Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA)
8120 Kinsman Road, Cleveland, OH 44104
Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) is the public housing agency based in Cleveland, Ohio. It runs 16,007 Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8).
Contact Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA)
- Phone
- (216) 348-5000
- Office
- 8120 Kinsman Road, Cleveland, OH 44104
- Website
- cmha.net
VoucherMatch is not the housing authority and does not take applications or hold a waiting list. Applications, status checks and portal logins go through the office above.
Section 8 waiting list
Waitlist openChecked September 2026
Accepting Housing Choice Voucher preliminary applications year-round online. Names are drawn in repeated mini lotteries, so a pick can come in days or take months. An application stays valid for 18 months, then you must reapply. Applications team: 216-431-1471, option 6.
- Ask which lists are open. Vouchers, public housing and any project-based buildings each keep their own list, and you can be on more than one.
- Have ID, Social Security numbers and proof of income ready for everyone in the household. Income is verified before any assistance is offered.
- Keep your mailing address, phone and email current with the office. Authorities remove applicants who do not answer an update letter.
Section 8 income limits in Cuyahoga County (FY2026)
To qualify for a Housing Choice Voucher, a household's gross annual income generally has to be at or below the very low income limit for its size. In Cuyahoga County that is $52,500 a year for a family of four, about $4,370 a month before taxes. HUD's area median family income here is $105,000.
| Household size | Extremely low (30%) | Very low (50%) | Low (80%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $22,050 | $36,750 | $58,800 |
| 2 people | $25,200 | $42,000 | $67,200 |
| 3 people | $28,350 | $47,250 | $75,600 |
| 4 people | $33,000 | $52,500 | $84,000 |
| 5 people | $38,680 | $56,700 | $90,750 |
| 6 people | $44,360 | $60,900 | $97,450 |
| 7 people | $50,040 | $65,100 | $104,200 |
| 8 people | $55,720 | $69,300 | $110,900 |
Which column applies to you. The middle column is the eligibility line for most applicants (24 CFR 982.201). The low income column only applies in special cases, such as families already receiving federal housing assistance. The extremely low column matters for how fast you are reached: housing authorities must give at least 75% of the vouchers they issue from the waiting list each year to extremely low income families, which for a family of four here means $33,000 or less.
Income is counted before taxes and covers the whole household. The housing authority verifies it when your name is reached on the waiting list, so what counts is your income at that point. Being under the limit makes you eligible; it does not move you up a closed or full waiting list.
Source: HUD FY2026 Section 8 Income Limits for the Cleveland, OH HUD Metro FMR Area, huduser.gov.
HUD rent benchmarks in Cuyahoga County
HUD rent benchmarks for FY2027, effective October 1, 2026. These are not adopted housing-authority payment standards or household subsidy amounts. The illustration shows 90% to 110% of FMR; ZIP-based schedules, approved exceptions and Moving to Work rules can differ.
| Bedrooms | FMR | Illustration: 90% to 110% of FMR |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (studio) | $924 | $832 to $1,016 |
| 1-bedroom | $1,050 | $945 to $1,155 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,274 | $1,147 to $1,401 |
| 3-bedroom | $1,628 | $1,465 to $1,791 |
| 4-bedroom | $1,756 | $1,580 to $1,932 |
The two-bedroom HUD benchmark for Cuyahoga County is $1,274. Multiplying by 90% and 110% gives $1,147 to $1,401, not an approval range. Gross rent includes the applicable allowance for tenant-paid utilities. Your agency must calculate assistance using its adopted standard, your household and the proposed unit.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the phone number for Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA)?
- The main office number HUD lists for Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) is (216) 348-5000. The office is at 8120 Kinsman Road, Cleveland, OH 44104.
- Does Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) have Section 8?
- Yes. HUD reports that Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) administers 16,007 Housing Choice Vouchers.
- Is the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) Section 8 waiting list open?
- When we last checked in September 2026, the voucher waiting list was taking applications. Accepting Housing Choice Voucher preliminary applications year-round online. Names are drawn in repeated mini lotteries, so a pick can come in days or take months. An application stays valid for 18 months, then you must reapply. Applications team: 216-431-1471, option 6. Lists open and close with little notice, so confirm with the office before you plan around it.
- What is the income limit for Section 8 in Cuyahoga County?
- For FY2026, HUD's very low income limit in Cuyahoga County is $52,500 a year for a family of four. A household generally has to be at or below that line to qualify for a voucher, and most new vouchers go to households at or below the extremely low income limit.
- How much will Section 8 pay for a two-bedroom in Cuyahoga County?
- HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom in Cuyahoga County is $1,274 a month, rent and utilities together. That is HUD's benchmark. Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) sets its own payment standard, usually between 90% and 110% of it, so ask the office for the adopted figure.
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Contact details and unit counts from HUD's Public Housing Authorities directory, agency OH003. Call ahead before you visit: offices move and hours change.