Houston Extends Affordable Housing Voucher Waitlist Deadline

• Author: Aubrey Sipes
• Posted: 2025-05-19

Houston residents who need an affordable place to live have been given more time to keep their names on an important waitlist. The Houston Housing Authority has stretched the deadline to keep a spot on the Housing Choice Voucher waitlist until 5 p.m. on June 30.

This list helps families pay for rent in various apartments across the city that agree to join the program. The last chance to sign up for a Project-Based Voucher, which is for specific apartment buildings with lower rents, remains May 16.

Right now, there are about 18,300 names on the Housing Choice Voucher waitlist. However, this does not mean all these people are still waiting. The list is nearly ten years old, and the Houston Housing Authority believes many details are no longer correct.

Sometimes, they have to ask many people on the list before finding someone who still needs the voucher and meets all the requirements.

The authority is keen on making the process quicker since there are more people needing help than there are vouchers available. The move to a new online system, RentCafe, is part of this effort.

Everyone must make a new account with a username and password on RentCafe, because the authority wasn't able to just move everyone to the new system automatically.

Every year, people on the list will need to confirm their interest and update their contact details. To save your spot on the waitlist, you can visit HousingforHouston.com and follow the instructions to create a RentCafe account and then click on "Save My Spot."

No numbers have been shared on how many have upheld their spots after the deadline extension. People without internet or who lack computer know-how might not see the authority's email or be able to save their spot online. For these individuals, the housing authority's office at 2640 Fountain View Dr. is open for help with applications.

If anyone misses the extended deadline, they are encouraged to tell the housing authority about any special situations that prevented them from responding in time.

It's worth mentioning that even if you save your spot on the list, you will still have to wait for a voucher to become available. The Housing Choice Voucher program was on hold for a while, but this freeze is starting to lift now that the budget shortfall has been addressed.

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

However, until the Houston Housing Authority sees how funding changes take shape, more people will have to wait.

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