Complete Guide to Section 8 & Public Housing in Idaho
Idaho has 10 housing authorities managing a combined 57 waiting lists across Section 8 (HCV), Public Housing, and Project-Based Voucher programs. Currently, 40 of those lists are accepting applications — an open rate of approximately 70%. This data was last verified on Jun 1, 2026.
Affordable housing assistance in Idaho is managed by 10 housing authorities across the state, overseeing a total of 47 waiting lists. Currently, 28 of these lists are open, representing a 60% open rate, while 12 lists are closed. The Idaho Housing and Finance Association (IHFA) serves as the state housing agency.
A variety of programs offer assistance. Public Housing has 10 lists, with 6 currently open. The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program has 10 lists, with 3 open, while Project-Based Voucher (PBV) has 5 lists, with only 1 open. Programs under Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) have 3 lists, all of which are closed. Other programs include "Other" (3 lists, 3 open), "other" (2 lists, 2 open), Mainstream (2 lists, 1 open), and Market Rate Housing (2 lists, 2 open). Specific offerings like "Other (Market Rate Housing - Hobbler Place)" (1 list, 1 open) are also available. Rural Development programs, including "Rural Development - Family," "Rural Development - Senior," "Rural Development Family," and "Rural Development Senior Housing," collectively manage multiple lists, each with 1 open list. An additional "Market Rate" program also has 1 open list.
For applicants, geographic location can impact availability. Cities with a higher number of Housing Authorities and open lists include Boise (3 HAs, 10 open), Middleton (1 HA, 11 open), Jerome (1 HA, 2 open), Buhl (1 HA, 1 open), and Nampa (1 HA, 1 open). Due to rapid population growth in Boise and Ada County, waitlists in these areas are increasingly competitive. Applicants may find shorter waits when considering Public Housing Authorities in rural Idaho. It's important to note that waitlist statuses can change; for example, the Southwestern Idaho Cooperative Housing Authority in Middleton recently changed its HCV list from open to closed. Additionally, the Housing Authority of the City of American Falls saw its Public Housing list change from closed to open, then subsequently from open to closed.
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The affordable housing programs tracked in Idaho include Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) (4 open), Public Housing (6 open), Project-Based Vouchers (PBV) (4 open), Mainstream (1 open), RAD. 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 Idaho right now are Middleton (15), Boise (14), Jerome (5), Nampa (2), and Twin Falls (2) . 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: Housing Authority of the City Jerome — Rural Development Family
Eligibility Requirements for Idaho
To qualify for assistance in Idaho, applicants must meet specific income and household criteria set by the Idaho Housing and Finance Association (IHFA).
- 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 Idaho legal notices, government press releases, and PHA portal updates. Every listing is cross-referenced with Idaho Housing and Finance Association (IHFA) to ensure that families receive accurate information for low-income programs.