Housing Authority of the County of Williamson

Carterville, Illinois

Last Updated

21 hours ago

About Housing Authority of the County of Williamson

The Housing Authority of the County of Williamson (PHA Code: IL050) is located in Carterville, Williamson County, Illinois. This authority manages approximately 892 assisted housing units. These units consist of 167 Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) and 725 Public Housing units.

Currently, the Public Housing waitlist for the Housing Authority of the County of Williamson is open for new applications. The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program waitlist, however, is closed to new applicants at this time.

Applicants should be aware of income limits, which vary by family size and county. For example, a family of four in Williamson County, IL, must have a Very Low Income of $43,300 per year or less to qualify. Waitlist statuses can change, so prospective applicants should monitor for updates.

Public Housing Waitlist

Status

open

How to Apply

Multiple

Accepting applications — no deadline
Open until further notice
Open Now

Additional Notes

The waiting list is currently accepting applications until further notice. Preferences may be given to veterans, elderly, disabled, working families, local residents, and extremely low-income families.

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 Housing Choice Voucher waiting list is currently closed with no information about when it will reopen. General eligibility for the HCV program is for very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled.

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

Status History

Public Housing Opened 5 days ago
Public Housing Closed Mar 29, 2026
Public Housing Opened Mar 10, 2026
Public Housing Closed Mar 6, 2026
Public Housing Opened Feb 26, 2026
Public Housing Closed Feb 24, 2026
HCV Closed Feb 24, 2026
Public Housing Opened Feb 23, 2026
HCV Opened Feb 23, 2026
Public Housing Closed Feb 21, 2026
HCV Closed Feb 21, 2026
Public Housing Opened Feb 19, 2026
Public Housing Opened Feb 18, 2026

Official Application

Contact Housing Authority of the County of Williamson directly at (618) 985-2422 to request an application. Applications are always free — never pay anyone to apply on your behalf.

Contact the housing authority directly for application information.

WARNING: DO NOT PAY ANYONE TO APPLY FOR HOUSING

Contact Information

Address 300 Hickory St
City Carterville, IL 62918
PHA Code IL050
Section 8 Units 167
Public Housing Units 725

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 County of Williamson

1

Check Current Status

Housing Authority of the County of Williamson 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 County of Williamson, 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 $43,300/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

Contact Housing Authority of the County of Williamson directly at (618) 985-2422 to request an application. Applications are always free — never pay anyone to apply on your behalf.

4

After You Apply

Once accepted onto the waiting list at Housing Authority of the County of Williamson, keep your contact information updated. Most housing authorities will remove applicants who cannot be reached. Housing Authority of the County of Williamson manages approximately 892 assisted housing units (167 Section 8, 725 Public Housing), and wait times depend on turnover and demand in Carterville. You will be notified when your name reaches the top of the list for eligibility verification.

Programs at Housing Authority of the County of Williamson

Public Housing Public Housing open

Public Housing units at Housing Authority of the County of Williamson are owned and operated directly by the housing authority. Rent is set at 30% of your adjusted monthly income. Housing Authority of the County of Williamson manages approximately 725 Public Housing units in Carterville. 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 County of Williamson 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 Carterville. This program serves approximately 167 households. 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 County of Williamson free?
Yes. Applying for any federally-funded housing assistance program is always free. Housing Authority of the County of Williamson 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 or in person at their office at 300 Hickory St, Carterville, IL.
How long is the wait at Housing Authority of the County of Williamson?
Wait times at Housing Authority of the County of Williamson depend on demand in Carterville, funding levels, and your priority status. With approximately 892 assisted housing units, turnover determines how quickly the list moves. The most recent status change we tracked was on April 2, 2026 when the Public Housing list changed from "closed" to "open." Families with children, elderly applicants, and disabled individuals may receive priority placement. Contact Housing Authority of the County of Williamson 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 County of Williamson, including Housing Authority of the City of Marion (9 mi), Housing Authority of the County of Franklin (12 mi), Housing Authority of the County of Jackson (14 mi). Applying to multiple PHAs in Illinois and neighboring states is strongly recommended to increase your chances. Browse all housing authorities in Illinois.
How do I contact Housing Authority of the County of Williamson?
You can reach Housing Authority of the County of Williamson by phone at (618) 985-2422. Their office is located at 300 Hickory St, Carterville, IL 62918. You can also email them at wcha@ilwcha.com. Office hours may vary — call ahead to confirm.
What are the income limits for Housing Authority of the County of Williamson?
Income limits for Housing Authority of the County of Williamson are set by HUD based on the Area Median Income for Williamson County, IL (currently $83,700). For a family of four, the Very Low Income limit (50% AMI) is $43,300. 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 County of Williamson Income Limits

Income limits for programs at the Housing Authority of the County of Williamson are based on the Area Median Income (AMI) for Williamson County, IL. For a household of four, the current limit for Section 8 eligibility (Very Low Income) is $43,300. 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 $18,200 $30,350 $48,550
2 Persons $21,150 $34,650 $55,450
3 Persons $26,650 $39,000 $62,400
4 Persons $32,150 $43,300 $69,300
5 Persons $37,650 $46,800 $74,850
6 Persons $43,150 $50,250 $80,400
7 Persons $48,650 $53,700 $85,950
8 Persons $54,150 $57,200 $91,500
Source: HUD FY 2025 Income Limits Area Median Income: $83,700 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.