Complete Guide to Section 8 & Public Housing in Vermont
Vermont has 9 housing authorities managing a combined 70 waiting lists across Section 8 (HCV), Public Housing, and Project-Based Voucher programs. Currently, 39 of those lists are accepting applications — an open rate of approximately 56%. This data was last verified on Oct 5, 2026.
Those agencies administer roughly 9,914 assisted housing units statewide — 457 public housing units and 9,457 Housing Choice Vouchers, across 6 counties. Income limits are set by HUD per county or metro area, so eligibility thresholds differ between agencies within Vermont.
The affordable housing programs tracked in Vermont include Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) (3 open), Public Housing (7 open), Project-Based Vouchers (PBV) (6 open), Mainstream (2 open), RAD (1 open), VASH (1 open). 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 Vermont right now are Burlington (12), Winooski (9), Montpelier (6), Rutland (4), and Barre (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: Winooski Housing Authority — Courtyard Apartments (Elderly/Disabled)
Eligibility Requirements for Vermont
To qualify for assistance in Vermont, applicants must meet specific income and household criteria set by the Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA).
- 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 Vermont legal notices, government press releases, and PHA portal updates. Every listing is cross-referenced with Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) to ensure that families receive accurate information for low-income programs.