Section 8 Housing in Pittsburgh, PA
Waitlist status, housing authority contacts and local application guidance across 3 public housing authorities serving the metro area.
3
Voucher waitlists tracked
0
Waitlists open / lottery
3
Waitlists closed
2,422,725
Metro population (2023)
Is the Section 8 waitlist open in Pittsburgh?
No. When we checked in October 2026, all 3 Section 8 waitlists we track in the Pittsburgh area were closed to new applications. Housing authorities open and close lists with little notice, and applying is always free, so confirm with the authority before you rely on this.
Status, phone number and application link for each housing authority · Checked October 2026 · See every open Section 8 waiting list we track
Voucher-friendly listings in Pittsburgh
1 listing
For a Pittsburgh voucher search, identify whether HACP or ACHA administers your assistance. HACP uses address-based payment tiers and a separate utility worksheet. Confirm the apartment’s calculation and tenancy documents with the agency before committing to a move.
Find the right application and voucher help
Use the researched agency guides for program-specific notices, official application routes, existing-case help and adopted rent schedules. A HUD rent benchmark or a rental listing does not establish an application opening or agency approval.
Fair Market Rent by bedroom count
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) | $1,075 | $968 to $1,183 |
| 1-bedroom | $1,146 | $1,031 to $1,261 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,389 | $1,250 to $1,528 |
| 3-bedroom | $1,773 | $1,596 to $1,950 |
| 4-bedroom | $1,925 | $1,733 to $2,118 |
The two-bedroom HUD benchmark for Pittsburgh is $1,389. Multiplying by 90% and 110% gives $1,250 to $1,528, 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.
What changed from FY2026 to FY2027 in Pittsburgh
HUD's two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the Pittsburgh, PA metro rose from $1,299 in FY2026 to $1,389 in FY2027, a change of +$90 a month (+6.9%). FY2027 figures took effect on October 1, 2026.
| Bedrooms | FY2026 | FY2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (studio) | $1,001 | $1,075 | +$74 (+7.4%) |
| 1-bedroom | $1,077 | $1,146 | +$69 (+6.4%) |
| 2-bedroom | $1,299 | $1,389 | +$90 (+6.9%) |
| 3-bedroom | $1,661 | $1,773 | +$112 (+6.7%) |
| 4-bedroom | $1,789 | $1,925 | +$136 (+7.6%) |
The FMR is not what the voucher pays. Each housing authority sets its own payment standard. The basic range is 90% to 110% of the applicable FMR or SAFMR, with exceptions and Moving to Work policies that may differ. A HUD effective date is not a household rent-change notice. Confirm the adopted schedule and its application to your lease or reexamination with your agency.
Already renting with a voucher in Pittsburgh? Under standard HCV rules, once the housing authority raises its payment standard, the higher amount must be used for your subsidy no later than the earliest of three dates: a rent increase that would raise your share, your next regular or interim reexamination, or one year after the increase took effect (24 CFR 982.505(c)(4)). Confirm any applicable Moving to Work policy with your agency.
Landlords: a higher FMR does not raise a contract rent by itself. You still request the increase from the housing authority, and the new rent has to pass its rent reasonableness review against comparable unassisted units.
Source: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 and FY2027, huduser.gov.
Apartments that accept Section 8 in Pittsburgh
Compare voucher-friendly listings by neighborhood, bedroom size and ZIP code, with guidance on the responsible agency, rent and utilities.
Waitlist Status: Where to Apply
Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP)
closedThe administering agency’s current page states that the tenant-based HCV waiting list is closed. Check the agency for the next opening; other housing programs may have different application windows.
Checked October 2026
Source: hacp.orgAllegheny County Housing Authority (ACHA)
closedACHA's HCV application page says: "THE HCVP WAITING LIST IS NOW CLOSED." Its 2026 list came from a February 4–9, 2026 application window: 6,791 applications were sorted by lottery and the top 2,000 kept. Watch the agency site for the next window.
Checked October 2026
Source: achsng.comMcKeesport Housing Authority (MHA)
closedThe agency’s Section 8 page states that the waiting list is closed. Existing participants should use the agency contact and document information on that page.
Checked October 2026
Source: mckha.orgGet an email when a waiting list opens in Pittsburgh, PA
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Local guidance checked October 20, 2026. The HUD table above shows rent benchmarks. Your housing authority's adopted payment standard, utility allowance and household calculation determine your assistance.
Current agency application information
Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP): The administering agency’s current page states that the tenant-based HCV waiting list is closed. Check the agency for the next opening; other housing programs may have different application windows. Agency source
Allegheny County Housing Authority (ACHA): The agency reports results from its February 4–9, 2026 HCV application window. That historical notice does not establish whether a later window is available; check the agency’s application portal. Existing applicants should check their lottery result. Agency source
McKeesport Housing Authority (MHA): The agency’s Section 8 page states that the waiting list is closed. Existing participants should use the agency contact and document information on that page. Agency source
Sources: hacp.org, achsng.com, mckha.org
HACP payment tiers and tenant-paid utilities
HACP's regular 2026 schedule has six tiers. Two-bedroom standards range from $1,587 in Tier 6 to $2,309 in Tier 1. Search the exact address in the map linked by HACP to identify its census tract and tier; a HUD ZIP figure does not select the tier. Confirm the applicable schedule and bedroom size with your specialist.
The map amounts assume the owner pays all utilities. Use HACP's utility worksheet for tenant-paid services, matching the building type, fuel and lease responsibilities. Gross rent adds the applicable allowance to owner rent; the payment standard is an input to assistance, not the amount HACP automatically pays. ACHA vouchers require that separate agency's calculation. Compare Pittsburgh apartments with rent and utilities recorded together.
Local help and renter resources
YWCA Greater Pittsburgh’s Community Choice Demonstration provides housing mobility support for participating voucher families. Contact the program for eligibility and available assistance. Source
The Legal Assistance Program provides housing legal-help referrals for income-qualifying Pittsburgh tenants and homeowners. Source
The Fair Housing Law Center provides assistance with housing discrimination complaints in southwestern Pennsylvania. Source
Sources: ywcapgh.org, palawhelp.org, fhlaw.org
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Section 8 waitlist open in Pittsburgh right now?⌄
No. When we checked in October 2026, all 3 Section 8 waitlists we track in the Pittsburgh area were closed to new applications. Housing authorities open and close lists with little notice, and applying is always free, so confirm with the authority before you rely on this.
Where can I check current voucher application information?⌄
Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP): The administering agency’s current page states that the tenant-based HCV waiting list is closed. Check the agency for the next opening; other housing programs may have different application windows. Allegheny County Housing Authority (ACHA): The agency reports results from its February 4–9, 2026 HCV application window. That historical notice does not establish whether a later window is available; check the agency’s application portal. Existing applicants should check their lottery result. McKeesport Housing Authority (MHA): The agency’s Section 8 page states that the waiting list is closed. Existing participants should use the agency contact and document information on that page.
How much is a two-bedroom HACP voucher?⌄
HACP’s regular schedule effective January 1, 2026 lists two-bedroom standards from $1,587 to $2,309 across six address-based tiers. The standard is not your subsidy check: household contribution, gross rent and agency approval determine assistance. Confirm the exact address, tier, bedroom size and utility allowance with HACP.
Where can I find local help with a housing problem?⌄
YWCA Greater Pittsburgh’s Community Choice Demonstration provides housing mobility support for participating voucher families. Contact the program for eligibility and available assistance. The Legal Assistance Program provides housing legal-help referrals for income-qualifying Pittsburgh tenants and homeowners. The Fair Housing Law Center provides assistance with housing discrimination complaints in southwestern Pennsylvania.
More housing help in Pittsburgh
- Apartments that accept Section 8 in Pittsburgh, by neighborhood, ZIP code and bedroom size
- Housing authorities in Pennsylvania, phone numbers, addresses and programs
- Open Section 8 waiting lists nationwide
- Listings from landlords in Pittsburgh who accept vouchers
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Landlord and investor tools for Pittsburgh
RentalCalcsFree calculators and guides from RentalCalcs, built by the VoucherMatch team, for landlords deciding whether to accept vouchers.
- Pittsburgh rent report and landlord cost guideCompare market rents with HUD benchmarks, check local ownership costs and work through a rental budget.
- Section 8 rent analyzerHUD rent benchmarks and modeled comparisons for Pennsylvania ZIP codes. Confirm adopted amounts with the agency.
- Compare HUD benchmarks with market rent in PennsylvaniaExplore modeled ZIP comparisons; these do not establish an approved rent or agency payment.
- Average rent in PennsylvaniaMarket rent versus HUD fair market rent by city and bedroom count.
- How Section 8 rent is calculatedFair market rent, payment standards and rent reasonableness, step by step.
- Section 8 landlord math for 2026What the payment standard changes mean for cash flow this year.