Section 8 Waiting Lists Opening in January 2026: Key Opportunities for Rental Assistance

• Author: Bobby Kub
• Posted: 2026-01-06

Public housing agencies across the U.S. are opening Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) waiting lists in early January 2026, providing limited windows for eligible low-income families to apply for rental subsidies.

These brief openings address high demand amid housing shortages, often using lotteries for fairness.

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Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) Opening

THDA opens its statewide HCV waiting list on January 8, 2026, from 6:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. Central Time.

Applications must be submitted online through the RentCafe portal, requiring an active email address for confirmation.
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Housing Authority of Baltimore City (HABC) Lottery

HABC launches its Project-Based Voucher waiting list from January 14 to January 23, 2026, between 9:00 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time daily; only online submissions via their portal qualify.
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How to Prepare and Apply

Eligibility generally requires U.S. citizenship or qualified immigration status, income below 50% of area median, and family size matching voucher availability.

Gather documents like IDs, income proof, and Social Security numbers ahead; no application fees apply, but lists close quickly once targets are met.
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Broader Resources for Open Lists

Use HUD's directory to find local PHAs and see if there are Section 8 Wait List openings in your area.

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