (denverhousing.org)
- lottery status page (sites.denverhousing.org)
- says (cityofmadison.com)
- Administrative Plan (thecha.org)
- HACLA news release (hacla.org)
- Administrative Plan (nyc.gov)
- 24 CFR 982.201(b)(2) (ecfr.gov)
- HACLA Administrative Plan (hacla.org)
- 24 CFR 982.301 (ecfr.gov)
- 24 CFR 982.303 (ecfr.gov)
- 24 CFR 982.554 (ecfr.gov)
- 24 CFR 982.205(b) (ecfr.gov)
- 24 CFR 982.203 (ecfr.gov)
- the VA (department.va.gov)
- consumer alert (consumer.ftc.gov)
- NYCHA (nyc.gov)
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