Complete Guide to Section 8 & Public Housing in District of Columbia
District of Columbia has 2 housing authorities managing a combined 29 waiting lists across Section 8 (HCV), Public Housing, and Project-Based Voucher programs. At this time, all waitlists in District of Columbia are closed. Openings are typically announced with short notice, so monitoring is essential. This data was last verified on Oct 5, 2026.
Those agencies administer roughly 25,653 assisted housing units statewide — 8,854 public housing units and 16,799 Housing Choice Vouchers, across 1 county. Income limits are set by HUD per county or metro area, so eligibility thresholds differ between agencies within District of Columbia.
The affordable housing programs tracked in District of Columbia include Project-Based Vouchers (PBV), Public Housing, RAD, Mainstream, Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV). 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.
Eligibility Requirements for District of Columbia
To qualify for assistance in District of Columbia, applicants must meet specific income and household criteria set by the District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA).
- 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 District of Columbia legal notices, government press releases, and PHA portal updates. Every listing is cross-referenced with District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) to ensure that families receive accurate information for low-income programs.