Complete Guide to Section 8 & Public Housing in Delaware
Delaware has 6 housing authorities managing a combined 46 waiting lists across Section 8 (HCV), Public Housing, and Project-Based Voucher programs. Currently, 16 of those lists are accepting applications — an open rate of approximately 35%. This data was last verified on Oct 5, 2026.
Those agencies administer roughly 7,920 assisted housing units statewide — 1,863 public housing units and 6,057 Housing Choice Vouchers, across 2 counties. Income limits are set by HUD per county or metro area, so eligibility thresholds differ between agencies within Delaware.
The affordable housing programs tracked in Delaware include Public Housing (5 open), Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) (2 open), Project-Based Vouchers (PBV) (1 open), Mainstream (2 open), RAD (1 open), 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 Delaware right now are Dover (10), New Castle (3), and Newark (3) . 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: Newark Housing Authority — RAD
Eligibility Requirements for Delaware
To qualify for assistance in Delaware, applicants must meet specific income and household criteria set by the Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA).
- 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 Delaware legal notices, government press releases, and PHA portal updates. Every listing is cross-referenced with Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) to ensure that families receive accurate information for low-income programs.