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Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs
Austin, Texas
Last Updated
4 hours ago
About Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs
The Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs, located in Austin, Travis County, Texas, administers various programs to provide housing assistance across the state.
This authority manages approximately 1,864 assisted housing units, primarily through Section 8 vouchers. Programs offered include Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV), Housing Choice Voucher (HCV), Mainstream, Project-Based Vouchers (PBV), Project Access, Public Housing, Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD), and VASH. Currently, all waiting lists for these programs are closed.
For those considering future applications, the income limit for a family of four categorized as Very Low Income in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX MSA area is $66,900 per year. Potential applicants are advised to monitor for any future announcements regarding waitlist openings.
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Other Programs
12 programsThese programs are administered by this housing authority but do not have active waitlist openings at this time. Statuses are verified nightly and subscribers will be notified when changes are detected.
TDHCA was issued a limited number of Emergency Housing Vouchers, and referrals have been received for all available vouchers.
This program provides vouchers to specific vulnerable households, and referrals have been received for all available vouchers from partnering Continuums of Care (CoCs).
The Emergency Housing Voucher program at TDHCA (PHA Code TX901) was issued a limited number of HUD-funded vouchers, and referrals have been received for all available vouchers through partnering Continuums of Care (CoCs).
The Emergency Housing Voucher program has received referrals for all available vouchers and is not open for general applications.
Emergency Housing Vouchers were issued only to those referred by partnering Continuums of Care (CoCs), and referrals have been received for all available vouchers.
The PHA Portal provides information about waitlist status for Section 8 applicants. However, specific current status (open/closed) is not detailed on the provided pages.
Mainstream vouchers, which assist low-income persons with permanent disabilities, are currently closed to new applications at the Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs (PHA Code TX901) as of May 18, 2026.
All waiting lists for Project-Based Vouchers administered by the Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs (PHA Code TX901) are currently closed as of May 18, 2026.
Project Access utilizes Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers to assist low-income persons with disabilities transitioning from institutions, requiring Section 8 eligibility and a permanent disability or specific institutionalization criteria. All waiting lists for this program are currently closed.
All waiting lists at Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs are currently closed as of May 18, 2026. Potential applicants are advised to monitor for any future announcements regarding waitlist openings.
All waiting lists for the Rental Assistance Demonstration program at the Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs (PHA Code TX901) are currently closed.
The HUD-VASH program at the Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs (PHA Code TX901) combines Housing Choice Vouchers with VA supportive services for homeless veterans, with referrals made through the local VA Medical Center. All waiting lists for this program are generally closed.
Status History
Official Application
Contact Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs directly to request an application. Applications are always free — never pay anyone to apply on your behalf.
Contact the housing authority directly for application information.
WARNING: DO NOT PAY ANYONE TO APPLY FOR HOUSING
Contact Information
Important Notices
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Waiting lists can close without notice once a specific number of applications is reached.
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Ensure your contact information is always up to date with the PHA to avoid being removed from the list.
How to Apply at Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs
Check Current Status
All 12 waiting lists at Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs are currently closed. Lists typically open with short notice — sometimes as little as 48 hours. The status at the top of this page is updated nightly.
Gather Required Documents
For Section 8 voucher programs at Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs, you will typically need: government-issued photo ID for all adult household members, Social Security cards for all members, birth certificates for minors, proof of income (pay stubs, tax returns, benefit letters), and proof of current address. For a family of four, income must be below $66,900/year to qualify in this area. Having these ready before the waitlist opens can make the difference between getting on the list and missing the window.
Submit Your Application
Contact Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs directly at to request an application. Applications are always free — never pay anyone to apply on your behalf.
After You Apply
Once accepted onto the waiting list at Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs, keep your contact information updated. Most housing authorities will remove applicants who cannot be reached. Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs manages approximately 1,864 assisted housing units (1,864 Section 8), and wait times depend on turnover and demand in Austin. You will be notified when your name reaches the top of the list for eligibility verification.
Programs at Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs
EHV closed
The EHV program at Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs provides housing assistance to eligible low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities in Austin. Contact the housing authority directly for specific program details and eligibility requirements.
Emergency Housing Voucher closed
The Emergency Housing Voucher program at Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs provides housing assistance to eligible low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities in Austin. Contact the housing authority directly for specific program details and eligibility requirements.
Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) closed
The Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) program at Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs provides housing assistance to eligible low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities in Austin. Contact the housing authority directly for specific program details and eligibility requirements.
Emergency Housing Vouchers closed
The Emergency Housing Vouchers program at Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs provides housing assistance to eligible low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities in Austin. Contact the housing authority directly for specific program details and eligibility requirements.
Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV) closed
The Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV) program at Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs provides housing assistance to eligible low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities in Austin. Contact the housing authority directly for specific program details and eligibility requirements.
HCV Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) closed
The Housing Choice Voucher program at Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs provides rental assistance that allows you to choose any privately-owned rental unit that meets program requirements. You pay approximately 30% of your adjusted monthly income toward rent, and the voucher covers the remainder up to the Fair Market Rent for Austin. This program serves approximately 1,864 households. Vouchers are portable — you can take them with you if you move to a different city or state.
Mainstream Mainstream Voucher closed
Mainstream Vouchers at Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs are specifically designated for non-elderly individuals with disabilities. These vouchers work like standard HCVs but are reserved for this population and often have separate, shorter waitlists.
PBV Project-Based Voucher closed
Project-Based Vouchers at Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs are attached to specific apartment complexes or units in Austin. Unlike the standard Housing Choice Voucher, PBV assistance stays with the property — not with you. However, after one year of occupancy, you may request a standard portable voucher. PBV waitlists often move faster because fewer applicants know about them.
Project Access closed
The Project Access program at Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs provides housing assistance to eligible low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities in Austin. Contact the housing authority directly for specific program details and eligibility requirements.
Public Housing Public Housing closed
Public Housing units at Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs are owned and operated directly by the housing authority. Rent is set at 30% of your adjusted monthly income. You may request a transfer to other Public Housing developments but cannot use this benefit at private rental properties.
RAD Rental Assistance Demonstration closed
The Rental Assistance Demonstration program at Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs converts Public Housing units to project-based assistance with long-term contracts. RAD units in Austin maintain the same resident protections as Public Housing while enabling capital improvements to the properties.
VASH Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing closed
The HUD-VASH program at Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs combines Housing Choice Vouchers with VA supportive services for homeless veterans in Austin. Referrals are made through the local VA Medical Center — contact the VA to begin the application process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is applying at Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs free?
How long is the wait at Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs?
Can I apply to other housing authorities while on this waitlist?
How do I contact Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs?
What are the income limits for Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs?
Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs Income Limits
Income limits for programs at the Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs are based on the Area Median Income (AMI) for Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX MSA. For a household of four, the current limit for Section 8 eligibility (Very Low Income) is $66,900. Limits are set annually by HUD and vary by household size.
| Household Size | Extremely Low 30% AMI |
Very Low 50% AMI |
Low Income 80% AMI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Person | $28,150 | $46,850 | $72,950 |
| 2 Persons | $32,150 | $53,550 | $83,400 |
| 3 Persons | $36,150 | $60,250 | $93,800 |
| 4 Persons | $40,150 | $66,900 | $104,200 |
| 5 Persons | $43,400 | $72,300 | $112,550 |
| 6 Persons | $46,600 | $77,650 | $120,900 |
| 7 Persons | $49,800 | $83,000 | $129,250 |
| 8 Persons | $54,150 | $88,350 | $137,550 |
What do these income limits mean?
Extremely Low Income (30% AMI) — Households earning at or below 30% of the Area Median Income. This is the threshold for the lowest-income tier of assistance. Many housing authorities give preference to applicants at this level.
Very Low Income (50% AMI) — The standard eligibility threshold for Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers and most Public Housing programs. Your household income must be at or below this limit to qualify.
Low Income (80% AMI) — Some programs, including Project-Based Vouchers and certain local initiatives, use this higher threshold. Check with this housing authority for specific program requirements.
Nearby Housing Authorities
Applying to multiple housing authorities increases your chances of receiving assistance. These PHAs are closest to Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs — including across state lines.