Texas · El Paso and El Paso County
Section 8 in El Paso, Texas
HOME (Housing Opportunity Management Enterprises), the former Housing Authority of the City of El Paso, runs Section 8 in the city. Its voucher page says: "Currently, the waitlist for our Housing Choice Voucher Program is closed." It adds that you "can still apply online to our Project-Based Voucher and Affordable Housing programs."
HOME does not post its payment standards. The best public benchmark is HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rent for the El Paso metro: $1,146 for a two-bedroom, counting rent plus the utilities you pay. Call HOME at (915) 849-3742 for the exact limit on your voucher.
By the VoucherMatch editorial team · Sources reviewed · Updated · Independent guide, not a housing authority
- HOME voucher list
- Closed
- ephome.org, checked Oct. 22, 2026
- Project-based / affordable
- Online applications
- No per-property status posted
- 2BR benchmark
- $1,146
- HUD FY2027 FMR, not a HOME schedule
- Median 2BR gross rent
- $1,034
- Census ACS 2020–2024, ±$25
- Local voucher mandates
- Banned by state law
- Tex. Local Gov’t Code §250.007
Which El Paso housing lists are open
Three agencies hold vouchers in El Paso County. HOME is by far the largest. HUD counts 6,985 vouchers across the three, and 6,245 of them (5,252 in use) are HOME's. The county and Anthony agencies serve smaller areas outside the city.
| Agency | Vouchers (in use) | Phone | Status as posted |
|---|---|---|---|
| HOME, formerly Housing Authority of the City of El Paso | 6,245 (5,252) | (915) 849-3742 | "Currently, the waitlist for our Housing Choice Voucher Program is closed." Project-based and affordable programs: "You can still apply online." |
| El Paso County Housing Authority, Fabens | 282 (213) | 915-764-3559 (HUD listing) | No website found; no status posted. |
| Anthony Housing Authority, Anthony, TX | 458 (278) | 915-886-5806 (HUD listing) | No website found; no status posted. |
Sources: HOME voucher page, checked October 22, 2026; vouchers from the HUD PHA GIS layer, updated July 6, 2026. HUD codes TX003, TX432 and TX439. TX538 is the county agency's public-housing code and holds no vouchers.
Apply for project-based or affordable housing
HOME's Apply or Sign In portal takes applications for its project-based voucher and affordable housing programs. A working portal does not prove every property's list is open, and HOME posts no per-property status.
Watch for the voucher list
HOME says: "We will notify the public when the waitlist is scheduled to reopen." It has not posted a date.
Call or visit
HOME Customer Service Center, 203 Cortez Dr., El Paso, TX 79905, (915) 849-3742, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
About Anthony Housing Authority
HUD lists 458 vouchers for Anthony Housing Authority but only 278 in use, and we found no agency website. Call the HUD-listed number, 915-886-5806, to ask about its list. TDHCA, the state's voucher agency, does not serve El Paso County.
How much Section 8 pays in El Paso
HOME does not post a payment standard schedule. We checked its voucher, landlord, participant, notices and contact pages on October 22, 2026. Its draft FY2023 PHA Plan, now stale, described standards "in the range of 90% to 110% of FMR". So the figures below are HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rents, a benchmark, not HOME's adopted amounts.
El Paso uses one metro-wide Fair Market Rent. It is not a Small Area FMR metro, so the limit does not change by ZIP code. HUD cut every bedroom size for FY2027, effective October 1, 2026. Under 24 CFR 982.505(c)(3), a current tenant’s standard does not drop at once when an agency lowers it.
| Unit size | FY2026 | FY2027 | Change | Median gross rent, El Paso city |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $821 | $798 | −$23 | $725 ±$47 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,013 | $969 | −$44 | $850 ±$25 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,191 | $1,146 | −$45 | $1,034 ±$25 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,633 | $1,559 | −$74 | $1,299 ±$28 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,998 | $1,915 | −$83 | $1,606 ±$72 |
Sources: HUD USER FY2026 and FY2027 FMRs, El Paso, TX HUD Metro FMR Area; U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024, table B25031, El Paso city. These are HUD benchmarks; HOME posts no schedule.
HUD FY2027 benchmark vs. typical El Paso rents
HUD's FY2027 two-bedroom figure of $1,146 is $112 above the city's median two-bedroom gross rent of $1,034.
- Observed rent
- Official amount
- Median 1BR gross rent$850/mo
Observed rent · ACS 2020–2024, ±$25
- HUD FY2027 1BR FMR$969/mo
- Median 2BR gross rent$1,034/mo
Observed rent · ACS 2020–2024, ±$25
- HUD FY2027 2BR FMR$1,146/mo
- Median 3BR gross rent$1,299/mo
Observed rent · ACS 2020–2024, ±$28
- HUD FY2027 3BR FMR$1,559/mo
The median gross rent across all El Paso rentals is $1,073. HOME's actual standard can be set between 90% and 110% of the FMR, so ask HOME for the figure on your voucher.
Sources: HUD USER FY2027 FMRs; U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 table B25031, El Paso city. Chart: VoucherMatch, October 22, 2026.
Utility allowances: ask HOME
HOME held a hearing on its Housing Choice Voucher utility allowances on June 17, 2026. Its June 24, 2026 board agenda lists Resolution No. 345 "approving the 2026 Utility Allowance Schedule". The schedule itself is not posted, so ask HOME for the allowance for your unit's utilities.
Worked example: the 40% move-in limit
This example uses hypothetical numbers. A family has $2,000 a month in adjusted income. It finds a two-bedroom with a $1,180 rent and pays its own utilities. We assume a $150 utility allowance because HOME's schedule is not posted. We use HUD's $1,146 FY2027 Fair Market Rent as the payment standard, since HOME posts none.
Hypothetical $1,180 two-bedroom, $1,146 benchmark
1.Base family share (30% of income)
$2,000 × 30%
$600
2.Gross rent
$1,180 rent + $150 hypothetical utility allowance
$1,330
3.Voucher pays the landlord
lesser of $1,146 or $1,330, minus $600
$546
4.Family’s total share
$1,330 − $546
$784
5.40% move-in limit
$2,000 × 40%; $784 is under it, so the lease can be approved
$800
6.Highest gross rent this family could take
$1,146 − $600 + $800
$1,346
Hypothetical income, rent and utility allowance. The $1,146 figure is HUD's FY2027 two-bedroom FMR, used as a stand-in because HOME does not post its payment standards. At move-in, a family's share cannot exceed 40% of adjusted monthly income when the gross rent is above the payment standard (24 CFR 982.508). The agency also checks that the rent is reasonable.
El Paso income limits for 2026
Voucher programs generally use the 30% (extremely low) and 50% (very low) limits. The 80% (low) limit applies to some affordable housing programs. Ask HOME which limit applies to the program you are applying for.
| Household size | Extremely low (30%) | Very low (50%) | Low (80%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $17,600 | $29,300 | $46,900 |
| 2 | $21,640 | $33,500 | $53,600 |
| 3 | $27,320 | $37,700 | $60,300 |
| 4 | $33,000 | $41,850 | $66,950 |
| 5 | $38,680 | $45,200 | $72,350 |
| 6 | $44,360 | $48,550 | $77,700 |
| 7 | $50,040 | $51,900 | $83,050 |
| 8 | $55,250 | $55,250 | $88,400 |
Source: HUD FY2026 income limits, El Paso, TX HUD Metro FMR Area (median family income $73,400). The 30% limits for two to seven people use HUD's poverty-guideline floor; at eight people HUD caps it at the 50% limit.
Can an El Paso landlord refuse Section 8?
Usually, yes. Texas law (Local Gov't Code §250.007, effective September 1, 2015) bars El Paso and El Paso County from adopting a rule that stops landlords refusing tenants because rent includes federal housing assistance. Section 250.007(b) allows ordinances protecting military veterans, but El Paso has none. The city's fair housing page lists only race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability and familial status.
- Tax-credit and TDHCA-funded housing: developments funded or administered by TDHCA may not exclude voucher holders, and their minimum-income test is capped at 2.5 times the tenant's share of rent (Gov't Code §2306.269(b)). Federal law also bars tax-credit properties from refusing a voucher holder for that reason (26 U.S.C. §42(h)(6)(B)(iv)).
- HOAs: since September 1, 2023, a homeowners association may not bar renting to someone based on "method of payment", which includes vouchers (Prop. Code §202.024).
- Discrimination: a landlord still may not refuse you because of race, disability, familial status or another protected class. File with HUD at 1-800-669-9777 or the Texas Workforce Commission Civil Rights Division at 1-888-452-4778 within one year. Texas RioGrande Legal Aid: (915) 585-5100.
This is general information, not legal advice.
Moving a voucher to El Paso, and nearby agencies
HOME has no portability page. To move a voucher to El Paso, call HOME at (915) 849-3742 and ask your current agency to send the portability packet.
Federal rules can limit moves in your first year. If you did not live in an agency’s area when you applied, you may have to rent there for 12 months before moving your voucher elsewhere (24 CFR 982.353(c)). HOME has not posted its own policy on this.
- HOME preferences (stale): the draft FY2023 PHA Plan gave preference to active-duty military families in the El Paso area, families displaced by RAD conversions and Money Follows the Person referrals. HOME's 2027–2031 plan went to a public hearing on September 21, 2026 but is not posted.
- Outside the city: El Paso County Housing Authority in Fabens and Anthony Housing Authority in Anthony each run their own lists; neither posts a status.
- HOME housing authority profile
Programs and contacts.
- Section 8 in El Paso County
County agencies and income limits.
- Section 8 in Texas
Statewide guide and open lists.
- Rent analyzer
Check a rent against HUD figures.
Common questions
Is the El Paso Section 8 waiting list open?
No. HOME, the former Housing Authority of the City of El Paso, says its Housing Choice Voucher waitlist is closed and that it will notify the public before it reopens. You can still apply online for HOME’s project-based voucher and affordable housing programs. The county and Anthony agencies post no status.
How do I apply for Section 8 or project-based housing in El Paso?
Use HOME’s Apply or Sign In portal at erp.ephome.org for its project-based voucher and affordable housing programs. The regular voucher list is closed. For help, call HOME’s Customer Service Center at (915) 849-3742 or visit 203 Cortez Dr., Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
How much does Section 8 pay for a 2-bedroom in El Paso?
HOME does not post its payment standards. HUD’s FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom in the El Paso metro is $1,146, down from $1,191. HOME’s stale draft FY2023 plan described standards of 90% to 110% of the FMR. The voucher pays up to the standard, minus about 30% of your income. Ask HOME for your exact limit.
What is the income limit for Section 8 in El Paso?
For FY2026, the 50% limit is $29,300 for one person and $41,850 for a family of four in the El Paso metro. The 30% limit, used to target most new vouchers, is $17,600 for one person and $33,000 for four.
Can landlords in El Paso refuse Section 8?
Yes, most can. Texas Local Government Code §250.007 bars El Paso from requiring landlords to accept vouchers, and the city has no veteran ordinance. Tax-credit and other TDHCA-funded properties may not refuse a voucher holder for that reason, and HOAs cannot ban renting to one. Refusing on race, disability or another protected class is illegal.
What is the Anthony Housing Authority?
It is a small agency in Anthony, Texas, with 458 vouchers on HUD’s books, 278 of them in use. We found no website or posted waiting-list status. HUD lists its office at 1007 Franklin St., Anthony, TX 79821, and its phone as 915-886-5806.
Sources and review
VoucherMatch checked each source below on October 22, 2026. Housing authorities change payment standards, utility allowances and waiting-list status during the year, so confirm the figure that applies to your household with the agency before you sign a lease. This guide is general information, not legal advice. To report an error, email a correction and name the source that needs updating.
- HOME, Housing Choice Voucher page — HCV waitlist closed; project-based and affordable applications online.
- HOME home page — Agency name, programs and RAD conversion.
- HOME Apply or Sign In portal — Project-based and affordable applications.
- HOME utility allowance hearing notice — Hearing June 17, 2026.
- HOME board agenda, June 24, 2026 — Resolution No. 345, 2026 utility allowance schedule.
- HOME draft FY2023 PHA Plan — Stale; payment standard range and preferences.
- HOME public notice, 2027–2031 plans — Hearing September 21, 2026.
- HUD PHA GIS layer — Voucher counts, updated July 6, 2026.
- HUD USER Fair Market Rents — FY2026 and FY2027, El Paso metro.
- HUD USER income limits — FY2026, El Paso metro.
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024, table B25031 — Median gross rent by bedrooms, El Paso city.
- Tex. Local Gov’t Code §250.007 — State preemption of voucher ordinances.
- Tex. Gov’t Code §2306.269 — TDHCA-funded housing may not exclude voucher holders.
- Tex. Prop. Code §202.024 — HOAs may not bar renting by method of payment.
- City of El Paso fair housing page — Local protected classes and complaint contacts.