Complete Guide to Section 8 & Public Housing in Virginia
Virginia has 41 housing authorities managing a combined 290 waiting lists across Section 8 (HCV), Public Housing, and Project-Based Voucher programs. Currently, 94 of those lists are accepting applications — an open rate of approximately 32%. This data was last verified on Aug 30, 2026.
Virginia's affordable housing landscape is managed by 41 housing authorities, overseeing a total of 241 waiting lists across the state. Finding available assistance can be challenging, as only 61 lists are currently open, representing a 25% open rate, with 107 lists currently closed. Applicants seeking help should be aware of the various programs available and strategic locations to focus their search.
Common programs include the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, which has 41 lists with 7 currently open, and Public Housing, offering 41 lists with 16 open. Project-Based Vouchers (PBV) have 30 lists with 5 open, while the Mainstream program has 21 lists with 1 open. Other specific programs with open lists include FUP (1 open), SRO (2 open), Conventional Housing (2 open), and the HomeOwnership Program (HOP) (2 open). Opportunities also exist in programs like Foster Youth to Independence, Multifamily Apartments, ADU, Senior/Disabled Housing, Single Room Occupancy (Coan Pond), and various Affordable Housing initiatives, such as Abingdon Village Apartments and UHNU. The Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA) serves as the state housing agency.
When considering where to apply, applicants should note that Northern Virginia agencies near D.C. are known for extremely long wait times. Faster processing may be found by considering areas like Hampton Roads or Richmond, which has 2 housing authorities with 2 open lists. Cities with more open opportunities include Abingdon (2 HAs, 6 open), Charlottesville (2 HAs, 4 open), and Bristol (1 HA, 3 open). The status of these lists is dynamic; for instance, the Norfolk Redevelopment & Housing Authority in Norfolk recently changed its PBV list from open to closed, while the County of Albemarle/Office of Housing in Charlottesville changed its FUP list from closed to open.
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The affordable housing programs tracked in Virginia include Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) (8 open), Public Housing (15 open), Project-Based Vouchers (PBV) (10 open), Mainstream (1 open), RAD, VASH. 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 Virginia right now are Abingdon (17), Leesburg (15), Harrisonburg (6), Charlottesville (5), and Chesapeake (5) . 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: County of Albemarle/Office of Housing — PBV (closes Aug 24, 2026)
Eligibility Requirements for Virginia
To qualify for assistance in Virginia, applicants must meet specific income and household criteria set by the Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA).
- 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 Virginia legal notices, government press releases, and PHA portal updates. Every listing is cross-referenced with Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA) to ensure that families receive accurate information for low-income programs.