Complete Guide to Section 8 & Public Housing in New Hampshire
New Hampshire has 20 housing authorities managing a combined 75 waiting lists across Section 8 (HCV), Public Housing, and Project-Based Voucher programs. Currently, 26 of those lists are accepting applications — an open rate of approximately 35%. This data was last verified on Mar 2, 2026.
The affordable housing programs tracked in New Hampshire include Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) (5 open), Public Housing (6 open), Project-Based Vouchers (PBV) (3 open), Mainstream (1 open), 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 New Hampshire right now are Nashua (5), Somersworth (4), Berlin (3), Concord (2), and Laconia (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: Somersworth Housing Authority — Public Housing
Eligibility Requirements for New Hampshire
To qualify for assistance in New Hampshire, applicants must meet specific income and household criteria set by the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority.
- 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 utilizes advanced Search Grounding technology to scan official New Hampshire legal notices, government press releases, and PHA portal updates. This automated monitoring is cross-referenced with New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority to ensure that families receive accurate information for low-income programs.