How many Section 8 vouchers are there in Texas?

HUD data shows about 171,496 Housing Choice Vouchers across the 26 Texas markets we track, administered by 379 housing authorities statewide.

How do I apply for Section 8 in Texas?

You apply to a local housing authority, not to the state or to HUD. Each of Texas's housing authorities runs its own waitlist and opens it on its own schedule, and applying is always free. Pick your metro or county on this page to see the housing authorities that serve it and their current waitlist status.

Section 8 Housing in Texas

171,496 active Housing Choice Vouchers across 26 markets. Rent limits, housing authorities, waitlist status, and voucher rights for every metro in Texas.

Markets covered

Active vouchers

171,496

139,411 occupied

Housing authorities

379

statewide

Voucher protection

State preempts

Texas Government Code § 2306.269: voucher rules for TDHCA housing

Voucher-friendly listings in Texas

8 listings

View all 8 listings →

Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Texas?

Texas limits local voucher-protection ordinances, but that does not let every property refuse vouchers. TDHCA-funded or administered multifamily housing, including housing-tax-credit properties, cannot exclude applicants because they use Housing Choice Vouchers. Other program or contract requirements may also apply; ordinary screening and agency approval still matter.

Texas Government Code § 2306.269: voucher rules for TDHCA housing

Program-specific voucher requirements still apply despite local ordinance preemption.

View statute →

Informational only, not legal advice. Laws change, so verify current status before acting on a rejection or making a leasing decision.

Compare HUD rent benchmarks across Texas

Use the county tables to compare areas, then ask the administering housing authority for its adopted payment standard, utility allowance and household calculation.

Texas Section 8 Fair Market Rent Benchmarks by County (FY2027)

Landlord and investor tools for Texas

RentalCalcs

Free calculators and guides from RentalCalcs, built by the VoucherMatch team, for landlords deciding whether to accept vouchers.

Texas metro guides

In-depth, source-cited guides: waitlist status, voucher-friendly neighborhoods, and who to call if you are turned away.

Dallas, TX

pop. 8,100,037

1 of 5 PHAs accepting applicants

The Dallas–Fort Worth area has multiple voucher administrators. DHA, Housing Solutions for North Texas, is separate from Dallas County Housing Agency, Fort Worth Housing Solutions and Tarrant County’s program. Use each d

See Dallas waitlists →

Houston, TX

pop. 7,510,253

4 tracked voucher lists; none confirmed open

Start a Houston housing search with the correct administrator and program. Housing Alliance HTX, formerly Houston Housing Authority, and Harris County Housing Authority have separate applications, documents and tenancy r

See Houston waitlists →

San Antonio, TX

pop. 2,703,999

4 tracked voucher lists; none confirmed open

San Antonio has separate housing application paths through Opportunity Home, formerly SAHA, and the Housing Authority of Bexar County. An application for public housing or a particular property is not the same as joining

See San Antonio waitlists →

Austin, TX

pop. 2,473,275

4 tracked voucher lists; none confirmed open

Start with Austin Housing Authority or the Housing Authority of Travis County as named on the voucher or application. Their adopted schedules, intake procedures and program columns differ; an Austin mailing address is no

See Austin waitlists →

All Section 8 markets in Texas

Sorted by active voucher count. Each metro page has HUD Fair Market Rent by bedroom, the housing authorities that administer vouchers there, and waitlist status.

Section 8 by county in Texas

County pages show the local voucher count, housing authorities, and metro rollup. Useful when you are looking at a specific address.

Section 8 in Texas: common questions

Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Texas?: Texas limits local voucher-protection ordinances, but that does not let every property refuse vouchers. TDHCA-funded or administered multifamily housing, including housing-tax-credit properties, cannot exclude applicants because they use Housing Choice Vouchers. Other program or contract requirements may also apply; ordinary screening and agency approval still matter.
How many Section 8 vouchers are there in Texas?: HUD data shows about 171,496 Housing Choice Vouchers across the 26 Texas markets we track, administered by 379 housing authorities statewide.
How do I apply for Section 8 in Texas?: You apply to a local housing authority, not to the state or to HUD. Each of Texas's housing authorities runs its own waitlist and opens it on its own schedule, and applying is always free. Pick your metro or county on this page to see the housing authorities that serve it and their current waitlist status.

Find Section 8 apartments in Texas

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.

Browse voucher-friendly listings in Texas List your unit free

Other states

Section 8 in Arkansas Section 8 in Arizona Section 8 in California Section 8 in Colorado