Section 8 in Howard County, TX
385 active Housing Choice Vouchers in Howard County, 59% utilized. 1 housing authority serve this county. Voucher data as of 2026.
Section 8 payment standards in Howard County (FY2026)
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) | $918 | $826 to $1,010 |
| 1-bedroom | $924 | $832 to $1,016 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,173 | $1,056 to $1,290 |
| 3-bedroom | $1,406 | $1,265 to $1,547 |
| 4-bedroom | $1,726 | $1,553 to $1,899 |
Example: at 100% of FMR, a 2-bedroom voucher in Howard County covers up to $1,173 in gross rent, before the tenant's utility allowance. Across the full range a PHA may set: $1,056 to $1,290.
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Howard County?
Yes. Texas law blocks local governments from requiring voucher acceptance, so landlords in Howard County 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.
Howard County in the Big Spring metro
Howard County is one of the counties inside the Big Spring, TX core-based statistical area. The metro-level view aggregates voucher activity across every housing authority in the CBSA.
See Big Spring metro rent limits and PHA breakdown →Housing authorities serving Howard County
Each PHA sets its own payment standard, runs its own waitlist, and does its own inspections. The PHA whose jurisdiction covers a unit's ZIP is the one both tenant and landlord will deal with.
Big Spring Housing Authority
Big Spring · PHA code TX485
385 Section 8 units
Find Section 8 apartments in Howard County
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 Texas counties
Voucher counts aggregated from HUD PHA jurisdiction data. Population 34,488 · FIPS 48227.