Section 8 Waitlists Across America
Which waitlists are open, which PHAs run lotteries, and what your voucher rights are, city by city. Every fact source-cited and dated.
33
Metros covered
20
States + DC
143
PHAs tracked
27
Waitlists open / lottery
How Section 8 waitlists actually work
You apply through a public housing authority (PHA), not a landlord. Most big-city waitlists stay closed for years and open in short windows, often as a lottery. You can apply to any PHA in the country regardless of where you live now, and once you have a voucher you can usually transfer it between cities after 12 months. That makes the open-waitlist map below the single most useful thing to check first.
Already have a voucher and searching in New York City? Browse voucher-friendly NYC apartments by borough and neighborhood.
Pick your metro
California
California guide →Texas
Texas guide →Florida
Florida guide →Ohio
Ohio guide →District of Columbia
District of Columbia guide →Massachusetts
Massachusetts guide →North Carolina
North Carolina guide →Every state
Rent limits, voucher counts, housing authorities, and voucher rights for all 50 states and DC, with county and ZIP level detail.
Don't see your city?
Every major US metro has a data page with current Fair Market Rent, voucher counts, and local housing authorities. Or get instant rent limits for any ZIP code with the national calculator.