Housing Authority of the City of Van Buren

Van Buren, Arkansas

Last Updated

Less than an hour ago

About Housing Authority of the City of Van Buren

The Housing Authority of the City of Van Buren (PHA Code: AR029) is located in Van Buren, Crawford County, Arkansas. This authority manages approximately 199 assisted housing units, providing affordable housing options within the community.

The Housing Authority of the City of Van Buren offers two primary programs: Public Housing and the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program. The waitlist for the Public Housing program is currently open for applications. The HCV program waitlist is closed; this status recently changed from unknown to closed.

Applicants should be aware of income limits. For example, a very low-income family of four in the Fort Smith, AR-OK MSA area has an annual income limit of $36,300 for eligibility.

Public Housing Waitlist

Status

open

Open Date

Mar 17, 2026

How to Apply

Online

Accepting applications — no deadline
Open until further notice
Open Now
Apply Now — Official Portal

Additional Notes

The waitlist is currently accepting pre-applications for families and senior/disabled households for 1 to 4 bedroom units. Applicants must meet HUD income limits, citizenship or immigration status, provide SSNs for household members age 6+, pay any money owed to a PHA, not be subject to sex offender registration, and consent to background/credit checks. Applicants must call the office weekly until approved, and then monthly after approval, to keep their application active.

Other Programs

1 program

These programs are administered by this housing authority but do not have active waitlist openings at this time. Statuses are verified nightly and subscribers will be notified when changes are detected.

Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV)
Closed

The Van Buren Housing Authority does not accept Section 8 Vouchers. Section 8 programs for the area are administered by the Crawford County Public Facilities Board.

This waitlist is currently closed. It is monitored nightly — you'll be alerted when it reopens.

Status History

HCV Closed Mar 26, 2026

Official Application

Apply directly through the official Housing Authority of the City of Van Buren portal. Applications are free — never pay anyone to apply on your behalf.

Go to Official Site

WARNING: DO NOT PAY ANYONE TO APPLY FOR HOUSING

Contact Information

Address 1701 Chestnut St
City Van Buren, AR 72956
PHA Code AR029
Public Housing Units 199

Important Notices

  • Waiting lists can close without notice once a specific number of applications is reached.

  • Ensure your contact information is always up to date with the PHA to avoid being removed from the list.

How to Apply at Housing Authority of the City of Van Buren

1

Check Current Status

Housing Authority of the City of Van Buren currently has 1 open waiting list (Public Housing). Application windows can close with little notice, so apply as soon as possible.

2

Gather Required Documents

For Section 8 voucher programs at Housing Authority of the City of Van Buren, you will typically need: government-issued photo ID for all adult household members, Social Security cards for all members, birth certificates for minors, proof of income (pay stubs, tax returns, benefit letters), and proof of current address. For a family of four, income must be below $36,300/year to qualify in this area. Having these ready before the waitlist opens can make the difference between getting on the list and missing the window.

3

Submit Your Application

Apply directly through the official Housing Authority of the City of Van Buren portal. Applications are free — never pay anyone to apply on your behalf. If applying online, take a screenshot of your confirmation page for your records.

4

After You Apply

Once accepted onto the waiting list at Housing Authority of the City of Van Buren, keep your contact information updated. Most housing authorities will remove applicants who cannot be reached. Housing Authority of the City of Van Buren manages approximately 199 assisted housing units, and wait times depend on turnover and demand in Van Buren. You will be notified when your name reaches the top of the list for eligibility verification.

Programs at Housing Authority of the City of Van Buren

Public Housing Public Housing open

Public Housing units at Housing Authority of the City of Van Buren are owned and operated directly by the housing authority. Rent is set at 30% of your adjusted monthly income. Housing Authority of the City of Van Buren manages approximately 199 Public Housing units in Van Buren. You may request a transfer to other Public Housing developments but cannot use this benefit at private rental properties.

HCV Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) closed

The Housing Choice Voucher program at Housing Authority of the City of Van Buren provides rental assistance that allows you to choose any privately-owned rental unit that meets program requirements. You pay approximately 30% of your adjusted monthly income toward rent, and the voucher covers the remainder up to the Fair Market Rent for Van Buren. Vouchers are portable — you can take them with you if you move to a different city or state.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is applying at Housing Authority of the City of Van Buren free?
Yes. Applying for any federally-funded housing assistance program is always free. Housing Authority of the City of Van Buren administers 2 programs (Public Housing, HCV) — none of which charge an application fee. If any website or person asks you to pay money to apply, it is a scam. Always apply directly through the housing authority's official portal or in person at their office at 1701 Chestnut St, Van Buren, AR.
How long is the wait at Housing Authority of the City of Van Buren?
Wait times at Housing Authority of the City of Van Buren depend on demand in Van Buren, funding levels, and your priority status. With approximately 199 assisted housing units, turnover determines how quickly the list moves. The most recent status change we tracked was on March 26, 2026 when the HCV list changed from "unknown" to "closed." Families with children, elderly applicants, and disabled individuals may receive priority placement. Contact Housing Authority of the City of Van Buren directly for current estimated wait times.
Can I apply to other housing authorities while on this waitlist?
Yes. There is no limit to the number of housing authority waiting lists you can join simultaneously. There are 8 other housing authorities within 100 miles of Housing Authority of the City of Van Buren, including Crawford County Public Facilities Board (2 mi), The Housing Authority of the City of Fort Smi (4 mi), Housing Authority of the City of Alma (7 mi). Applying to multiple PHAs in Arkansas and neighboring states is strongly recommended to increase your chances. Browse all housing authorities in Arkansas.
How do I contact Housing Authority of the City of Van Buren?
You can reach Housing Authority of the City of Van Buren by phone at (479) 474-6901. Their office is located at 1701 Chestnut St, Van Buren, AR 72956. You can also email them at dayna@vanburenhousing.org. Office hours may vary — call ahead to confirm.
What are the income limits for Housing Authority of the City of Van Buren?
Income limits for Housing Authority of the City of Van Buren are set by HUD based on the Area Median Income for Fort Smith, AR-OK MSA (currently $80,600). For a family of four, the Very Low Income limit (50% AMI) is $36,300. Most Section 8 and Public Housing programs require your household income to be at or below this level. See the full income limits table below.

Housing Authority of the City of Van Buren Income Limits

Income limits for programs at the Housing Authority of the City of Van Buren are based on the Area Median Income (AMI) for Fort Smith, AR-OK MSA. For a household of four, the current limit for Section 8 eligibility (Very Low Income) is $36,300. Limits are set annually by HUD and vary by household size.

Household Size Extremely Low
30% AMI
Very Low
50% AMI
Low Income
80% AMI
1 Person $15,650 $25,450 $40,700
2 Persons $21,150 $29,050 $46,500
3 Persons $26,650 $32,700 $52,300
4 Persons $32,150 $36,300 $58,100
5 Persons $37,650 $39,250 $62,750
6 Persons $42,150 $42,150 $67,400
7 Persons $45,050 $45,050 $72,050
8 Persons $47,950 $47,950 $76,700
Source: HUD FY 2025 Income Limits Area Median Income: $80,600 Effective April 1, 2025
What do these income limits mean?

Extremely Low Income (30% AMI) — Households earning at or below 30% of the Area Median Income. This is the threshold for the lowest-income tier of assistance. Many housing authorities give preference to applicants at this level.

Very Low Income (50% AMI) — The standard eligibility threshold for Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers and most Public Housing programs. Your household income must be at or below this limit to qualify.

Low Income (80% AMI) — Some programs, including Project-Based Vouchers and certain local initiatives, use this higher threshold. Check with this housing authority for specific program requirements.