Section 8 Housing in Detroit, MI
Waitlist status, voucher-friendly neighborhoods, and tenant resources across 5 public housing authorities serving the metro area. Every fact source-cited.
5
PHAs serving metro
1
Waitlists open / lottery
2
Waitlists closed
4,342,304
Metro population (2023)
In Detroit, Section 8 is run by the Detroit Housing Commission (DHC), whose Housing Choice Voucher waitlist is closed as of 2026 with no scheduled reopening; the last general HCV opening was February 2020. Waits run roughly two to five years, and about 4,200 people sit on the list. The big recent change for tenants: as of April 2, 2025, Michigan law bans source-of-income discrimination, so landlords with five or more units cannot refuse you just because you have a voucher. Detroit tenants facing eviction also have a free lawyer under the city's Right to Counsel law at 36th District Court.
Waitlist Status: Where to Apply
MI001 Detroit Housing Commission
closedGeneral Housing Choice Voucher waitlist closed as of 2026, no scheduled reopening; last general opening was Feb 3-5, 2020. Opens on an as-needed basis with short notice. Apply via dhcmi.org applicant portal when open.
Source: dhcmi.orgDetroit Housing Commission - Project-Based Vouchers
openSeveral PBV site-based waitlists (senior and family properties in Detroit, Highland Park, Eastpointe and Pontiac) are open with no predetermined closing date, even while the general HCV list is closed. Apply per property via dhcmi.org project-based voucher page.
Source: affordablehousingonline.comMSHDA (Michigan State Housing Development Authority)
waitlist onlyStatewide HCV program for counties/areas without a local PHA. Applications online only at mshda.myhousing.com during open periods; must live or work in a county with an open list. County residency preference applies.
Source: michigan.govPontiac Housing Commission
closedNot accepting applications for any waiting list; lists not scheduled to open soon.
Source: affordablehousingonline.comWayne County Housing Authority (Inkster) / Hamtramck / Highland Park / Dearborn
unknownSeparate PHAs serving different parts of the metro, each with its own list. Status varies; contact each directly. Wayne County HA starts applications by phone or email.
Source: waythroughproject.comWhere Your Voucher Actually Gets Accepted
Higher-rent suburbs in Oakland and Macomb counties
Voucher-friendlyDHC vouchers can be used across Oakland, Macomb, Wayne, Lapeer and St. Clair counties. Under the new SAFMR system, ZIP-code payment standards are higher in these pricier areas, so a voucher now stretches further there than before. Combined with the 2025 source-of-income law, larger apartment communities here can no longer reject you for using a voucher.
Low-cost Detroit neighborhoods (east side and similar)
Voucher-friendlyHistorically where most voucher units are, but be careful: under SAFMRs the payment standard in these low-cost ZIP codes may be reduced, which can raise your out-of-pocket share. Confirm the current payment standard for the exact ZIP before signing.
Dearborn and Hamtramck
Voucher-friendlyBoth have separate housing authorities and large immigrant communities served by Michigan PHAs (Dearborn's Arab-American community, Hamtramck's Bangladeshi and Yemeni communities). Apply to these local commissions in addition to DHC.
Grosse Pointe Park
SkipAn affluent border suburb with a documented fair-housing complaint history. The Fair Housing Center of Metropolitan Detroit recently advised and referred a Grosse Pointe Park family facing severe racial harassment. Higher rents and limited voucher-accepting stock make this a hard place to place a voucher; know your rights before applying.
Pontiac
SkipThe Pontiac Housing Commission is not accepting applications and its waitlists are not scheduled to open, so local PHA help is limited right now. Tenants here can still use Lakeshore Legal Aid and city escrow resources for repair and eviction issues.
Who to Call If You're Rejected
United Community Housing Coalition (UCHC)
legal aidFree eviction defense and landlord-tenant legal help for low-income Detroit and Wayne County tenants since 1973, including help keeping housing subsidies. Call (313) 963-3310; email eviction@uchcdetroit.org.t not... use eviction@uchcdetroit.org for eviction cases.
uchcdetroit.org →Lakeshore Legal Aid
legal aidFree civil legal services for low-income residents across metro Detroit, including eviction and landlord-tenant matters. Call (888) 783-8190. Part of the Detroit Eviction Defense Fund.
lakeshorelegalaid.org →Fair Housing Center of Metropolitan Detroit
advocacyNonprofit that investigates housing discrimination, including source-of-income and disability complaints, at no charge and uses testing to gather evidence. Call 313-579-FAIR (3247) or email info@fairhousingdetroit.org. Office at 5555 Conner St., Suite 2244, Detroit.
fairhousingdetroit.org →Michigan Department of Civil Rights - Fair Housing Hotline
hotlineState agency that enforces fair housing law, including source-of-income protection. File a complaint at michigan.gov/mdcr or call 1-800-482-3604. HUD's discrimination hotline is 1-800-669-9777.
michigan.gov →City of Detroit Office of Eviction Defense (Right to Counsel)
govFree lawyer for Detroit tenants facing eviction at 36th District Court if household income is 200% or less of the federal poverty level. Attend your hearing and ask to meet a free legal aid lawyer.
detroitmi.gov →Detroit Housing Resource HelpLine
hotlineReferral line for current housing and rental-assistance programs in Detroit. Call 866-313-2520.
homeconnect.detroitmi.gov →Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Detroit Section 8 waitlist open right now?⌄
No. The Detroit Housing Commission's Housing Choice Voucher waitlist is closed and it is not accepting applications. DHC opens the list only on an as-needed basis, and openings are short, so check dhcmi.org often.
When did the Detroit Section 8 waitlist last open?⌄
The general Housing Choice Voucher waitlist last accepted applications from February 3, 2020 to February 5, 2020, a window of about two days.
How long is the wait for a voucher in Detroit?⌄
Expect roughly two to five years. About 4,200 people are on the DHC Section 8 waitlist.
Can a landlord in Detroit legally refuse my voucher?⌄
As of April 2, 2025, landlords with five or more rental units cannot refuse you just because you have a Section 8 voucher. Landlords with four or fewer units are exempt and may still decline vouchers.
What can I do if a landlord rejects my voucher?⌄
You can file a complaint with the Fair Housing Center of Metropolitan Detroit at 313-579-FAIR or the Michigan Department of Civil Rights at 1-800-482-3604. You can also sue for damages of up to three times the monthly rent plus attorney fees.
Where can I actually use my Detroit voucher?⌄
DHC vouchers work in Detroit and in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Lapeer and St. Clair counties. Because DHC now uses ZIP-code payment standards (SAFMRs), your voucher stretches further in higher-rent suburbs and may cover less in the lowest-cost Detroit ZIPs.
How much rent will my voucher cover?⌄
DHC sets its payment standard at 110% of the Fair Market Rent, now calculated by ZIP code. You generally pay about 30% of your adjusted income, and at move-in your total rent cannot exceed 40% of your adjusted gross income.
Should I apply to other housing authorities besides DHC?⌄
Yes. Pontiac, Wayne County (Inkster), Hamtramck, Highland Park, Dearborn and the statewide MSHDA program all run separate lists. Apply to every open list you qualify for. Note that Pontiac is currently closed.
Are any Detroit voucher lists open at all?⌄
Yes. While the general HCV list is closed, several DHC Project-Based Voucher lists for specific senior and family buildings are open with no set closing date. These vouchers are tied to the building, not portable.
I have a voucher and I'm being evicted. Is there free legal help?⌄
Yes. Detroit's Right to Counsel law gives tenants earning up to 200% of the federal poverty level a free lawyer at 36th District Court. Show up to your first hearing and ask for a free legal aid lawyer. UCHC (313-963-3310) and Lakeshore Legal Aid (888-783-8190) also help.
What income do I need to qualify for Section 8 in the Detroit area?⌄
You must be under HUD's income limits for the Detroit area. For FY 2025 the Very Low Income limit for a family of four was $50,500, against an area median income of $101,000.
Is source-of-income discrimination actually being enforced in Michigan?⌄
Yes. A 2025 court settlement forced an Ann Arbor landlord that refused vouchers to start accepting them and train staff. The statewide protection took effect April 2, 2025, giving voucher holders across the Detroit metro the same rights.