Section 8 in Providence County, RI
8,771 active Housing Choice Vouchers in Providence County, 79% utilized. 6 housing authorities serve this county. Voucher data as of 2026.
HUD Fair Market Rents in Providence County (FY2027)
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) | $1,423 | $1,281 to $1,565 |
| 1-bedroom | $1,509 | $1,358 to $1,660 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,879 | $1,691 to $2,067 |
| 3-bedroom | $2,302 | $2,072 to $2,532 |
| 4-bedroom | $2,615 | $2,354 to $2,877 |
The two-bedroom HUD benchmark for Providence County is $1,879. Multiplying by 90% and 110% gives $1,691 to $2,067, 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.
Section 8 income limits in Providence County (FY2026)
To qualify for a Housing Choice Voucher, a household's gross annual income generally has to be at or below the very low income limit for its size. In Providence County that is $56,050 a year for a family of four, about $4,670 a month before taxes. HUD's area median family income here is $112,100.
| Household size | Extremely low | Very low (50%) | Low (80%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $23,600 | $39,250 | $62,800 |
| 2 people | $26,950 | $44,850 | $71,800 |
| 3 people | $30,300 | $50,450 | $80,750 |
| 4 people | $33,650 | $56,050 | $89,700 |
| 5 people | $38,680 | $60,550 | $96,900 |
| 6 people | $44,360 | $65,050 | $104,100 |
| 7 people | $50,040 | $69,550 | $111,250 |
| 8 people | $55,720 | $74,000 | $118,450 |
Which column applies to you. The middle column is the eligibility line for most applicants (24 CFR 982.201). The low income column only applies in special cases, such as families already receiving federal housing assistance. Federal rules generally require at least 75% of admissions from the waiting list each year to be extremely low income families. This does not predict selection or waiting time. For a family of four here, that threshold is $33,650 or less.
Income is counted before taxes and covers the whole household. The housing authority verifies it when your name is reached on the waiting list, so what counts is your income at that point. Being under the income limit is only one part of eligibility and does not guarantee admission.
Compare your household income with Section 8 limits and see how monthly income becomes an annual estimate.
Source: HUD FY2026 Section 8 Income Limits for the Providence-Fall River, RI-MA HUD Metro FMR Area, huduser.gov.
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Providence County?
No. Rhode Island law prohibits landlords from refusing a renter because they pay with a Section 8 voucher. That protection applies in Providence County. If you were turned away for having a voucher, that refusal may be illegal.
Rhode Island Fair Housing Practices Act, R.I. Gen. Laws §34-37 (amended 2021)
Lawful source of income added as a protected class in 2021. PRRAC Appendix B (March 2026).
View statute →Informational only, not legal advice. Laws change, so verify current status before acting on a rejection or making a leasing decision.
Providence County in the Providence metro
Providence County is one of the counties inside the Providence, RI core-based statistical area. The metro-level view aggregates voucher activity across every housing authority in the CBSA.
See Providence metro rent limits and PHA breakdown →Landlord and investor tools for Providence County
RentalCalcsFree calculators and guides from RentalCalcs, built by the VoucherMatch team, for landlords deciding whether to accept vouchers.
- Providence County rental market dataRents, home prices, cap rates and cash flow estimates for investors.
- Section 8 rent analyzerHUD rent benchmarks and modeled comparisons for Rhode Island ZIP codes. Confirm adopted amounts with the agency.
- Compare HUD benchmarks with market rent in Rhode IslandExplore modeled ZIP comparisons; these do not establish an approved rent or agency payment.
- Average rent in Rhode IslandMarket 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.
Housing authorities serving Providence County
Each PHA sets its own payment standard, runs its own waitlist, and does its own inspections. Confirm the administering agency on your voucher and whether it can serve the proposed address; a ZIP code alone does not settle jurisdiction or portability.
Providence · PHA code RI001
2,674 Section 8 unitsRhode Island Housing
Providence · PHA code RI901
2,010 Section 8 unitsHousing Authority of the City of Pawtucket
Pawtucket · PHA code RI002
800 Section 8 unitsWoonsocket Housing Authority
Woonsocket · PHA code RI003
740 Section 8 unitsCentral Falls Housing Authority
Central Falls · PHA code RI004
598 Section 8 unitsEast Providence Housing Authority
East Providence · PHA code RI007
470 Section 8 units
Frequently asked questions
- What is the income limit for Section 8 in Providence County?
- For FY2026, the very low income screening threshold in Providence County, RI is $39,250 for one person, $44,850 for two, $50,450 for three and $56,050 for a family of four. Limits vary by household size. The agency also checks other eligibility requirements and any applicable exceptions.
- What counts as extremely low income in Providence County?
- HUD's FY2026 extremely low income limit in Providence County is $23,600 for one person and $33,650 for a family of four. Housing authorities must give at least 75% of the vouchers they issue from the waiting list each year to families at or below this level.
- How much does Section 8 pay for a 2-bedroom in Providence County?
- The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Providence County is $1,879 per month. For illustration, 90% to 110% of the benchmark is roughly $1,691 to $2,067. This is not a household rent limit. ZIP-based schedules, approved exceptions and Moving to Work rules may differ; ask your agency for its adopted standard and the unit's utility allowance.
- Who runs Section 8 in Providence County?
- Housing Choice Vouchers in Providence County are administered by Housing Authority Providence, Rhode Island Housing, Housing Authority of the City of Pawtucket and other local housing authorities. Each authority keeps its own waiting lists and eligibility preferences. Check each official application notice; applying to one agency does not apply to the others.
Find Section 8 apartments in Providence County
VoucherMatch connects voucher holders with landlords who accept Section 8, and it is free for renters. The administering housing authority must approve the actual unit, rent and household assistance calculation.
Nearby Rhode Island counties
Voucher counts aggregated from HUD PHA jurisdiction data. Population 657,984 · FIPS 44007.