Section 8 Housing in Portland, OR
Waitlist status, housing authority contacts and local application guidance across 4 public housing authorities serving the metro area.
4
Voucher waitlists tracked
0
Waitlists open / lottery
4
Waitlists closed
2,508,050
Metro population (2023)
Is the Section 8 waitlist open in Portland?
No. When we checked in October 2026, all 4 Section 8 waitlists we track in the Portland 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
Identify the housing authority that administers your voucher before comparing rents or applying. The agency information below was reviewed on October 20, 2026; separate programs and property lists may have different application rules. Confirm the applicable payment standard, utilities and household contribution with your agency. Local renter resources are listed below.
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) | $1,527 | $1,374 to $1,680 |
| 1-bedroom | $1,633 | $1,470 to $1,796 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,878 | $1,690 to $2,066 |
| 3-bedroom | $2,550 | $2,295 to $2,805 |
| 4-bedroom | $3,069 | $2,762 to $3,376 |
The two-bedroom HUD benchmark for Portland is $1,878. Multiplying by 90% and 110% gives $1,690 to $2,066, 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 Portland
HUD's two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro fell from $1,922 in FY2026 to $1,878 in FY2027, a change of -$44 a month (-2.3%). FY2027 figures took effect on October 1, 2026.
| Bedrooms | FY2026 | FY2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (studio) | $1,570 | $1,527 | -$43 (-2.7%) |
| 1-bedroom | $1,677 | $1,633 | -$44 (-2.6%) |
| 2-bedroom | $1,922 | $1,878 | -$44 (-2.3%) |
| 3-bedroom | $2,619 | $2,550 | -$69 (-2.6%) |
| 4-bedroom | $3,109 | $3,069 | -$40 (-1.3%) |
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 Portland? Under standard HCV rules, a lower payment standard does not cut your subsidy right away. Moving to Work agencies may use different policies. The housing authority may keep your current payment standard for as long as you stay in the same unit. If it decides to lower it, the reduction cannot start sooner than two years after the decrease takes effect, and only after it sends you the required notice (24 CFR 982.505(c)(3)). Families who are new to the program, or who move to a different unit, get the schedule in effect at that time.
Source: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 and FY2027, huduser.gov.
Apartments that accept Section 8 in Portland
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
Home Forward (Multnomah County, OR002)
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: homeforward.orgHousing Authority of Washington County (OR022)
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: washingtoncountyor.govHousing Authority of Clackamas County (OR001)
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: clackamas.usVancouver Housing Authority (Clark County, WA008)
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: vhausa.orgGet an email when a waiting list opens in Portland, OR
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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
Home Forward (Multnomah County, OR002): 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
Housing Authority of Washington County (OR022): 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
Housing Authority of Clackamas County (OR001): 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
Vancouver Housing Authority (Clark County, WA008): 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
Sources: homeforward.org, washingtoncountyor.gov, clackamas.us, vhausa.org
How much rent the voucher covers, and where that stretches furthest
Home Forward’s January 1, 2026 schedule uses one payment-standard row for all Multnomah County, including $1,922 for a two-bedroom. The neighborhood ZIP groups below the table do not establish nine different subsidy amounts. The standard is an input to the household calculation, not a check for that amount. Home Forward’s current rent guidance describes a 28.5%–31% household contribution and a 50% gross-monthly-income limit at initial leasing. Have your coordinator calculate the actual share and select the applicable utility allowance. Its current utility schedule is effective June 1, 2026 for initial lease-ups and July 1 for annual reviews. A separately announced tenant-portion change begins March 1, 2027 for affected programs; use the household’s individual notice for the amount and effective date. Other counties and agencies require their own calculations.
Sources: homeforward.org, homeforward.org, homeforward.org, homeforward.org
Local help and renter resources
Portland City Code 23.01.060 includes source of income among the protected categories in housing. Source
The Fair Housing Council of Oregon takes housing discrimination inquiries through its contact page. Source
Portland’s Rental Services Office lists the Community Alliance of Tenants as a tenant-rights resource. Source
Portland’s rental-services resource directory links legal assistance for renters, including Oregon Law Center and Legal Aid Services of Oregon. Source
Sources: portland.gov, fhco.org, portland.gov, portland.gov
Where Your Voucher Actually Gets Accepted
Downtown / Northwest Portland
Search contextLegal to use a voucher here and Home Forward's payment standard is highest in the metro (2BR up to ~$1,114), intended to open lower-poverty areas. But market rents are steep, so expect to pay more out of pocket even with the higher standard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Section 8 waitlist open in Portland right now?⌄
No. When we checked in October 2026, all 4 Section 8 waitlists we track in the Portland 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?⌄
Home Forward (Multnomah County, OR002): 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. Housing Authority of Washington County (OR022): 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. Housing Authority of Clackamas County (OR001): 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. Vancouver Housing Authority (Clark County, WA008): 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.
How much of my rent will the voucher cover?⌄
Home Forward’s January 1, 2026 table lists a $1,922 two-bedroom payment standard throughout Multnomah County. That is not the household subsidy. Ask your coordinator to calculate income, utilities and any above-standard rent. Home Forward publishes local share rules, including a 50% gross-income limit at initial leasing. Keep the announced March 2027 change separate from your current rent determination.
What income do I need to qualify?⌄
For FY2026, a family of four in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro MSA had to earn under $64,150 (Very Low Income) to qualify, based on an area median income of $128,300. Limits vary by household size and are updated annually by HUD.
Where can I find local help with a housing problem?⌄
Portland City Code 23.01.060 includes source of income among the protected categories in housing. The Fair Housing Council of Oregon takes housing discrimination inquiries through its contact page. Portland’s Rental Services Office lists the Community Alliance of Tenants as a tenant-rights resource. Portland’s rental-services resource directory links legal assistance for renters, including Oregon Law Center and Legal Aid Services of Oregon.
More housing help in Portland
- Apartments that accept Section 8 in Portland, by neighborhood, ZIP code and bedroom size
- Housing authorities in Oregon, phone numbers, addresses and programs
- Open Section 8 waiting lists nationwide
- Listings from landlords in Portland who accept vouchers
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Landlord and investor tools for Portland
RentalCalcsFree calculators and guides from RentalCalcs, built by the VoucherMatch team, for landlords deciding whether to accept vouchers.
- Section 8 rent analyzerHUD rent benchmarks and modeled comparisons for Oregon ZIP codes. Confirm adopted amounts with the agency.
- Compare HUD benchmarks with market rent in OregonExplore modeled ZIP comparisons; these do not establish an approved rent or agency payment.
- Average rent in OregonMarket 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.