Complete Guide to Section 8 & Public Housing in Utah
Utah has 19 housing authorities managing a combined 179 waiting lists across Section 8 (HCV), Public Housing, and Project-Based Voucher programs. Currently, 88 of those lists are accepting applications — an open rate of approximately 49%. This data was last verified on Sep 11, 2026.
Utah features a network of 19 housing authorities overseeing 137 waiting lists for affordable housing assistance. Currently, 46 of these lists are open, representing a 34% open rate, while 62 are closed. The state's primary housing agency is the Utah Housing Corporation. A local tip for applicants is that Utah housing authorities frequently open waitlists on a first-come, first-served basis. Salt Lake County and Ogden manage some of the largest programs in the state.
Affordable housing assistance in Utah is available through various programs. The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program has 19 lists, with 5 currently open. Public Housing programs offer more opportunities, with 11 of their 19 lists active. However, Project-Based Voucher (PBV) programs have 11 lists, none of which are open. Similarly, Mainstream vouchers have 1 open list out of 9, and all 8 RAD program lists are closed. Beyond these, applicants can find openings in programs such as Shelter Plus Care (with multiple lists open), Lomond View Retirement Apartments (with multiple lists open), Homeownership assistance (including Mutual Self Help and Owned Housing), Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), MAPS Senior Living, Rosewood Villa, VASH, and USDA Rural Apartments.
When seeking assistance, certain cities in Utah show higher concentrations of open lists. Ogden, for example, has 2 housing authorities with a total of 10 open lists. Provo also has 2 housing authorities with 9 open lists, while Logan has 2 housing authorities with 2 open lists. Other cities with notable open lists include Farmington (1 housing authority, 4 open) and Moab (1 housing authority, 6 open). Recent activity includes the Housing Authority of the City of Ogden changing Public Housing lists from closed to open, and Weber Housing Authority in Ogden changing a Supportive Housing list from closed to open. Given the first-come, first-served nature of many waitlists, staying informed about list openings in these and other areas can be beneficial.
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The affordable housing programs tracked in Utah include Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) (6 open), Public Housing (14 open), Mainstream (2 open), Project-Based Vouchers (PBV) (1 open), RAD, 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 Utah right now are Provo (17), Moab (15), Beaver (13), South Salt Lake (9), and Ogden (8) . 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 County of Salt Lake — Other (Elderly/Disabled) - New City Plaza
Eligibility Requirements for Utah
To qualify for assistance in Utah, applicants must meet specific income and household criteria set by the Utah Housing 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 Utah legal notices, government press releases, and PHA portal updates. Every listing is cross-referenced with Utah Housing Corporation to ensure that families receive accurate information for low-income programs.