Complete Guide to Section 8 & Public Housing in Indiana
Indiana has 54 housing authorities managing a combined 168 waiting lists across Section 8 (HCV), Public Housing, and Project-Based Voucher programs. Currently, 60 of those lists are accepting applications — an open rate of approximately 36%. This data was last verified on Apr 15, 2026.
Indiana offers various affordable housing assistance programs across the state, managed by 54 housing authorities overseeing a total of 158 waiting lists. Currently, 59 of these lists are open, representing a 37% open rate, while 80 lists are closed. The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) is the state housing agency. Key programs available include the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, with 54 lists total and 15 currently open, and Public Housing, which has 51 lists with 30 open.
Applicants seeking assistance should note that while the Indianapolis Housing Agency is the largest Public Housing Authority (PHA), many mid-size city PHAs, such as those in Fort Wayne, Evansville, and South Bend, tend to open their waiting lists more regularly. Other programs available include Project-Based Vouchers (PBV) with 15 lists (5 open), Mainstream (8 lists, 0 open), and RAD (6 lists, 0 open). Various specific affordable housing options are also present, including Assisted Living (1 list, 1 open), Senior Housing (1 list, 1 open), Abbott Apartments (Affordable Housing) (1 list, 1 open), Abbott Apartments (1 list, 1 open), and AHI/Westwood Estates (LIHTC) (1 list, 1 open), and AHI/Westwood Estates (1 list, 1 open).
Geographically, Fort Wayne has 2 housing authorities with 5 open lists, Indianapolis has 2 HAs with 3 open lists, and Muncie has 2 HAs with 3 open lists. Bedford has 1 HA with 2 open lists, while Bloomington has 1 HA. Waiting list statuses can change frequently; for example, the Housing Authority of the City of Kendallville recently changed its HCV list from unknown to closed. In contrast, the Housing Authority City of Bedford changed its Public Housing list from closed to open, while the Housing Authority of the City of Muncie changed its Public Housing list from open to closed. These examples highlight the dynamic nature of housing assistance availability throughout Indiana.
The affordable housing programs tracked in Indiana include Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) (15 open), Public Housing (27 open), Project-Based Vouchers (PBV) (6 open), Mainstream, 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 Indiana right now are Indianapolis (6), Fort Wayne (5), Anderson (5), Muncie (4), and Lafayette (3) . 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: New Castle Housing Authority — PBV
Eligibility Requirements for Indiana
To qualify for assistance in Indiana, applicants must meet specific income and household criteria set by the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA).
- 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 Indiana legal notices, government press releases, and PHA portal updates. Every listing is cross-referenced with Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) to ensure that families receive accurate information for low-income programs.