Complete Guide to Section 8 & Public Housing in Texas
Texas has 379 housing authorities managing a combined 985 waiting lists across Section 8 (HCV), Public Housing, and Project-Based Voucher programs. Currently, 330 of those lists are accepting applications — an open rate of approximately 34%. This data was last verified on Mar 2, 2026.
The affordable housing programs tracked in Texas include Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) (82 open), Public Housing (181 open), Project-Based Vouchers (PBV) (31 open), RAD (4 open), Mainstream, VASH (3 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 Texas right now are Laredo (6), Belton (5), Weslaco (5), Hidalgo (5), and Fabens (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: Housing Authority of Haltom City — Public Housing
Eligibility Requirements for Texas
To qualify for assistance in Texas, applicants must meet specific income and household criteria set by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA).
- 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 Texas legal notices, government press releases, and PHA portal updates. This automated monitoring is cross-referenced with Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) to ensure that families receive accurate information for low-income programs.