Multnomah County Reopens Waitlist for Affordable Housing Assistance

• Author: Bryan Miller
• Posted: 2025-04-18

After being closed for two years, the waitlist to apply for low-income rental assistance in Multnomah County is now open again, but only for one week. 

This program, funded by the federal government and known as the Housing Choice Voucher program (previously called Section 8), helps low-income residents afford rent in regular housing markets.

Check out: Everything You Need to Know Before Applying for a Property Through Section 8

Home Forward, the local public housing authority, is handling the waitlist for these vouchers, as well as for 13 low-income apartment complexes they oversee. It's rare for this waitlist to open due to high demand for affordable housing and limited funding. The last opportunity to apply was in 2023, and before that, it had been closed for seven years.

Within just five hours of the waitlist reopening this Tuesday, Home Forward received nearly 7,000 applications, which is already more than the early response in 2023. "We’re already seeing an uptick," mentioned Ian Davie, the Chief Operating Officer of Home Forward.

Applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on the coming Monday, April 21. A random lottery will then decide who gets added to the waitlist, with space for 3,000 new people. To be eligible, households must earn less than 50% of the area's median income, which for a family of four in Multnomah County would be about $5,170 per month.

Those who receive a voucher can choose any type of apartment, private or public, and will pay less than 29% of their monthly income towards rent — that’s no more than $1,499 for a family of four. Home Forward will pay the rest..

However, getting on the waitlist doesn't guarantee housing immediately. Applicants need to pass income checks and background and credit checks. Even with a voucher, finding affordable apartments in Portland can be challenging, with average rents around $2,600 for a three-bedroom apartment according to Zumper.com.

Jimmy Rattanasouk, interim director of the Housing Choice voucher program at Home Forward, highlighted that voucher recipients often face barriers and might need more than the initial 120 days to find housing, though extensions and assistance are available.

It can take up to three years for some to find housing after getting on the waitlist, with about 500 of the 3,000 who were added in 2023 still searching for a suitable home.

Despite potential budget cuts from the federal government, recent developments like a funding increase in the latest congressional budget and reassurances from HUD Secretary Scott Turner signal continued support. 

Interested individuals can apply for a voucher online, over the phone, or in person at specific library-hosted events throughout the week. Applicants will find out if they’ve been added to the waitlist by fall.

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Related read: Wyoming Help for First-Time Homebuyers