Complete Guide to Section 8 & Public Housing in Nebraska
Nebraska has 105 housing authorities managing a combined 356 waiting lists across Section 8 (HCV), Public Housing, and Project-Based Voucher programs. Currently, 190 of those lists are accepting applications — an open rate of approximately 53%. This data was last verified on Jun 1, 2026.
Nebraska offers various affordable housing assistance programs managed by 105 housing authorities across the state. These authorities oversee a total of 311 waiting lists for different types of housing aid. Currently, 131 of these lists are open, representing a 42% open rate, while 86 lists are closed to new applications.
Key programs include Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV), with 105 lists of which 22 are open. Public Housing programs are widely available, with 102 lists and 78 currently open. Project-Based Vouchers (PBV) have 24 lists, with 3 open, and Mainstream programs have 16 lists but currently 0 open. Other options include RAD (13 lists, 1 open) and various Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) programs, with multiple specific developments showing open lists such as LIHTC (Somers Point I & II) and LIHTC (Fremont Northside Townhomes I & II). For those seeking homeownership opportunities, the CROWN Program (Homeownership) has 1 list open, and Owner-Occupied Housing Rehabilitation has 1 list open. Senior Housing options also exist, with 1 list open out of 2 dedicated lists. Additionally, a range of "Other" programs collectively show 3 open lists out of 4 total, including specific Affordable Rentals.
Applicants seeking assistance in Nebraska should be aware of regional availability. Omaha, with 2 housing authorities, currently has 10 open lists, while Loup City, also with 2 housing authorities, has 4 open lists. Alliance and Auburn each have 1 housing authority with 2 open lists. The primary metropolitan Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) are located in Omaha and Lincoln. A local tip indicates that smaller PHAs in western Nebraska sometimes have immediate openings, which may be a strategic consideration for applicants. Recent activity shows shifts in list availability; for example, the York Housing Authority in York changed its HCV list from open to closed, and the Columbus Housing Authority in Columbus changed its Public Housing list from open to closed, as did the Aurora Housing Authority in Aurora for Public Housing. The Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (NIFA) serves as the state's housing agency, overseeing various initiatives.
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The affordable housing programs tracked in Nebraska include Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) (45 open), Public Housing (87 open), Project-Based Vouchers (PBV) (4 open), Mainstream, RAD (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 Nebraska right now are Omaha (24), Fremont (13), Greeley (6), Norfolk (5), and Loup City (4) . 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: Tecumseh Housing Authority — Public Housing
Eligibility Requirements for Nebraska
To qualify for assistance in Nebraska, applicants must meet specific income and household criteria set by the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (NIFA).
- 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 Nebraska legal notices, government press releases, and PHA portal updates. Every listing is cross-referenced with Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (NIFA) to ensure that families receive accurate information for low-income programs.