Section 8 in Helena, MT, MT: Rent Limits and Housing Authorities
Helena, MT metro area. FY2026 Fair Market Rents, active voucher counts, the housing authorities that run the program here, and whether landlords can legally refuse a voucher. Every figure comes straight from HUD data.
Fair Market Rent by bedroom count
HUD-published metro FMR for FY2026. Payment standards, the amount a PHA actually pays, are set between 90% and 110% of FMR at each PHA's discretion.
| Bedrooms | FMR | Payment standard (90 to 110%) |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (studio) | $1,136 | $1,022 to $1,250 |
| 1-bedroom | $1,319 | $1,187 to $1,451 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,647 | $1,482 to $1,812 |
| 3-bedroom | $2,250 | $2,025 to $2,475 |
| 4-bedroom | $2,496 | $2,246 to $2,746 |
Example: at 100% of FMR, a 2-bedroom voucher in Helena covers up to $1,647 in gross rent, before the tenant's utility allowance. Across the full range a PHA may set: $1,482 to $1,812.
Voucher demand in this metro
Aggregated from HUD Public Housing Authority data (FY2026). High utilization means most vouchers issued here are already placed in a unit, so landlords who accept vouchers fill vacancies from a deep, reliable applicant pool.
Housing authorities serving Helena
2 PHAs administer vouchers in this metro. Apply with (or contact) the PHA that covers the specific address.
- Status unknown
Montana Department of Commerce
Helena , MT · MT901 · 4,469 HCV units
4068412830 - Status unknown
Helena Housing Authority
Helena , MT · MT004 · 401 HCV units
4064427970
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Helena, MT?
Source-of-income protection status for Montana is not yet in our database. Check with local legal aid or the state civil-rights office before assuming either way.
Informational only, not legal advice. Laws change, so verify current status before acting on a rejection or making a leasing decision.
Counties in the Helena metro
County pages show the local voucher count, the housing authorities that serve it, and ZIP-level rent limits where HUD publishes them.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does Section 8 pay for a 2-bedroom in Helena?
- In the Helena, MT metro, the FY2026 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,647 per month. A housing authority usually sets its Section 8 payment standard between 90% and 110% of that, roughly $1,482 to $1,812 in gross rent before the tenant's utility allowance.
- What are the FY2026 Fair Market Rents in Helena?
- HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Helena, MT metro, by bedroom size: studio $1,136, 1-bedroom $1,319, 2-bedroom $1,647, 3-bedroom $2,250, 4-bedroom $2,496. Section 8 payment standards are based on these figures.
- How do I apply for Section 8 in Helena?
- Section 8 in Helena is administered by Montana Department of Commerce, Helena Housing Authority. Apply through the authority whose jurisdiction covers the address, as each runs its own waitlist. Once you have a voucher, search voucher-friendly units and apply on VoucherMatch.
Find Section 8 apartments in Helena
VoucherMatch connects voucher holders with landlords who accept Section 8, and it is free for renters. Landlords: listings here reach applicants whose voucher already covers the rent above.
Rent limits from HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rent data. Investor running the numbers? The RentalCalcs voucher analyzer uses this same dataset.