Complete Guide to Section 8 & Public Housing in New York
New York has 159 housing authorities managing a combined 646 waiting lists across Section 8 (HCV), Public Housing, and Project-Based Voucher programs. Currently, 277 of those lists are accepting applications — an open rate of approximately 43%. This data was last verified on Mar 15, 2026.
The affordable housing programs tracked in New York include Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) (29 open), Public Housing (76 open), Project-Based Vouchers (PBV) (32 open), RAD (4 open), Mainstream (2 open). Each program has its own eligibility criteria, application process, and wait times. In most cases, applicants can apply to multiple program types at the same housing authority, and there is no limit to the number of housing authorities you can apply to statewide.
The cities with the most open waitlists in New York right now are Saratoga Springs (86), Southampton (17), New York City (16), North Babylon (9), and Buffalo (8) . Applicants who are flexible about location will generally receive assistance sooner than those who apply to a single waitlist in a high-demand area.
Latest opening: Village of Spring Valley Housing Authority — Mainstream (closes Mar 27, 2026)
Eligibility Requirements for New York
To qualify for assistance in New York, applicants must meet specific income and household criteria set by the NY State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR).
- Income: Below HUD local limits
- Citizenship: U.S. Citizen or eligible legal status
- Background: Criminal background check required
- Residency: Preferences often given to locals
Real-Time Data Verification
Section 8 Waitlist aggregates data from official New York legal notices, government press releases, and PHA portal updates. Every listing is cross-referenced with NY State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) to ensure that families receive accurate information for low-income programs.