Complete Guide to Section 8 & Public Housing in Mississippi
Mississippi has 52 housing authorities managing a combined 207 waiting lists across Section 8 (HCV), Public Housing, and Project-Based Voucher programs. Currently, 104 of those lists are accepting applications — an open rate of approximately 50%. This data was last verified on Jun 1, 2026.
Affordable housing assistance in Mississippi is managed by 52 housing authorities, overseeing a total of 181 waiting lists across the state. Currently, 82 of these lists are open to new applications, representing a 45% open rate, while 65 lists are closed. The primary state agency involved in housing initiatives is the Mississippi Home Corporation.
Various types of housing assistance programs are available. Public Housing offers the most opportunities with 36 open lists out of 52, followed by the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program with 13 open lists from 52. Project-Based Vouchers (PBV) have 3 open lists out of 16. Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV) show varied availability, with one set having 11 open lists from 13, another 2 open lists from 5, and a specific Emergency Housing Voucher program with 1 open list. Other programs include RAD with 2 open lists out of 12, LIHTC with 2 open lists from 3, and "other" programs with 3 open lists from 3. Programs like Voucher Programs, Family Self-Sufficiency, Affordable Communities, Other Senior, Other Senior Assisted Living, Assisted Living (Senior Housing), Assisted Living, and Senior Housing each have 1 open list. Currently, Mainstream, LIHTC (Oakside Drive), LIHTC (Tanner Place), Affordable Housing (The Addison), Section 9, and VASH programs have no open lists.
For those seeking assistance, practical strategies can increase chances of securing housing. Mississippi features numerous rural Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) which often have relatively shorter wait times compared to urban areas. The Jackson Housing Authority is noted as the largest. Applicants are encouraged to apply to multiple counties simultaneously to broaden their options. Cities like McComb and Corinth each have 3 housing authorities with 4 open lists, while Clarksdale has 2 HAs with 2 open lists, Columbus has 2 HAs with 3 open lists, and Jackson has 2 HAs with 5 open lists. Recent activity includes The Housing Authority of the City of Shelby in Shelby changing Public Housing from open to closed, The Housing Authority of the City of Starkville in Starkville changing Public Housing from closed to open, and Mississippi Regional Housing Authority No. VI in Jackson changing Public Housing from closed to open.
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The affordable housing programs tracked in Mississippi include Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) (18 open), Public Housing (36 open), Project-Based Vouchers (PBV) (3 open), RAD (2 open), Mainstream, VASH (1 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 Mississippi right now are Biloxi (11), Laurel (10), McComb (7), Jackson (7), and Newton (5) . 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 of Vicksburg — Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV)
Eligibility Requirements for Mississippi
To qualify for assistance in Mississippi, applicants must meet specific income and household criteria set by the Mississippi Home Corporation.
- 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 Mississippi legal notices, government press releases, and PHA portal updates. Every listing is cross-referenced with Mississippi Home Corporation to ensure that families receive accurate information for low-income programs.