Is Section 8 Open Right Now? How to Check Any Waiting List
Quick answerIs Section 8 open? In the United States, as of October 7, 2026, that depends on the agency: about 2,000 local housing agencies each open and close their own Housing Choice Voucher waiting list. No national phone number for the Section 8 waiting list was found either. You call the agency that runs the list, and HUD's line, (800) 955-2232, helps you find it. Applying is free.
Last checked: October 7, 2026, against 24 CFR 982.204 to 982.207, 982.353, 983.251 and 983.261; HUD's PHA contact, contact and voucher tenant pages; HUD's waiting list flyer; the FTC's Section 8 alert; and the waiting list pages of the housing agencies in New York City, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Denver, Dallas, Seattle, Cleveland and Tacoma.
- About 2,000local agencies that run the voucher program, each with its own list (HUD)
- 0national Section 8 waiting lists or national waiting-list phone numbers found on hud.gov
- (800) 955-2232HUD's customer service line for finding your local agency, weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern
- 4 of 8large agencies whose own pages said on October 7, 2026 that they were taking applications
- 12 monthshow long an agency may keep an out-of-area applicant's voucher inside its own area
- $0what a housing agency charges to apply
Is Section 8 open?
Section 8 is open at some agencies and closed at others on any given day, because federal rules leave the decision to each agency.
An agency "may stop accepting new applications" once its list holds "an adequate pool for use of available program funding", and when it opens again it "must give public notice that families may apply" (24 CFR 982.206). HUD's voucher page for tenants counts "around 2,000" agencies and says: "You must apply for rental assistance through your local Public Housing Agency."
| Agency | Its own words, as read on October 7, 2026 | What staying on the list takes | Agency page |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York City (NYCHA) | "currently closed to new applicants". Voucher issuance to the general list paused since August 1, 2025 | Keep contact details current in the Self-Service Portal | NYCHA applicants |
| Los Angeles (HACLA) | "The Section 8 Waiting List is currently closed." | Not stated on the page | HACLA Section 8 |
| Philadelphia (PHA) | "The HCV waitlist is currently closed." Last opened January 2023 | 2023 applicants check status online or at 215-684-4300 | PHA voucher page |
| Denver (Denver Housing Authority) | "The 2027 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Lottery Is Now Closed", as of 11:59 p.m. on September 18, 2026 | Keep contact details current | Denver lottery page |
| Dallas (DHA) | "You may apply for the program through our open lottery system at any time." | A pre-application lasts up to 18 months, then you may apply again | DHA how to apply |
| Seattle (Seattle Housing Authority) | "Families and individuals may apply at any time." | Check in once every month with "Save My Spot" | Seattle how to apply |
| Cleveland (Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority) | "now accepting year-round preliminary applications"; the list "will have no closing date" | A preliminary application is valid for 18 months | CMHA voucher page |
| Tacoma (Tacoma Housing Authority) | "Our waiting lists for housing assistance are open continuously." | "Save My Spot" before the 25th in January, April, July and October | Tacoma waitlists |
What it means: an open list takes your application without promising a voucher. Denver's page says it drew no names in 2025 or 2026.
Source: each agency's page in the last column, read on October 7, 2026. The 4 of 8 count is VoucherMatch's, from these eight pages only, and says nothing about the national share.
Watch outAny status older than the agency's own page can be wrong. Before you act on this table, open the agency link and read today's wording.
Dallas readers: DHA’s HCV application instructions describe continuous pre-applications. The Walker guide covers that program’s separate eligibility and current application evidence. DHA’s October lottery schedule, read October 7, lists Walker PBV vacancies for October 5 and no HCV Program Walker Vouchers vacancies for October 26. A property vacancy, a voucher-selection round and acceptance of new applications are different facts; the schedule alone does not establish whether a new Walker application can be submitted.
For a wider view, use the Section 8 waiting list tracker. Its entries have individual source links and check dates; they are not a same-day national census. The Dallas-area cards were rechecked on October 7, 2026, while other entries retain their own dates. Open the agency source before acting. The tracker also offers an email alert by metro area.
First, find the right housing authority
The right housing authority is every agency whose area covers the address where you want to live, and there may be more than one.
Each agency must keep a single list for its tenant-based vouchers, though it may split that list by county or municipality (24 CFR 982.204(f)). A closed city list tells you nothing about the county's.
- HUD's PHA contact pageat hud.gov/contactus/public-housing-contacts, pick a state to open a PDF of every agency with its phone, email and address. The "Type" column reads Section 8, Low-Rent or Combined. HUD says agencies maintain their own entries.
- HUD by phoneHUD's contact page says to find your local agency online "or call (800) 955-2232".
- VoucherMatch's directorythe housing authority directory is the publisher's own page. It lists 3,700 authorities by state with phone number and office address.
HUD's PDFs carry no waiting list status. Once you have the agency's name, go to its own website for that.
Phone number for the Section 8 waiting list
No single phone number for the Section 8 waiting list was found, because no single list exists. The number you need belongs to the agency that holds your application, or the one you want to apply to.
| Who answers | Number | What the page says it is for |
|---|---|---|
| HUD PIH Customer Service Center | (800) 955-2232, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern, closed federal holidays | Questions "regarding public housing and housing choice voucher programs", and finding your local agency |
| NYCHA Customer Contact Center | 718-707-7771, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Applicants who need help updating their information |
| Philadelphia HCV Customer Support Center | 215-684-4300 | Status for applicants on the 2023 list; have the six-digit client ID ready |
| Seattle Housing Choice Voucher program | 206-239-1674 | Applicants with questions or missing information |
What it means: HUD's line points you to an agency, and applications go to that agency.
Source: HUD's customer service page and the NYCHA, Philadelphia and Seattle pages linked in the first table, read October 7, 2026.
Key pointWhether HUD's line will tell a caller that a particular list is open is not published. Ask the agency itself, and take its number from its own website or HUD's contact PDF, never from an ad.
How to read a waiting list status page
A status page tells you three things: whether new applications are accepted, how names are chosen, and what you must do to stay on.
- 1Find the agenciesopen HUD's contact page, pick your state, and note every agency whose city or county covers where you want to live.
- 2Go to each agency's own sitelook under "Housing Choice Voucher", "Section 8", "Applicants" or "Waitlist".
- 3Read the status line and its dateclosed, open, ongoing, or a lottery window with opening and closing times.
- 4Read who may apply and how names are pickedany limits, the preferences, and whether selection is by date or by random draw.
- 5Write down the upkeep rulehow the agency will contact you, and any check-in or expiry date.
What it means: a missed check-in at step 5 can remove you from a list you joined.
Source: 24 CFR 982.206 and the eight agency pages above.
| Label on the page | What it means | Federal rule |
|---|---|---|
| Closed | No new applications. The agency judged its list long enough for the funding it expects | 982.206(c) |
| Open | Applications are accepted now from the families the notice covers. The agency must take yours unless it has good cause to refuse | 982.206(b)(2) |
| Open continuously, ongoing, year-round | No closing date. Dallas, Seattle and Cleveland draw at random from this pool when vouchers are available | 982.207(c) |
| Lottery, pre-application, preliminary application | A short form that enters you in a draw or on the list. The full application and document check come later | 982.207(c) |
| Opening soon, public notice | An announcement of where and when to apply and any limits on who may apply | 982.206(a) |
| Preferences | Local rules that move some applicants ahead, such as people who live or work in the area, working families or people with disabilities | 982.207 |
| Update, purge, "Save My Spot" | Existing applicants must confirm interest. Those who do not answer may be removed | 982.204(c) |
| Project-based, site-based, property waitlist | A list for units in particular buildings, kept by the agency or by the owner. The subsidy stays with the unit | 983.251(c) |
| Referrals only, special programs | The general list is shut but certain programs still admit through a partner. NYCHA's page says it still accepts VASH and Stability Voucher referrals | Agency plan |
What it means: "open" on a project-based or public housing list is a different program from the voucher you can take to a private landlord.
Source: 24 CFR parts 982 and 983 on eCFR, current to October 5, 2026, and the agency pages linked above. The middle column is VoucherMatch's reading.
Good cause to refuse an application means the denial grounds in the rules, which what disqualifies you from Section 8 sets out. Lottery mechanics and real odds are in how Section 8 lotteries work.
What a real opening looks like
A real opening comes with a public notice from the agency that says where and when to apply, and it never costs money.
- Federal rulenotice "by publication in a local newspaper of general circulation, and also by minority media and other suitable means", stating "any limitations on who may apply" (24 CFR 982.206(a)).
- Philadelphia"The public will be notified through TV, radio, print advertising, and on this website when the HCV waitlist will be reopened."
- HUD's flyerwatch "local newspapers, on the PHA's social media and website, or at social service organizations" (HUD waiting list flyer, September 2025).
When does Section 8 open?
No national schedule exists for when Section 8 opens. Each agency reopens when its own list runs short, so the gaps differ widely.
- Every yearDenver holds a lottery annually. Its 2027 lottery closed on September 18, 2026.
- January 23 to February 5, 2023Philadelphia's last opening, still the list it draws from.
- 2024Miami-Dade opened "for the first time in several years" and drew 5,000 names from more than 130,000 applications received in two weeks.
- June 2024NYCHA's first general opening since December 2009.
- All yearDallas, Seattle, Cleveland and Tacoma take applications at any time.
What it means: the answer to "when will Section 8 open in 2026" is a date in one agency's notice.
Source: the agency pages in the first table, Miami-Dade's Section 8 page read October 7, 2026, and NYCHA's dates from the lotteries article.
How to spot a paid "application" site
A paid application site is any page that charges a fee or collects your Social Security number to "register" you, and no housing agency works that way.
- 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", and "the top search results often are bogus sites" (FTC consumer alert, dated June 16, 2022).
- Unprompted contacthousing authorities "won't reach out to you by phone or email to suggest that you join a waiting list", and will never ask you to wire money or pay with a prepaid card (FTC).
- Denver Housing Authority"NEVER pay money to apply for housing!"
- Tacoma Housing Authority"Never pay anyone money so you can be added to an assisted housing waitlist."
TipReach the application from the agency's own website or its printed notice. If you are unsure which site is real, call the number in HUD's contact PDF. The FTC advises against entering a Social Security number on a site found through a search.
Being first without paying anyone
Being ready matters more than being first. In a lottery the order of arrival is ignored, and Seattle's page says "the chance of being drawn is the same no matter when households apply". Order counts only where the agency ranks by "date and time of application" (24 CFR 982.207(c)).
- An email address you check. Dallas, Seattle, Cleveland and Tacoma all require one to create the account, and Cleveland sends every notice by email.
- The name and date of birth of every person in the household (Seattle and Cleveland; Dallas asks for names and ages).
- Social Security numbers: every member's in Seattle, the applicant's in Cleveland.
- Total annual household income (Dallas and Seattle), or each member's income (Cleveland).
- A phone number and a mailing address where letters will still reach you (Seattle).
- Any preference you can document. HUD's flyer says the preliminary application asks about household size, disability and elderly status, and local preferences.
- For later: photo ID for adults, birth certificates for children, Social Security cards and proof of income. Tacoma asks for these when you are selected; Dallas allows 14 days for the full application.
What it means: the first form is short (Dallas estimates 20 minutes, Seattle 30) once these are in hand.
Source: the Dallas, Seattle, Cleveland and Tacoma pages linked in the first table and HUD's flyer, read October 7, 2026.
TipCreate the portal account before a window opens where the agency allows it. Dallas uses RentCafe, Seattle the SHA Portal and Tacoma its own applicant portal.
If everything near you is closed
If every list near you is closed, apply somewhere else and to other programs, because federal rules allow both.
- Other agencies, including outside your town"Residency requirements are prohibited" (24 CFR 982.207(b)(1)). HUD says "you do not need to be a resident of the jurisdiction where you apply", and that you "may need to apply to multiple Public Housing Agency waitlists".
- Project-based listsan agency may keep a separate list for these units and may let the building's owner keep it (24 CFR 983.251(c)). After one year a family may ask for tenant-based help and gets priority for the next available opening (24 CFR 983.261).
- Public housing liststhese are separate lists, and parts of one may be open while the rest is shut. Philadelphia's admissions page said on October 7, 2026 that its public housing list is closed but "senior-designated housing developments and special programs remain open".
- State and county programsstate agencies run voucher programs too. New York's is one of three serving New York City, compared in HPD vs NYCHA Section 8.
Applying to a second agency cannot count against you at the first. An agency may not refuse to list you, lower your place or remove you because you applied for or received other housing help (24 CFR 982.205(b)). If an agency's voucher list is open when you join its public housing or project-based list, it must offer to add you to the voucher list as well (982.205(a)(2)).
Two limits apply to out-of-area applications:
- Preferences: an agency may rank local residents first, and must count people who work or have been hired to work in the area as residents (982.207(b)(1)).
- The first 12 months: a family that did not live in the agency's area when it applied has no right to move the voucher elsewhere for 12 months unless the agency agrees (24 CFR 982.353(c)).
ExampleSeattle's page says anyone 18 or older may apply "no matter where they currently live", and that a selected applicant must use the voucher "within the city of Seattle for a minimum of one year". After that, Section 8 portability covers the move.
The differences between the three programs are in Section 8 vs. public housing vs. project-based. Veterans reach HUD-VASH vouchers through the VA, outside the general list.
New York City readers: the city's status is in how to get on the Section 8 waitlist in NYC.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Section 8 open right now?
At some agencies, yes. On October 7, 2026 the pages of Dallas, Seattle, Cleveland and Tacoma said they take applications at any time, while New York City, Los Angeles and Philadelphia said closed and Denver's lottery had ended. Check your own agency's page.
How do I check my Section 8 waiting list status?
Use the agency's applicant portal or phone line. HUD says "you can reach out to your Public Housing Agency for updates on your place on the waiting list". NYCHA applicants use its Self-Service Portal, Dallas applicants the RentCafe applicant portal, and Philadelphia applicants call 215-684-4300.
Is NYC Section 8 open?
No general list was open on October 7, 2026. NYCHA's list is closed to new applicants, the state's July 2026 lottery window has closed, and HPD does not take applications from the public. Details are in the two New York City articles linked above.
Is Section 8 open in Maryland?
VoucherMatch did not read any Maryland agency's page on October 7, 2026, so no status is given here. HUD's Maryland contact PDF lists each agency; check each one's site, starting with the county where you want to live.
How do I sign up for Section 8?
Apply through a local housing agency while its list is open. Have an email address, household names and birth dates, Social Security numbers and income figures ready, and never pay a fee.
Can I apply to Section 8 in a different city or state?
Yes. Federal rules prohibit residency requirements, though an agency may give local residents a preference and may keep your voucher in its area for the first 12 months.
What if I applied years ago and never heard back?
Log in or call and ask whether your application is active. Agencies may remove applicants who miss an update request. If a family member's disability caused the missed reply, the agency must reinstate you in your former position (24 CFR 982.204(c)(2)).
Next step: run the five steps on two agencies today, your own and the nearest county's, and write down each one's check-in rule. The national Section 8 guide explains what happens once a voucher is issued.
Already holding a voucher and searching? 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.
Sources for this article (25)
- 24 CFR 982.206 (ecfr.gov)
- voucher page for tenants (hud.gov)
- NYCHA applicants (nyc.gov)
- HACLA Section 8 (hacla.org)
- PHA voucher page (pha.phila.gov)
- Denver lottery page (denverhousing.org)
- DHA how to apply (dhantx.com)
- Seattle how to apply (seattlehousing.org)
- CMHA voucher page (cmha.net)
- Tacoma waitlists (tacomahousing.org)
- October lottery schedule (dhantx.com)
- 24 CFR 982.204(f) (ecfr.gov)
- hud.gov/contactus/public-housing-contacts (hud.gov)
- contact page (hud.gov)
- customer service page (hud.gov)
- 982.207 (ecfr.gov)
- 983.251(c) (ecfr.gov)
- HUD waiting list flyer (files.hudexchange.info)
- Miami-Dade's Section 8 page (miamidade.gov)
- FTC consumer alert (consumer.ftc.gov)
- 24 CFR 983.261 (ecfr.gov)
- admissions page (pha.phila.gov)
- 24 CFR 982.205(b) (ecfr.gov)
- 24 CFR 982.353(c) (ecfr.gov)
- the VA (department.va.gov)
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