Section 8 in Abilene, TX, TX: Rent Limits and Housing Authorities
Abilene, TX 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) | $1,010 | $909 to $1,111 |
| 1-bedroom | $1,020 | $918 to $1,122 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,276 | $1,148 to $1,404 |
| 3-bedroom | $1,653 | $1,488 to $1,818 |
| 4-bedroom | $1,987 | $1,788 to $2,186 |
Example: at 100% of FMR, a 2-bedroom voucher in Abilene covers up to $1,276 in gross rent, before the tenant's utility allowance. Across the full range a PHA may set: $1,148 to $1,404.
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 Abilene
7 PHAs administer vouchers in this metro. Apply with (or contact) the PHA that covers the specific address.
- Status unknown
Housing Authority of the City of Abilene
Abilene , TX · TX327 · 1,802 HCV units
3256766385 - Status unknown
Housing Authority of Baird
Baird , TX · TX197 · 150 HCV units
3258541660 - Status unknown
Housing Authority of Merkel
Merkel , TX · TX158 · 23 HCV units
3259284891 - Status unknown
Housing Authority of Anson
Anson , TX · TX080
3258232831 - Status unknown
Housing Authority of Hamlin
Hamlin , TX · TX195
3255763964 - Status unknown
Housing Authority of the City of Cross Plains
Cross Plains , TX · TX172
2547256116 - Status unknown
Housing Authority of Stamford
Stamford , TX · TX167
3257733761
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Abilene, TX?
Yes. Texas law blocks local governments from requiring voucher acceptance, so landlords in Abilene, TX can legally decline Section 8 applicants. Listing on a voucher-friendly marketplace is the fastest way to find the landlords who do accept.
Texas has NO statewide SOI protection AND state law preempts city ordinances. Austin passed protection in 2014, Texas legislature struck it down in 2015. Landlords in Texas can legally refuse vouchers.
Informational only, not legal advice. Laws change, so verify current status before acting on a rejection or making a leasing decision.
Counties in the Abilene 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 Abilene?
- In the Abilene, TX metro, the FY2026 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,276 per month. A housing authority usually sets its Section 8 payment standard between 90% and 110% of that, roughly $1,148 to $1,404 in gross rent before the tenant's utility allowance.
- What are the FY2026 Fair Market Rents in Abilene?
- HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Abilene, TX metro, by bedroom size: studio $1,010, 1-bedroom $1,020, 2-bedroom $1,276, 3-bedroom $1,653, 4-bedroom $1,987. Section 8 payment standards are based on these figures.
- How do I apply for Section 8 in Abilene?
- Section 8 in Abilene is administered by Housing Authority of the City of Abilene, Housing Authority of Baird, Housing Authority of Merkel and other local housing authorities. 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 Abilene
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.
Other Section 8 markets in TX
Rent limits from HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rent data. Investor running the numbers? The RentalCalcs voucher analyzer uses this same dataset.