Section 8 in Grand Rapids, MI: Rent Limits and Housing Authorities
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI metro area. FY2027 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 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) | $1,306 | $1,175 to $1,437 |
| 1-bedroom | $1,365 | $1,229 to $1,502 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,630 | $1,467 to $1,793 |
| 3-bedroom | $2,113 | $1,902 to $2,324 |
| 4-bedroom | $2,417 | $2,175 to $2,659 |
The two-bedroom HUD benchmark for Grand Rapids is $1,630. Multiplying by 90% and 110% gives $1,467 to $1,793, 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.
What changed from FY2026 to FY2027 in Grand Rapids
HUD's two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI metro rose from $1,531 in FY2026 to $1,630 in FY2027, a change of +$99 a month (+6.5%). FY2027 figures took effect on October 1, 2026.
| Bedrooms | FY2026 | FY2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (studio) | $1,232 | $1,306 | +$74 (+6.0%) |
| 1-bedroom | $1,278 | $1,365 | +$87 (+6.8%) |
| 2-bedroom | $1,531 | $1,630 | +$99 (+6.5%) |
| 3-bedroom | $1,980 | $2,113 | +$133 (+6.7%) |
| 4-bedroom | $2,189 | $2,417 | +$228 (+10.4%) |
The FMR is not what the voucher pays. Each housing authority sets its own payment standard. The basic range is 90% to 110% of the applicable FMR or SAFMR, with exceptions and Moving to Work policies that may differ. A HUD effective date is not a household rent-change notice. Confirm the adopted schedule and its application to your lease or reexamination with your agency.
Already renting with a voucher in Grand Rapids? Under standard HCV rules, once the housing authority raises its payment standard, the higher amount must be used for your subsidy no later than the earliest of three dates: a rent increase that would raise your share, your next regular or interim reexamination, or one year after the increase took effect (24 CFR 982.505(c)(4)). Confirm any applicable Moving to Work policy with your agency.
Landlords: a higher FMR does not raise a contract rent by itself. You still request the increase from the housing authority, and the new rent has to pass its rent reasonableness review against comparable unassisted units.
Source: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 and FY2027, huduser.gov.
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 Grand Rapids
9 PHAs administer vouchers in this metro. Apply with (or contact) the PHA that covers the specific address.
- Status unknown
Grand Rapids Housing Commission
Grand Rapids , MI · MI073 · 3,808 HCV units
6162352600 - Status unknown
Wyoming Housing Commission
Wyoming , MI · MI115 · 1,168 HCV units
6165345471 - Status unknown
Montcalm County Housing Commission
Howard City , MI · MI186 · 358 HCV units
2319374241 - Status unknown
Rockford Housing Commission
Rockford , MI · MI093 · 93 HCV units
6168660371 - Status unknown
Ionia Housing Commission
Ionia , MI · MI117 · 23 HCV units
6165279060 - Status unknown
Middleville Housing Commission
Middleville , MI · MI183
2697957715 - Status unknown
Belding Housing Commission
Belding , MI · MI025
6167941740 - Status unknown
Saranac Housing Commission
Saranac , MI · MI124
6166429832 - Status unknown
Greenville Housing Commission
Greenville , MI · MI023
6167547179
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Grand Rapids, MI?
No. Michigan law prohibits landlords from refusing a renter because they pay with a Section 8 voucher. That protection applies in Grand Rapids, MI. If you were turned away for having a voucher, that refusal may be illegal.
Michigan Public Act 195 of 2024 (effective April 2, 2025)
Michigan Public Act 195 of 2024 added source-of-income protection to state law, effective April 2 2025. BUT the state law only applies to landlords with 5 or more rental units — small landlords (1-4 units) remain exempt at the state level. Local ordinances may cover the small-landlord gap; Detroit and Southfield both do.
View statute →Informational only, not legal advice. Laws change, so verify current status before acting on a rejection or making a leasing decision.
Counties in the Grand Rapids 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 Grand Rapids?
- In the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI metro, the FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,630 per month. For illustration, 90% to 110% of that benchmark is roughly $1,467 to $1,793. This is not an adopted payment standard or subsidy quote. ZIP schedules, approved exceptions and Moving to Work rules may differ. Gross rent includes the applicable allowance for tenant-paid utilities.
- What are the FY2027 Fair Market Rents in Grand Rapids?
- HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rents for the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI metro, by bedroom size: studio $1,306, 1-bedroom $1,365, 2-bedroom $1,630, 3-bedroom $2,113, 4-bedroom $2,417. These are HUD benchmarks, not household subsidy amounts. Confirm whether your agency uses ZIP-based standards and which schedule applies to your unit.
- Did Section 8 rent limits change in Grand Rapids for FY2027?
- The two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI metro went from $1,531 in FY2026 to $1,630 in FY2027, an increase of $99 a month. FY2027 Fair Market Rents took effect on October 1, 2026. HUD's effective date does not automatically change a household's assistance. Ask your administering agency which adopted schedule and effective date apply to a new lease, move or reexamination.
- How do I apply for Section 8 in Grand Rapids?
- Section 8 in Grand Rapids is administered by Grand Rapids Housing Commission, Wyoming Housing Commission, Montcalm County Housing Commission and other local housing authorities. Each agency has its own application process, waiting lists and preferences. You may apply to more than one agency when eligible lists are open; a listing inquiry is not a voucher application. If you already have a voucher, confirm the receiving agency and any portability requirements for the proposed address.
Find Section 8 apartments in Grand Rapids
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.
Other Section 8 markets in MI
Rent limits from HUD FY2027 Fair Market Rent data. Investor running the numbers? The RentalCalcs voucher analyzer uses this same dataset.